Hello there.
I passed my test last year and bought a car (KA Zetec 2010 - 26k miles ) shortly after. The cars MOT was due last week and took it in for a full service and an MOT.
When I bought the car I took a friend along (who knows alot more about cars that I do) to give the car a once over. He said the two tires at the back may need to be changed soonish so I was expecting that. After taking the car in I got a call an hour later saying she had passed the MOT but with a few advisories which included a new silencer and two new tires (which i was expecting). I asked if that was all that needed doing which it apparently was and I said just do them now and get them out of the way. The whole thing cost me £450 which were the the last of my savings doing so.

However, when I got down to the garage to pick up the car the mechanic explained that because the log book didn't say whether the cam belt had been changed in the last four years. He then said that i'd need to have a new one fitted ASAP. If I didn't then "If it goes your engine will be worthless and the so will the car" He then said it would cost £350 and needed to be booked ASAP because I was driving around on a time bomb.... To say he laid it on thick was an understatement. It got to the point where i felt if I drove away without having one fitted there and then the car would explode. As I don't have £350 spare I had to tell him i'd call him later in the week.

When I got home I called my friend and explained it and he said "They say you should have it done every four years but it's more of a precaution." I've spoken to others about it who have all said they've never had their cam belts changed and one person who said that if a cam belt goes it doesn't mess up the engine. 

I don't really know who to believe but I am starting to panic if I have to do any long drives. It doesn't really bother me if I brake down as I am a member of the AA, what bothers me is if the car has to be written off.

P.s Sorry for any typos. I'm typing on a phone from work.  - Alison :)

 

Cam belts time the camshafts and crankshaft up. In some engines, the valves (opened by the camshafts) occupy the same space as the cylinders, so if the belt goes it is possible for the cylinders to impact the valves. Some engines don't do this, so if the belt goes it is just a minor annoyance. Some belts go for years and years, and some will snap at less than their rated life.

Do you have the service book to hand? 

Ah i see.
Yes, it's in the car I can go out to the car and grab it. How come? 

 

The cambelt interval on a Ford Ka is 4 years or 100,000 miles, whichever is the sooner.

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The cambelt interval on a Ford Ka is 4 years or 100,000 miles, whichever is the sooner.

 

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where did you find that from?

acording to my info its normally 5 yrs/62.5k or 4 years if vehicle is used under severe conditions( why you would want to drive under severe conditions in a ka ?)

but regardless , if theres no history of a belt being done, then it needs one doing now

6 minutes ago, iantt said:

where did you find that from?

acording to my info its normally 5 yrs/62.5k or 4 years if vehicle is used under severe conditions( why you would want to drive under severe conditions in a ka ?)

but regardless , if theres no history of a belt being done, then it needs one doing now

Why would you want to drive a ka? 

Ka's aren't actually that bad there classed as 1 of the best for banger racing because the chassis is rock solid and takes a lot of hits and you should see the 1 near me proper bad ***** looking, £350 for a belt change is a bit expensive n £450 for 2 tyres that will most likely be 13"/14" and a standard back box ?

11 minutes ago, doggsbody said:

Ka's aren't actually that bad there classed as 1 of the best for banger racing because the chassis is rock solid and takes a lot of hits and you should see the 1 near me proper bad ***** looking, £350 for a belt change is a bit expensive n £450 for 2 tyres that will most likely be 13"/14" and a standard back box ?

Until you go to work on one and realise that everything needs removed to do simple jobs. 

Wishbones springs to mind lol. 

That shape Ka is basically a fiat 500, it's not the one they use for bangers.

Why is the cambelt interval so short on them out of interest?  

They really that bad when it comes to repairing ?

2 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

That shape Ka is basically a fiat 500, it's not the one they use for bangers.

Why is the cambelt interval so short on them out of interest?  

That shape - Not seen the 1 mentioned, but the very nice 1 near me is similar in shape to the fiat 500

1 hour ago, doggsbody said:

They really that bad when it comes to repairing ?

Yes lol. 

front bumper off officialy to do lower arms. lol. italian logic

I've never done a KA wishbone, but did a family friends Fiat 500. Before Tom even mentioned the Fiat 500 was the same car I was thinking it lol. But yes it wasn't far off a complete front end off job.

4 years for a cambelt? Seriously? I bet most KA drivers don't do more than 7000 miles a year. The french and Italians are similar when it comes to cars; cheap and unreliable *****.

If it is 4 years then the garage is right, you're driving a ticking bomb. If the belt goes, the cylinders will hit the valves and bend the stems etc. Long story short it basically a new engine at that point. If the belts never been done since the car was new then I would 100% get it in ASAP.

On 2/9/2018 at 11:42 AM, Luke4efc said:

If it is 4 years then the garage is right, you're driving a ticking bomb. If the belt goes, the cylinders will hit the valves and bend the stems etc. Long story short it basically a new engine at that point. If the belts never been done since the car was new then I would 100% get it in ASAP.

Only if it's an interference engine.