Ford Ecoboost Cambelt Change - Garage Recommendations

[stevieturbo]

HJG said:

Timing is more accurate when it's not keyed.
Don't know why so many people are against it.

Because it's dumb, less reliable, more prone to trouble further down the line. Not all locking tools are "correct", because manufacturers have a habit of changing things, then requiring multiple tools....which you hope will be right.

Really it makes zero sense

[stevemcs]

Skyedriver said:

Don't want to derail this thread but do Peugeot have a similar engine set up?
Colleague at the museum has received a recall on his 1.2 something or other. States something like timing belt disintegrating contaminating the oil and causing brake fail. (Yes the last bit got me too, unless the engine seizes, you've no servo and limited brakes).

Yes, and they are doing some under warranty - there should be recalls out for some of them.

Edited by stevemcs on Thursday 23 March 18:19

[stevemiller]

tux850 said:

Rather perversely the hideousness of the garage pricing for the job (although @stevemiller if yours is anywhere near Wiltshire I'd love to hear the details as £700 doesn't sound too bad) and fear factor of DIYing it that I've been reading on various forums elsewhere is actually pushing me to want to give it a go myself.

I'm beginning to feel I've got nothing to lose (other than leaving my wife without a car of course if I screw it up!) as long as I follow the correct procedure (sent you a message @stevemcs - thanks), and the labour fees I'll save will easily cover the cost of the timing/locking tools (£65) and suitable torque wrench and breaker to give me the 300Nm plus 90 degrees that the crank bolt seemingly requires (if not using the torque multiplier).

Sorry the garage used was in Cumbria.

[Easternlight]

stevieturbo said:

HJG said:

Timing is more accurate when it's not keyed.
Don't know why so many people are against it.

Because it's dumb, less reliable, more prone to trouble further down the line. Not all locking tools are "correct", because manufacturers have a habit of changing things, then requiring multiple tools....which you hope will be right.

Really it makes zero sense

Its just a money making exercise pure and simple.

[TwinKam]

It's done for manufacturing purposes; it's simpler/quicker/cheaper (in the robotic factory) for the shafts to be jigged in their correct positions and then the sprocket bolts tightened, rather than the other way around. Additionally, because it's infinitely adjustable, there's never the dilemma of half-a-tooth this-way-or-that.
Time to stop thinking that anything regarding design is done either for 'our' benefit, or to stump 'us'; it's 100% about production cost.

[Evoluzione]

TwinKam said:

It's done for manufacturing purposes; it's simpler/quicker/cheaper (in the robotic factory) for the shafts to be jigged in their correct positions and then the sprocket bolts tightened, rather than the other way around. Additionally, because it's infinitely adjustable, there's never the dilemma of half-a-tooth this-way-or-that.
Time to stop thinking that anything regarding design is done either for 'our' benefit, or to stump 'us'; it's 100% about production cost.

Exactly this.

[Krikkit]

To be honest I find it easier anyway - it just means buying a set of locking tools, but these days the knock-offs are cheap and easily found.

[iamthelurker]

I was going to start a new thread on this but thought I'd jump on here instead. I'm looking for an independent that would do the timing belt replacement close to Bristol. I've a 2013 ecoboost engined Focus, FSH and 71k on the clock. Had it about 5 years now. I need a timing belt change, plus replacement track rod ends as mine are seized, tracking and new tyres on the front. Bodywork is a bit battered as well. Oh yes, I discovered a wet boot as well due to a commonly occuring leak which I believe is coming from the air vents! An easy fix but a bit of a pain. Looked at finance deals to replace the car as well, am 50/50 about spending the money to keep it running reliably vs chopping it in. Given the increase in costs of second hand cars, my budget of £8-£9k won't get a great deal that's better. Anyone got any recommendations for a place that will do the belt for a decent price? Or should I trade in for something else?

[stevemcs]

Boot vents are simple, just take the bumper off and replace both sides, should be about £120 at a garage

Track rod ends, they rarely seize on the Focus, a little heat can help. If not budget £200 for inner and outer inc tracking

Cambelt, personally on a 4k car i'd run the risk. Just change the oil a little more regularly, use the correct 5w20. You could always get the sump dropped and check the pickup, if done at the same time as a service i'd budget another £100 on top of the service.

[MC Bodge]

stevemcs said:

Cambelt, personally on a 4k car i'd run the risk. Just change the oil a little more regularly, use the correct 5w20. You could always get the sump dropped and check the pickup, if done at the same time as a service i'd budget another £100 on top of the service.

I may soon take ownership of my Dad's 2013 Focus 1.0 125ps -I don't think the mileage is high.

It is now approaching 10 years old, so the belt change issue has been flagged-up

It has been used, taken on reasonably long journeys, but not thrashed, and has always been serviced by their local Ford dealer -if that makes any difference.

If I do get the car, dropping the sump myself to look at the pickup sounds fairly straightforward to prevent a potentially unnecessary expensive (or time-consuming DIY) belt change.

Of course, the relatively simple 1.4 Zetec engine in the elderly Fiesta that my parents gave us 5 years ago is still going strong and smoothly.

[stevemcs]

I think you need to drop the exhaust, its rtv as a gasket.

[MC Bodge]

stevemcs said:

I think you need to drop the exhaust, its rtv as a gasket.

Thanks.

If I dropped the sump and cleared any debris from the pickup, I presume it would be good to go for a few years, if the belt doesn't let go!

[stevemcs]

Yes i think so, the one we had the owner had continued to drive after the oil light came on. They only admitted to that later on and it started knocking.

[iamthelurker]

stevemcs said:

Boot vents are simple, just take the bumper off and replace both sides, should be about £120 at a garage

Track rod ends, they rarely seize on the Focus, a little heat can help. If not budget £200 for inner and outer inc tracking

Cambelt, personally on a 4k car i'd run the risk. Just change the oil a little more regularly, use the correct 5w20. You could always get the sump dropped and check the pickup, if done at the same time as a service i'd budget another £100 on top of the service.

Thank for all that info, I'm going to get on it with the vents - looks like a simple job for me to DIY. My mechanic has confirmed the track rod ends are seized, he reckons they're not sufficiently lubed at the factory.

Regarding running the risk, I'd do the same if it was just me but my wife commutes to work in the car and does the nursery pick up on the way home, often while I'm away for work. Probably me just worrying too much but I'd hate for the car to leave her stranded.

Any ideas as to the longevity on these ecoboost engines? Just weighing up if it's worth fixing up or time to move it on. If it was a more standard engine, I'd get the belt done and keep it going for longer but it looks like one of those real design flaws to make it such a pain to change.

[MC Bodge]

iamthelurker said:

Any ideas as to the longevity on these ecoboost engines? Just weighing up if it's worth fixing up or time to move it on. If it was a more standard engine, I'd get the belt done and keep it going for longer but it looks like one of those real design flaws to make it such a pain to change.

Given the price of used cars now, the cost of changing the belt is not that significant.

As above, though, our 2006 Zetec engine is still running perfectly with no cause for concern. The belt change was straightforward too and so cheap that I paid a local garage to do it, rather than DIY.