Hi

I've just bought a Fiesta 1.25 Zetec and there is no record of a Timing Belt or Water Pump replacement from the previous owner ( she bought it new).

I'm going to have the belt changed soon however, is it worth changing the pump at the same time.

Apparently the vehicle was only used for short shopping journey's. Very tidy car and garage parked by the previous driver.

The car only has 10,600 miles on the clock and first registered late 2012 from new (1 owner)

I'd like to keep the costs to a minimum is possible.

Your thoughts please.

 

Hi,

If you do change the waterpump, make sure it is a good quality one.  There is more chance of a cheap one failing than just leaving the original.

However, I would question whether the waterpump is likely to last another 8 years until the next belt change?  For that reason, I would change the pump now.  The coolant must be changed as well, because that is only rated for 10 years, it will be breaking down now, even if it looks ok.

Hi welcome 

its well over due 

Thanks for the reply's.

The car is booked in for early next week and the mechanic said he'll be ordering a cam belt kit (I presume that includes the w/pump and fittings), so I guess that'll put it right.

3 hours ago, Eastflight said:

(I presume that includes the w/pump and fittings)

I think you presume wrong. 🤔

On the 1.25, 1.4 and 1.6 Sigma engines the waterpump is driven by the auxiliary belt. It is not driven by the cambelt.

However, the timing belt tensioner is bolted on top of the waterpump which means that to be able to remove the water pump the timing belt tensioner needs to be removed first. This can be done. Ford even has developed special tools (wedges) to keep the timing belt in place while changing the water pump. However, care must be taken to prevent the timing belt being damaged or contaminated with coolant while replacing the waterpump. 

While it is technically possible to replace the waterpump without replacing the timing belt it is still good practice to just replace the waterpump as a preventive measure when the timing belt is replaced. It is highly likely that the auxiliary belts are stretch belts without a belt tensioner. These stretch belts cannot be reused once removed. Bearing/seal failure of an old/existing waterpump shortly after a new stretch belt is installed is not uncommon. 


Also note that due to the extremely low mileage of this vehicle and the short distances it was apparently used for, the reduced service intervals were applicable. This means that the vehicle should have been serviced every 6 Months/6.250 Miles instead of the normal interval of 1 Year/12.500 Miles.

11 hours ago, Eastflight said:

Thanks for the reply's.

The car is booked in for early next week and the mechanic said he'll be ordering a cam belt kit (I presume that includes the w/pump and fittings), so I guess that'll put it right.

As Unofix suggested, a cambelt kit usually only includes the cambelt and tensioner.  What you need is a cambelt and waterpump kit.  Generally the auxiliary belts will be sold separately as well.

That might just have been a quick turn of phrase, but it would be worth double checking exactly which parts are being replaced.

On 10/5/2025 at 7:53 AM, JW1982 said:

On the 1.25, 1.4 and 1.6 Sigma engines the waterpump is driven by the auxiliary belt. It is not driven by the cambelt.

However, the timing belt tensioner is bolted on top of the waterpump which means that to be able to remove the water pump the timing belt tensioner needs to be removed first. This can be done. Ford even has developed special tools (wedges) to keep the timing belt in place while changing the water pump. However, care must be taken to prevent the timing belt being damaged or contaminated with coolant while replacing the waterpump. 

While it is technically possible to replace the waterpump without replacing the timing belt it is still good practice to just replace the waterpump as a preventive measure when the timing belt is replaced. It is highly likely that the auxiliary belts are stretch belts without a belt tensioner. These stretch belts cannot be reused once removed. Bearing/seal failure of an old/existing waterpump shortly after a new stretch belt is installed is not uncommon. 


Also note that due to the extremely low mileage of this vehicle and the short distances it was apparently used for, the reduced service intervals were applicable. This means that the vehicle should have been serviced every 6 Months/6.250 Miles instead of the normal interval of 1 Year/12.500 Miles.

HI and thanks for your reply.

