Ford Sigma (Zetec SE) cambelt

[rovermorris999]

I've recently bought a kitcar with a 1999 1.7 Sigma from a Puma. The car was built in 2006 and the cambelt was changed then. It has now done 6500 miles. I've checked a Fiesta Haynes manual and that states cambelt changes at 40k miles for a Zetec SE but doesn't give any time limit. My gut feeling says the belt is now 5 years old and could do with changing. Yes or not needed? And is the engine an interference type, so doom and gloom if the belt does go?

[Nick3point2]

40k seems ridiculously short....

But, I'd imagine it will be 4 years, as manufacturers often base things on X years or X0k miles.

[Justin S]

Zetecs are 100k miles before changes, but my mate has seen a few fail at under 50 k miles and Ford qarent interested if they do fail under the set schedule. Best just to change it and have peace of mind.
Yes it will wipe the valves if the belt goes. I jumped two teeth on mine and it glanced the valves but was lucky.

[rovermorris999]

Looks like a change is the best idea then. Ta for the input.

[Yuxi]

Is it a sigma (aluminium block) engine or a zetec ( iron block)?

[rovermorris999]

Sigma, aluminium.

[Kitchski]

Careful if you change it yourself without a manual....it's a floating crank engine. Easy enough to do in prinicipal, once you've worked out the plan of attack, but different to keyed engines.