So I currently have a 13 plate 1.0 Ecoboost which I've owned for 7 years now and it's never given me a bit of bother. However, getting very conscious that the Wet Belt really should be replaced due to car's age (even though it's only done 58,000 since new and been serviced every year).

Viewed the attached at the weekend. The garage sales desk was adamant this "new" car was powered by Wet Belt. However, I'd been under the impression from reading elsewhere that these engines with the aluminium cover beside the engine were in fact chains ?

Could it perhaps be that the selling garage were slightly confused in that the wet belt is still in the oil pump but the engine itself is actually chain ?

Owned Fords pretty much all my life and keen to stick with them, although for obvious reasons would prefer to avoid anything with the wet belts.

Thanks in advance.

Hi,

You are correct, the cams are driven by chain and the oil pump is driven by wetbelt.

When the oil pump belt fails, the engine is usually damaged anyway. And it still has a recommended replacement interval of 10 years. So we are not convinced that the chain engines are really a better option long term.

Aside from the belt issue, that's a very unfortunate number plate. I'm surprised it wasn't banned when new. Although it has been made even worse by someone's screw placement.

Hi Dave,

Yes, that's a chain cam drive. But it still has a wet belt for the oil pump drive, which must be renewed at 10 years. The chain has to be removed to access the belt so it's virtually as big and expensive a job anyway.

27 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

that's a very unfortunate number plate. I'm surprised it wasn't banned when new. Although it has been made even worse by someone's screw placement.

'Nonce' ☠️

Thanks for the replies folks, much appreciated.

To be honest I hadn't even twigged the number plate, but horrified reading it now ! 🤣🤣

Still tempted to go for it though as now that the nerves have kicked in with my current car, it's taken a bit of 'fun' out of driving it. Quote one quote to change the wet belt for £1094, but given the car is barely worth £2k as a trade in it feels like I'd just be throwing good money after bad.

Doesn't seem to be a lot of love for Ford on the internet these days, but I'd much rather stay with them as in 30 years of driving them I've never really had any issues at all.

That's a 20 plate

27 minutes ago, DaveT70 said:

That's a 20 plate

So true! I wonder how he managed to get a 2020 registration plate on a 2013 registered Fiesta? 🤔

They currently own a 2013 Fiesta. They are looking to buy the 2020 Fiesta.

41 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

They currently own a 2013 Fiesta. They are looking to buy the 2020 Fiesta.

🤦🏻‍♂️

On 2/16/2026 at 1:06 PM, DaveT70 said:

🤦🏻‍♂️

On 2/16/2026 at 12:24 PM, TomsFocus said:

They currently own a 2013 Fiesta. They are looking to buy the 2020 Fiesta.

On 2/16/2026 at 12:24 PM, TomsFocus said:

They currently own a 2013 Fiesta. They are looking to buy the 2020 Fiesta.

“Viewed the attached at the weekend” How did I miss that? 🤦🏾‍♂️

#theinternetneverforgets

Thanks all again for the information.

Purchased the car yesterday and picking up on Monday.

Now to start saving for a private plate, for something considerably less alarming than the one it comes with !!!

My 2016 ecoboost lasted until I traded it in at 82000 miles running a stage 1 remap at 155BHP no issues. How about get the sump checked and the oil pickup if they're clean then surely the belt still has life in it

On 2/18/2026 at 8:57 AM, FifeFlyer75 said:

Now to start saving for a private plate, for something considerably less alarming than the one it comes with !!

If you're planning on keeping it 4 years or more, put something aside for the oil pump belt job, also!