cambelt change on focus zetec

Marshmule · 27 Sep 2006 at 19:51

Has anyone changed a cambelt on a zetec 1.8? Is it very involved or is it something someone who knows his way around an engine could do?

I really dont want to spend a couple of hundred pounds getting it done if it can be done by my dad!

thanks

Ron Burgundy · 28 Sep 2006 at 21:04

Marshmule said:
Has anyone changed a cambelt on a zetec 1.8? Is it very involved or is it something someone who knows his way around an engine could do?

I really dont want to spend a couple of hundred pounds getting it done if it can be done by my dad!

thanks

Chenquay! Its important to remember that its probably not just the belt that needs changing. It could be worth getting the water pump and pulleys done too. You can usually get kits here, but to be honest, if you get it done by a dealer or garage then it will be covered under a parts and labour warranty

Doonhamer · 28 Sep 2006 at 21:09

When is the Cambelt on the Focus meant to be done?

Ron Burgundy · 28 Sep 2006 at 21:11

Doonhamer said:
When is the Cambelt on the Focus meant to be done?

80k IIRC although i'm probably wrong. It could also be dependant on engine size.

Interestingly, I didnt know that the Focus 2.0l was not made by Ford, but the Mondeo 2.0l is. Seems stupid to me :confused:

Goliath · 29 Sep 2006 at 08:03

Doonhamer said:
When is the Cambelt on the Focus meant to be done?

100k or 5 years IIRC.

Kona* · 29 Sep 2006 at 08:12

I used to have a 2001 1.8 Zetec and it was 80k for the cambelt, as someone said above its best to get the water pump, etc. done at the same time

[TW]Fox · 29 Sep 2006 at 08:14

Ron Burgundy said:
80k IIRC although i'm probably wrong. It could also be dependant on engine size.

Interestingly, I didnt know that the Focus 2.0l was not made by Ford, but the Mondeo 2.0l is. Seems stupid to me

Cambelt on the 1.8 and 2.0 Zetec engines is 100k miles or 10 years and both the 2.0 in the Mondeo and the Focus are made by Ford as they exactly the same engine

Ron Burgundy · 29 Sep 2006 at 08:26

[TW]Fox said:
Cambelt on the 1.8 and 2.0 Zetec engines is 100k miles or 10 years and both the 2.0 in the Mondeo and the Focus are made by Ford as they exactly the same engine

I was under that impression. But I read somewhere recently that the Focus unit was different to the Mondeo. Focus was made by PRS or PRC or something and the Mondy unit was a Ford item. Problem was, it didnt say which marques it was talking about. I'm trying to find the link now.

MuvverRussia · 29 Sep 2006 at 08:45

I thought that the 2 litre engine in the Focus (mk1) was the old zetec engine, with about 130ish bhp, whilst the 2 litre engine in the Mondeo (mk3) is the duratec, with 140ish bhp? They're using the duratec engine in the new model focus now though, so in that case they're the same engine.

It's entirely possible that the older zetec units ended up being made under licence or something though. Maybe that's where this has came from?

233 · 29 Sep 2006 at 08:52

80k miles for the win, do the pulleys at same time and throw a water pump on

jobs a good un dont forget your ancilliry belts as well powersteering alternator etc

dirtydog · 29 Sep 2006 at 09:03

I thought cambelts commonly broke well before 80-100k?

Doonhamer · 29 Sep 2006 at 18:48

Mines is at 50k just now so got a bit to go yet. Probably going to run it into the ground rather than get rid like I planned so will have to fork out for things like cambelt now.

[TW]Fox · 29 Sep 2006 at 18:58

dirtydog said:
I thought cambelts commonly broke well before 80-100k?

Not Blacktop Zetec cambelts.

Dogbreath · 29 Sep 2006 at 20:45

MuvverRussia said:
I thought that the 2 litre engine in the Focus (mk1) was the old zetec engine, with about 130ish bhp, whilst the 2 litre engine in the Mondeo (mk3) is the duratec, with 140ish bhp?

The Duratec dosen't even have a cam belt.

Lopéz · 30 Sep 2006 at 09:15

It's a doable DIY job. Space is tight I can't think of any reason why a decent home mechanic couldn't do it. Have a browse of the Haynes book of lies and decide for yourself

osc89er · 30 Sep 2006 at 11:24

[TW]Fox said:
Not Blacktop Zetec cambelts.

Are the stories about idlers and tensioners falling apart at 70k definitely based on the silvertop zetecs? My blacktop zetec is on 72k and I have been thinking about getting it done as a preventative.

S@njay · 30 Sep 2006 at 11:37

osc89er said:
Are the stories about idlers and tensioners falling apart at 70k definitely based on the silvertop zetecs? My blacktop zetec is on 72k and I have been thinking about getting it done as a preventative.

I went to the garage last year with my blacktop zetec with 70k on the clock, they told me to wait until i hit the 100k mark before thinking about changing the belt and pulleys/tensioners.

Tesla · 30 Sep 2006 at 11:40

osc89er said:
Are the stories about idlers and tensioners falling apart at 70k definitely based on the silvertop zetecs? My blacktop zetec is on 72k and I have been thinking about getting it done as a preventative.

This was the tensioner off of my silvertop 2.0 Zetec after 90k.

Cambelt is supposed to be changed at 5years/80k on my partciluar engine so when I bought it I did it pretty much right away- glad I did too!

The blacktop is 100k/10years and uses a different tensioner setup but they still wear out.

I imagine you will have to change the belt once during the rest of you ownership of the car, if you can afford to do it at the moment then I probably would.