Cambelt snapped, was 8 year serviced yesterday (!)

BunnyKillBot · 1 Jun 2011 at 16:28

Oi, what a day. Today, doing 60/70MPH on a dual carriageway about 20 minutes out from home, sudden power loss, managed to coast to an exit layby, RAC came out in good time and towed us home. RAC man took one look and diagnosed the cambelt. High probability of extensive engine damage. Getting the car taken to our local Allen Ford garage tomorrow morning on the Ford road side assistance scheme.

Now here is the thing, it went in for its 8 year/100,000 service yesterday at its usual Dagenham Motors garage. It has been serviced yearly at this garage for the seven years that I have owned the car. There are currently 83k miles on the clock. The works sheet does not list anything major and the cam belt was not changed, or to my knowledge inspected. From my convocation with the garage today, i got the distinct impression they were going to try and waive all responsibility. Points of interest were:

1) Not due to be changed as had not passed 100,000 yet (even though this was, technically, the 100,000 service)
2) Checking the cambelt is not standard procedure for a service, because access is difficult.

The fact this has happened the very day after a major service is shocking to me, and i suspect liability from the garage. I just wanted to get an informed opinion of what i should do given my situation.

edit: Sorry! Is a Ford Focus, 1.6, 03 plated

Maz · 1 Jun 2011 at 16:30

You don't say what car and what engine?

LizardKing · 1 Jun 2011 at 16:30

Check the belt for oil, they may have spilt some on there causing the break (i'd expect it to last longer than 1 day covered in oil though..), other than that its highly likely just coincidence

Most belts change scheduals are x years or x miles, which ever comes first, when was it last changed?

The Running Man · 1 Jun 2011 at 16:35

If you wanted the cambelt doing why didn't you ask them to do it? It would be a significant cost - and you knew they hadn't done it otherwise the service cost would have been more than doubled.not sure you can blame the garages for not doing something you didn't ask them to do IMO.

Paul. W · 1 Jun 2011 at 16:36

Ford Focus?

Cambelts are under warrenty for 100,000 miles. HOWEVER the pulleys that the cambelts use are not. And these are liable to go before the belt does.

The garage should have at very least advised you that it was due to be changed. I had mine done at 82,000 miles.

mattyprice4004 · 1 Jun 2011 at 16:37

If they haven't touched the belt, then it's coincidence.

And also, it wasn't the 100,000 mile service it had, as it wasn't on 100,000 miles. Unless it specifically says in the book that the belt and tensioner MUST be done at 8 years / 100,000 then you're snookered.

Participant · 1 Jun 2011 at 16:45

Paul. W said:
Ford Focus?

Cambelts are under warrenty for 100,000 miles. HOWEVER the pulleys that the cambelts use are not. And these are liable to go before the belt does.

The garage should have at very least advised you that it was due to be changed. I had mine done at 82,000 miles.

That would have been nice, but they're still not liable for the belt snapping unless they've done something affecting it. Also are the pulleys specifically listed as a service item? If not, is the garage really at fault for not raising it?

BunnyKillBot · 1 Jun 2011 at 16:48

The Running Man said:
If you wanted the cambelt doing why didn't you ask them to do it?

Ignorance, and expectation. I am 24, this was my first car. I did not know or think about it. I would have expected the garage to pick it up, advise and inform at the point of service. I am not mechanically minded and i do not know an awful lot about cars. Lesson learned.

mattyprice4004 said:
And also, it wasn't the 100,000 mile service it had, as it wasn't on 100,000 miles.

The invoice sheet written on it:

A - 100K
Carry out 100,000 Mile Service (10SER/125SER)

Also, above the stamp in the logbook, the agent has written '100,000mls'.

Paul. W · 1 Jun 2011 at 16:52

Robbie G said:
That would have been nice, but they're still not liable for the belt snapping unless they've done something affecting it. Also are the pulleys specifically listed as a service item? If not, is the garage really at fault for not raising it?

I agree that the garage shouldnt be to blame in this instance, unless as you say they have done something to interfere with it. Which will be a right PITA to prove, especially as its close to its replacement age anyway.

A decent garage / mechanic could have advised that the cambelt and pulleys are due for replacement, simply by a quick flick through the service book whilst stamping. Good customer service and all that. However its not something they would have had to do.

I feel your pain OP. It has decided to go earlier than anticipated, but this does seem to be a really unlucky coincidence.

**Not wanting to sound like a ***, but if it is a Ford Focus, it does say in the manual that the cambelt needs to be replaced before 100,000 miles.

Jono8 · 1 Jun 2011 at 16:54

I am not sure you really have a case. If it had gone at 5 years and only 60,000miles or something then you could probably take it up with Ford but 8 years and 85k? Doubtful.

BunnyKillBot · 1 Jun 2011 at 17:00

Jono8 said:
I am not sure you really have a case. If it had gone at 5 years and only 60,000miles or something then you could probably take it up with Ford but 8 years and 85k? Doubtful.

The point is, given this has been documented as the 8 year, 100k service, shouldn't the cam belt have been at least checked?

Valentino · 1 Jun 2011 at 17:00

Sounds to me me like it is just very unfortunate timing.

[TW]Fox · 1 Jun 2011 at 17:09

The cambelt is not part of the 100,000 mile service. It is a seperate item which must be carried out at 100,000 miles or 10 years.

You took an 80k mile 8 year old car for a regular service.

The fact the cambelt has gone is regrettable but not the fault of the garage, who performed the work they were told to.

Westyfield2 · 1 Jun 2011 at 17:10

I thought it was 80k/5years (whichever soonest) on Zetec engines?

Call me a wuss but there's no way I'd leave a camblet for 10 years!

BunnyKillBot · 1 Jun 2011 at 17:11

Sad face

Westyfield2 said:
Call me a wuss but there's no way I'd leave a camblet for 10 years!

Nay would I. Lesson learned. A very painful, financially crippling, and mournful lesson. The death of my first car

andy_mk3 · 1 Jun 2011 at 17:14

When doing a service I always check and advise on whether the cambelt is due. If it's due before the next service I'd get my boss to let the customer know and go ahead with it if they want. It's not part of the service though.

Ford zetec engines should have the belt replaced at 100k or 10 years. Yours has gone before that so there's possibly a warranty claim there. But the belt going will have had nothing to do with the service unless a load of brake cleaner or something was spilled on it.

Paul. W · 1 Jun 2011 at 17:14

Depending on what you want to do, those engines are extreamly easy to find and cheap too. Could drop another one in, all depends on how much labour would be.

BunnyKillBot · 1 Jun 2011 at 17:17

andy_mk3 said:
When doing a service I always check and advise on whether the cambelt is due. If it's due before the next service I'd get my boss to let the customer know and go ahead with it if they want. It's not part of the service though.

I can't wrap my head around why its not part of the service to at least visually inspect it. Seems like a fairly important part to ensure is in good working order.

Jono8 · 1 Jun 2011 at 17:17

BunnyKillBot said:
The point is, given this has been documented as the 8 year, 100k service, shouldn't the cam belt have been at least checked?

A cam belt is not done as part of service.

Your only hope i think would be to contact Ford customer care with the fact that it is 8 years and 83,000 miles rather than 10 years and 100k but i fear the car is too old/high mileage.

andy_mk3 · 1 Jun 2011 at 17:23

BunnyKillBot said:
I can't wrap my head around why its not part of the service to at least visually inspect it. Seems like a fairly important part to ensure is in good working order.

Indeed but time = money and all that. It's rare that a garage will take the time to check the belt on a service.