Hi All,

My car, a Ford Focus Hatchback 2003 1.8 TCDi, got the timing belt broken 2 days ago. I was driving slowly in a rough road, then I heard a click and bum, died. The mechanic had changed the service/serpentine belt 5 days earlier, and I told him to check the timing belt as well, and he said me it was ok..do you think it is possible that a mechanic checks the timing belt, he says it is ok and then after 5 days it gets broken?! However, I was wondering if the car has an interference or non-interference engine, because I know in the latter case the damages are less.

He has still to check which are the damages, and in the meantime I am considering different solutions. I spent 500€ in the car 5 days ago, servicing it, changing the serpentine belt, tyres and other things and it is a pity I have to throw it away. The car is still good but the engine, at the same time, has 220.000 kms..what do you suggest me to do? To repair it? Installing a new engine? Buying a new car?


Thanks a lot,

 

It's a shame he didn't change it, they are one of if not the easiest cam belt to do on any car!

You will need a new cylinder head at least as usually when they go, they break the cam shaft itself and the cam bearing caps.

 

Is this the engine with 2 belts, one from the crank to the pump, then another from the pump to the cam shaft? The bottom belt is buried and a big job to change, but needs doing at the same interval as the top one.

 

Richie , the later ones do have 2 belts, and the lower one in oil

On an older 2003 (presuming a mk1 Focus?) it will have an upper rubber belt and a chain/gear drive for the lower.

The REALLY early ones (late 80s in mk4 Escorts n shit) had 2 belts the lower one driving the fuel pump.

 

There is no way you can "check" it, it just has to be replaced, it's happened now but this should be done at scheduled intervals and/or mileage. Ford state 100K or 10 years, I would never go as far in either case.

The engine is simple (essentially the Lynx, which derived from the Escort) which means spares should be plentiful.

Martin

 

I've changed loads of top belts on th engines with the timing chain at the bottom.

 

Thing is the chain still needs to be done at the same interval as the belt, they seem to get forgotten about and that's what lets go.

 

That's how my mk4 mondeo was, cost me about a grand to have both belts done.

 

Never seen a chain fail on those.

 

I never used to change the chains either.