So, I have had the work done on the car now, the mechanic advised me that the cam belt kit was used (belt and tensioner) plus he changed the aux belt(s) whatever that means! On inspection of the water pump he said it was in good condition and didn't feel the need to replace it and gave me the new pump to keep as a spare. The work cost me £290 inclusive of all charges which I think seems very reasonable compared to many other more expensive quotes.

Yes, the car is very low mileage for its 12yr age and has a dealership full service history until now.

Hope now nothing else is required now for about another 100K/10yr apart from the usual service intervals.

1 hour ago, Eastflight said:

On inspection of the water pump he said it was in good condition and didn't feel the need to replace it and gave me the new pump to keep as a spare.

So the mechanic fully removed the old water pump, then carried out an inspection of the internal workings, and then refitted it ? 🤔

This was despite having a brand new water pump in his hand ready to fit. Well lets hope he fits it for free when your old pump fails in the next 12 months.

On 10/5/2025 at 7:53 AM, JW1982 said:

While it is technically possible to replace the waterpump without replacing the timing belt it is still good practice to just replace the waterpump as a preventive measure when the timing belt is replaced. It is highly likely that the auxiliary belts are stretch belts without a belt tensioner. These stretch belts cannot be reused once removed. Bearing/seal failure of an old/existing waterpump shortly after a new stretch belt is installed is not uncommon. 

 

1 hour ago, Eastflight said:

On inspection of the water pump he said it was in good condition and didn't feel the need to replace it and gave me the new pump to keep as a spare.

Yeah, that was either totally daft (you've paid for a new one, he has to clean and re-gasket the old one to refit, after inspection)

Or

He's BSing

There is a 99% chance the old waterpump was not even removed and inspected. Inspecting the waterpump does not even make sense since you can only inspect the plastic impeller and not the most important parts like the bearings and mechanical seal.

There is very little chance that the old waterpump will survive another 10 Years/100.000 Miles. After replacing the stretch belts there is actually a considerable chance for the waterpump to fail within the next 12 Months.


GBP 290 is an extremely low price. Parts alone (timing belt kit, auxiliary belts, waterpump and the cam cover seal) from a reputable brand already costs about GBP 150. This only leaves GBP 140 for labor. Even an experienced professional will needs approximately 4 Hours to do this job properly using all required special tools/procedures.


Also be aware that replacing the timing belt is a job that is prescribed to be combined with a major 10 Years/100.000 Miles service. This service includes at least the following items:

- Major service according to the service requirements (publicly available from Ford).
- Replacement of the timing belt kit (consists of belt, belt tensioner, crankshaft bolt and camshaft bolts).
- Replacement of the auxiliary belts (stretch belts).
- Measurement of the valve adjustment (and correcting if required).
- Replacement of the waterpump (optional but strongly recommended).
- Replacement of the coolant (including vacuum testing and vacuum filling of the cooling system).

Since the spark plugs need to be removed to be able to rotate the engine by hand I would also expect for the spark plugs to be replaced. It does just not make any sense to re-install the old spark plugs that have most likely been installed in the engine for Years.


To make sure that the garage even performed the works you asked for at all you should let them show you the old parts. These should at least be the old timing belt kit, auxiliary belts, waterpump and the cam cover seal.

 

 

So, apart from the water pump not being replaced the car should be in good shape I hope for many more miles.

The old belts and the new pump was left in the boot for me.

Not sure why they went down the road of not replacing the old pump if the labour cost would have been minimal (apart from the mechanic saying it looked mint). 

I know the car is low mileage but I'm keen on regular servicing each year and the service book is also all stamped up from the previous owner.

The Service centre I went to is also an approved BMW garage and have been servicing my X1 for the past 5 years since the Dealership Warranty expired. I know the mechanic personally. I'm sure he wouldn't pull the wool over my eyes intentionally BUT I will double check with him about it.

Thank you all for your advise and knowledge on the matter.