Hi everyone,

I own a 2010 mk7 zetec s 1.6 petrol.

It’s on 127,000 miles, the water pump and cambelt were replaced at 75,000 miles.

My water pump has been leaking for around 6 months, I’ve topped up the coolant level a few times.

I’ve been quoted £450 for cambelt and water pump which I’m reluctant to do as the car probably isn’t worth much more than £750
 

Shall I try some K-seal or just keep topping up the level? 

If you're only going to scrap it eventually then put some sealer in.  I don't recommend it on anything decent though.

Cheers, I’ll give it a go. 
 

as my zetec s has been such a good car for me over the years, I’m looking at going for the mk7 zetec s 1.6 diesel next. Is the diesel engine as good as the petrol?

10 hours ago, TomsFocus said:

If you're only going to scrap it eventually then put some sealer in.  I don't recommend it on anything decent though.

Cheers, I’ll give it a go. 
 

as my zetec s has been such a good car for me over the years, I’m looking at going for the mk7 zetec s 1.6 diesel next. Is the diesel engine as good as the petrol?

These waterpumps have a mechanical seal which consists of 2 perfectly flat (usually carbon or ceramic) surfaces pushed together by a spring. One of the seal surfaces is stationary while the other is rotating. This type of seal is lubricated/cooled by coolant. 

Since the seal is basically a moving part using K-seal or any other leak sealer will probably not solve the leak.


Note that on these engines the waterpump can easily be replaced without removing the timing belt. Ford even has special tools (wedges) to keep the timing belt in the correct position while the tensioner is removed. Removing the timing belt tensioner is required to replace the waterpump.  

20 minutes ago, JW1982 said:

These waterpumps have a mechanical seal which consists of 2 perfectly flat (usually carbon or ceramic) surfaces pushed together by a spring. One of the seal surfaces is stationary while the other is rotating. This type of seal is lubricated/cooled by coolant. 

Since the seal is basically a moving part using K-seal or any other leak sealer will probably not solve the leak.


Note that on these engines the waterpump can easily be replaced without removing the timing belt. Ford even has special tools (wedges) to keep the timing belt in the correct position while the tensioner is removed. Removing the timing belt tensioner is required to replace the waterpump.  

Thank you very much. 

2 hours ago, Turtle19 said:

 

Cheers, I’ll give it a go. 
 

as my zetec s has been such a good car for me over the years, I’m looking at going for the mk7 zetec s 1.6 diesel next. Is the diesel engine as good as the petrol?

In my opinion the 1.6 diesel was a much better engine when new.  (I had 3 of them).  All Mk7's are getting old now though, and pre Euro6 diesels aren't a great option if you're likely to drive through ULEZ zones in future.

On 7/12/2025 at 9:33 AM, TomsFocus said:

In my opinion the 1.6 diesel was a much better engine when new.  (I had 3 of them).  All Mk7's are getting old now though, and pre Euro6 diesels aren't a great option if you're likely to drive through ULEZ zones in future.

So I can get my water pump and cambelt replaced on my 124k zetec s by a guy I trust for £326.

or

I can part ex my current fiesta for another mk7 zetec s but with diesel engine on a 62 plate, 47k miles, 13 main dealer services including cambelt and water pump for £4,650, part ex is £800 for mine.
 

Knowing my luck I’d have the diesel for a month and start having DPF problems lol

25 minutes ago, Turtle19 said:

So I can get my water pump and cambelt replaced on my 124k zetec s by a guy I trust for £326.

or

I can part ex my current fiesta for another mk7 zetec s but with diesel engine on a 62 plate, 47k miles, 13 main dealer services including cambelt and water pump for £4,650, part ex is £800 for mine.
 

Knowing my luck I’d have the diesel for a month and start having DPF problems lol

Prices are daft nowadays.  There's no way I'd pay that much for a 13 year old Fiesta with either engine.  Low mileage isn't really relevant by the time they pass 10 years old.

If those are the only two options, having yours repaired sounds like the better one.

6 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

Prices are daft nowadays.  There's no way I'd pay that much for a 13 year old Fiesta with either engine.  Low mileage isn't really relevant by the time they pass 10 years old.

If those are the only two options, having yours repaired sounds like the better one.

I know, gone are the days of cheap motoring.

I only want a cheap run about mainly used to get back and to from work (20 miles each way).
 

For £4k - 5k I’m not going to get anything much newer i wouldn’t have thought. 
 

 

 

1 hour ago, Turtle19 said:

I know, gone are the days of cheap motoring.

I only want a cheap run about mainly used to get back and to from work (20 miles each way).
 

For £4k - 5k I’m not going to get anything much newer i wouldn’t have thought. 

There are a few options around 2018/19 for £5k if you're willing to go for higher mileage.

Mk8 Fiesta, Suzuki Swift, etc.  Most of the 208's have had wetbelts changed at that age/price so they could even be worth considering.

Worth having another look around before deciding, as I really wouldn't worry about mileage so much.  I bought a Mk3 Focus at 6 years old with 40k on it.  All crap.  Ended up swapping it for a 90k Golf which has been perfectly reliable and cost 20% less to buy...  I also now own another Golf with about 40k and honestly you can't tell the difference if it wasn't for the dash display.  If anything the higher mileage one drives better and is more comfortable, though it does have a different engine so not a direct comparison.

5 hours ago, TomsFocus said:

There are a few options around 2018/19 for £5k if you're willing to go for higher mileage.

Mk8 Fiesta, Suzuki Swift, etc.  Most of the 208's have had wetbelts changed at that age/price so they could even be worth considering.

Worth having another look around before deciding, as I really wouldn't worry about mileage so much.  I bought a Mk3 Focus at 6 years old with 40k on it.  All crap.  Ended up swapping it for a 90k Golf which has been perfectly reliable and cost 20% less to buy...  I also now own another Golf with about 40k and honestly you can't tell the difference if it wasn't for the dash display.  If anything the higher mileage one drives better and is more comfortable, though it does have a different engine so not a direct comparison.

Ok yeh, worth having a think about. My MOT is due in September, if it needs a lot of money spending on it then time for something else.

Does the mk8 fiesta 1.5 tdci engine use a wet belt? 

2 hours ago, Turtle19 said:

Does the mk8 fiesta 1.5 tdci engine use a wet belt? 

No, 1.5 TDCI is a single dry belt.

Not to be confused with 1.5 EcoBlue fitted to Mk4 Focus and larger models.  That one uses a dry belt plus a small chain.  The chain is the weak point on those.

I’m wondering if someone can help.

eBay seems to have genuine Ford parts priced well. 
 

I want to double check is this the correct water pump and cambelt for my Fiesta.

 

https://ebay.us/m/cWlNb2
 

https://ebay.us/m/sGbQD4
 

Also are there any other bits I need to buy when replacing the cambelt and water pump?