Transit Wet Belt. Potential problems.

[Joe-kbgs7]

I’m hoping someone can help.
I’m looking at buying a transit custom. Obviously I’ve read quite a few negative stories regarding the wetbelt, and i understand it’s a bit of stupid design to have a rubber belt submerged in oil. I was chatting to an AA driver the other day and he said to put aside at least grand for a new belt if it hasn’t already had one. That’s fine, but are there any other issues a worn wetbelt can lead to over time? I’ve heard about filters (and faulty egr valve) getting blocked and causing other issues but haven’t really seen anything tol detailed about it. Basically just want a medium van that isn’t going to be sat in the garage for weeks if something goes wrong. I’m looking at spending around the 15k mark. I like the pay load size and comfort of the transit. Second choice is the recent Expert shape of any 5 manufacturers.

[C69]

This thread might be useful for you: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

[7 5 7]

Vauxhall Movano, fleet at work has just got these instead - those wet belts are bad news, wouldn't even consider it even with a back up fund, terrible engines you can't rely on.

[Smint]

Would not consider any vehicle with a wet belt.
Merc not offer anything suitable? our gas engineer runs two Merc Vitos, never seems to have any bother with them and Sprinters seem to be running everywhere going like hell without much bother.

[Joe-kbgs7]

I do like the vito’s to be fair. Slightly more expensive but probably worth it.

[stevemcs]

The ones we have done all seemed fine when apart

[Joe-kbgs7]

7 5 7 said:

Vauxhall Movano, fleet at work has just got these instead - those wet belts are bad news, wouldn't even consider it even with a back up fund, terrible engines you can't rely on.

The L1H1 looks great for what I need actually. Pretty much same length as a medium range van but with more space and higher driving position

[Joe-kbgs7]

C69 said:

This thread might be useful for you: https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

Thanks

[Rat_Fink_67]

I've known an early warning sign of impending Transit wet belt failure to be a wooden brake pedal, caused by debris getting into the vacuum pump and reducing servo assistance.

[MG CHRIS]

The whole wet belt issue is can be well overblown on Internet. A lot of issues stem from general lack of servicing and or other issues being ignored which then leads to early failure. Ford have improved the material of the belt used around 2022 and the rates they are failing have reduced. As others said early notice will be weird feeling brakes as the belt blocks the break servo.

You can have issues with any van out there currently one fault in any of them can cause thousands of repair cost so the whole one van is better than another is generally bullst. The only reason you hear more horror stories of ford product is basically they outsell ever single manufacture without even trying so more vehicles out there to go wrong. Add in how vans are treated and the long service intervals used to benefit fleet you get more talk about it.

They still in my opinion the best van out there just put money aside for repairs and find a decent garage that knows what they are doing with them.

[Escort3500]

MG CHRIS said:

The whole wet belt issue is can be well overblown on Internet. A lot of issues stem from general lack of servicing and or other issues being ignored which then leads to early failure. Ford have improved the material of the belt used around 2022 and the rates they are failing have reduced. As others said early notice will be weird feeling brakes as the belt blocks the break servo.

You can have issues with any van out there currently one fault in any of them can cause thousands of repair cost so the whole one van is better than another is generally bullst. The only reason you hear more horror stories of ford product is basically they outsell ever single manufacture without even trying so more vehicles out there to go wrong. Add in how vans are treated and the long service intervals used to benefit fleet you get more talk about it.

They still in my opinion the best van out there just put money aside for repairs and find a decent garage that knows what they are doing with them.

You’re right about the lack of servicing being a major issue My trusty local garage gets regular wet belt failures in for repair and it’s invariably because the van's not been serviced properly or in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommended intervals.

[cptsideways]

They are now competing with range rovers and Vauxhall's in the game of Motorway Breakdown Bingo, have just driven from Scotland to Oxford today & must have seen 15 bonnets up on a selection of Fords, all ecoboom candidates. It's definitely a thing!

[E-bmw]

I personally would only entertain a wet belt engine if from day one it was serviced by main dealer at perfect intervals & even then would budget the £2k for a belt swap every 5 years.

Obviously this means double the (5 year belt cycle) servicing costs of any comparable van from (pretty much) any other comparable van.

Just bought a brand new Fiat Ducato based motorhome, surely one of those would easily compete with the Tranny?

[Venisonpie]

Up until 3 years ago I used to run a fleet of 350 vehicles of which circa 100 were Transits/Customs with the majority having the wet belt engine. The failure rate was spectacular to the point I was shipping vehicles out of London to Peterborough for the Ford dealer to keep up with the repairs. They also suffer injector failure quite regularly which get stuck in the head often rendering it beyond repair.

Using a BI tool I was able to calculate the full life cost for each of the vehicles we had, Merc Vitos were cheaper and had far better up time. I wouldn't consider buying any Ford of any type having been so exposed to them. I can only recommend a Merc as a commercial vehicle.