Focus cam belt has let go :(

i know you weren't to know but it's probably crunched things up big time. prepare to write your engine off i'm afraid. don't waste too much on diagnostic prices, just get it swapped but remember to get the belt done on the donor!
 
Got me worried now. Was going to get them done on my st170 next service. It's done 55k. Then I read that it's good for 100k and I thought I'd put it off for 20k.

I think I need to stick to my original plan.
 
My girlfriends fathers 51 plate Focus just threw a cambelt tensioner last week. He went out and bought an 18 month old Corsa :(
 
I had exactly the same problem then end of last month on my 03 1.8 focus, it had only done 44000 miles aswell! I was extremely lucky however, the tensioner broke and the belt slipped three teeth but the engine was sound, couldnt beleive my luck, new belt and tensioner and its now my mums commuter!

The AA bloke who towed it explained that they actually need changing every 5 years, also spoke to ford who simply said there was no warranty on the belt and that the 100k mile guarantee isnt correct.
 
How expensive are they to replace? You lot have got me worried now as my cars almost at 60k so id rather get it done earlier rather than later. The cars going for a service in the next month or so, so I might just get it done while its in getting serviced.
 
The belt on my Focus was done last month on 35k and 9 years and it was in a bad state. 100K or 10 years is way too optimistic. It really needs to be done at 60k or 6 years, which still isn't bad considering the service intervals on other cars.
 
Definitely get it done Stellios, Mine in total was £160 for belt tensioner and fitting, I could have sourced the parts myself but it would have been saving ten quid and then having to wait.

Rob
 
Total bill will be £646 :(

This includes:

Full cam belt kit (inc tensioner and pullys)
Full head gasket kit
Water pump
Anti Freeze
Oil and filter change
8 Exhaust valves

I asked the question about a 2nd hand engine and he said we could do that but at the moment they are not charging me for recovery or any labor of stripping the head to find the damage. So if i went new engine route he would have to charge for the labor so far. Plus im going away on monday so really need it doing before then and with it being bank holidays friday and monday its a bit of a nightmare:(
 
In a situation where the cambelt fails I see a lot of people recommend changing the big end bearings as a precautionary measure, as they take some of the the impact when the pistons hit the valves.

Is this necessary or a bit of a waste of time?
 
The engine should be replaced, as soon as the belt goes the engine is good as scrap. I hope they are guaranteeing that repair because I don't see that engine much longer even with the repairs.
 
Janesy B said:
The engine should be replaced, as soon as the belt goes the engine is good as scrap. I hope they are guaranteeing that repair because I don't see that engine much longer even with the repairs.
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Yeah I agree, usually it knacks the crank bearings. You repair the top end then the bottom end lets go a few months later.

You can be lucky but it's an expensive gamble.
 
Had been thinking mine was due to be done soon as well but had been putting it off, mine is '03 and around 62k. I think I'll get it seen to sooner rather than later.
 
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