So after fixing a power steering leak a few months back it appears my mark 2 1.6 zetec has coolant leak overheated and engine cut out on road this morning its now at mechanic via AA. Suspected water pump pulley leaking coolant... Just needs checking to see if anymore damage. Is this pretty easy/cheap fix if its just water pump? Was hoping to get another yr or so out of it

Cambelt change to renew water pump on these i think. Belt doesn't run pump but pump sits behind belt with the belt tensioner pulley fixing bolt going through the pump housing, if my memory serves me well - its been a while tho ! Word of advice if you go ahead, don't use a cheap pump, believe me i know (stretch belt knocks pump bearings out - lasted 10 month)

Ah ok crap. So will need new cam belt too? Bugger. ..might not be worth my while. Its mid 90s k on clock and showing its age...how much is not a cheap pump to install?

You can get a Gates / Conti / Dayco / SKF cambelt + waterpump kit for about £80 - 90 from Autodoc so if your nifty with the spanners add £25 for new antifreeze and thats about it. Otherwise i would think about £300 - 350 at an indie garage all in.

You gotta way it up. Whats the general condition of the car like other than this ? Has it been looked after. This engine, whilst wouldn't pull skin off custard nor the most economical will eat this mileage. £400 would be cheap running if you got a couple of years out of it, a main service at Ford costs more than this (not saying you have to use Ford for servicing just putting things into perspective) If you bought a new car circa 6 years old, you'd have to be thinking about a cam belt change, which, as this forum will confirm, on a Ford ecoboom at least is maybe 2 or 3 times the price. You can always go newer but it'll not necessarily be any more reliable or much more economical and probably the same road tax.

Sorry for the long rant, modern cars, just a computer with 4 wheels, if the cars tidy and looked after, i'd be getting the spanners out, for a while longer at least.

Thankyou! So i cant fix water pump with new cam belt install? Its been solid reliable motor... I had new cambelt when i bought it at 44k miles...its now on 93k i think. Its a bit tired looking but fixed steering oil leak before xmas, new brakes just last month on front, the cluster boards got mind of it own and mostly stays off now...but im not qualified enough to do this worl alone sadly! Wish i was...id have to see what mechanic quotes me...i mostly use if for 60 mile round trip commute roughly 3/4days a week.... So will have to weigh up costs... Thanks for info !

17 minutes ago, mattsminiresto66 said:

You can get a Gates / Conti / Dayco / SKF cambelt + waterpump kit for about £80 - 90 from Autodoc so if your nifty with the spanners add £25 for new antifreeze and thats about it. Otherwise i would think about £300 - 350 at an indie garage all in.

You gotta way it up. Whats the general condition of the car like other than this ? Has it been looked after. This engine, whilst wouldn't pull skin off custard nor the most economical will eat this mileage. £400 would be cheap running if you got a couple of years out of it, a main service at Ford costs more than this (not saying you have to use Ford for servicing just putting things into perspective) If you bought a new car circa 6 years old, you'd have to be thinking about a cam belt change, which, as this forum will confirm, on a Ford ecoboom at least is maybe 2 or 3 times the price. You can always go newer but it'll not necessarily be any more reliable or much more economical and probably the same road tax.

Sorry for the long rant, modern cars, just a computer with 4 wheels, if the cars tidy and looked after, i'd be getting the spanners out, for a while longer at least.

Just weighing up once i know the damage, if i go for more economical reliable petrol or even lease a cheap hybrid or even electric...will see but thankyou!