Cambelt change

[mac_motors91]

Hi Guys,

The cambelt on my brother's ford fiesta needs changing, is this feasibly a job that can be done at home or is it one of those jobs that is best left to the experts at the garage?

[paintman]

mac_motors91 said:

Hi Guys,

The cambelt on my brother's ford fiesta needs changing, is this feasibly a job that can be done at home or is it one of those jobs that is best left to the experts at the garage?

Model, engine & year?

[Drive it fix it repeat]

So many questions, starting with do you know how a spanner works, if not probably best left to someone else.

[Ed.]

As above plus are you planning on doing waterpump and tensioners?

[finishing touch]

Up until a month ago I'd never done one. Then this bloke came to look at my MX5 and said he wouldn't buy it without documented evidence of a cam belt change.


So £65 later, new water pump, tensioner roller, idle roller, tension spring, and belt, and sold to the man with the wadge of cash.

Piece of cake.

Paul G


Edit to add:-

You should expect to take an hour or two longer than a pro mechanic, but then your time is free.

Edited by finishing touch on Friday 14th February 13:47

[mac_motors91]

Hi guys,

Its a 1.3, 08 (5th generation) fiesta.

Spanners? Are they those metal things? ; ) My mechanical experience is very limited, I've stripped a car before but never actually put one back together again!

In regards to waterpump etc I will replace at the same time to save having to re do it down the line.

Cheers guys

[bluezedd]

As you've had to ask the question, I'd probably suggest your brother gets a mechanic to do it and start with other repairs first. It's pretty simple if you're experienced, but it's not something you want to mess up especially if it's your brothers car.

Once you buy a decent water pump, belt, pulleys etc, and perhaps the locking tools (and any other tools you might need), and factor in your time then it's probably not worth it.

I'd tend to want to do repairs to my own car, that way if there's any "complications" then you don't get the blame.

EDIT: just saw your recent reply. You'd probably be ok changing the belt/water pump etc but I'd personally prefer to do this on your own car for the first time.

[mac_motors91]

Brilliant, thanks for your advice guys. Really appreciated!

[paintman]

Worst case scenario if fitted incorrectly you can cause a considerable amount of damage to the engine.

[Gilhooligan]

finishing touch said:

Up until a month ago I'd never done one. Then this bloke came to look at my MX5 and said he wouldn't buy it without documented evidence of a cam belt change.


So £65 later, new water pump, tensioner roller, idle roller, tension spring, and belt, and sold to the man with the wadge of cash.

Piece of cake.

Paul G

Which model of mx5? They’re non interference engines which makes them less risky a purchase regarding cambelts lol.
Plenty of room on an mx5 to do cambelts too (although I still paid someone to do mine ).

I’d imagine it’s harder on a transverse engine Fiesta too.

[Scootersp]

First thing I'd do is look at the access and visit youtube.

If it then looks doable (lots of cambelt changes can require specific locking etc tools) then plan well.

Getting to expose the cambelt is often more than half the battle.

Once there, after aligning the match marks, then you are 'simply' looking at (Mr Miagi voice) one belt off - one belt on.

The tensioner might need setting in a specific way, the pulleys will likely shift a smidge on belt release of tension causing the possible one tooth out scenario, but it's all rectifiable if you've got the manufacturer match marks and/or your own from when the original belt was on.

After setting the tension you can rotate the crank pulley by hand and check you've not completely ballsed it up and the pistons and valves interfere.

There aren't too many things that can go wrong if you plan and check/double check things.

[Scootersp]

paintman said:

Worst case scenario if fitted incorrectly you can cause a considerable amount of damage to the engine.

largely mitigated by rotating the engine a few revolutions via the crank pulley before trying a normal start.

Over/under tensioning or not noticing a worn/misaligned pulley on the belt run would be others.

[Limpet]

mac_motors91 said:

Hi guys,

Its a 1.3, 08 (5th generation) fiesta.

If it's a 1.3, this will be the Endura-E engine which has no timing belt to replace. It's a pushrod engine with a timing chain. The 1.25, 1.4 and 1.6 are more modern DOHC designs, and use timing belts.

Edited by Limpet on Friday 14th February 14:10

[finishing touch]

Gilhooligan said:

finishing touch said:

Up until a month ago I'd never done one. Then this bloke came to look at my MX5 and said he wouldn't buy it without documented evidence of a cam belt change.


So £65 later, new water pump, tensioner roller, idle roller, tension spring, and belt, and sold to the man with the wadge of cash.

Piece of cake.

Paul G

Which model of mx5? They’re non interference engines which makes them less risky a purchase regarding cambelts lol.
Plenty of room on an mx5 to do cambelts too (although I still paid someone to do mine ).

I’d imagine it’s harder on a transverse engine Fiesta too.

It was an '03 1.8L SVT Sport (with variable valve timing)


The buyer got a quote of £300 and I can't prove it but think be was looking at getting £300 knocked off the price.
He then would not have had one fitted. Like you say, it's a non interference engine.

He did ask if I had a timing light to fit the timing belt.

Paul G