Ford Fiesta 2004 Cam Belt gone

ellies_angel

I bought a new Ford Fiesta 1400 Ghia in March 2004. (0% finance, top book price for my old car and no car trade in discount off the new). I have had it regularly serviced at an approved Ford Garage and it currently sits at 63,000 miles.
It has ran perfectly until today, I got into the car to start it and it wouldn't. Called out Green Flag who have looked at it and the timing belt has broken. They have towed it to my regular garage who will have to strip it down to see if the pistons have been bent.
I checked with the garage when the belt should be changed and its every 10 years or 100,000 miles.
What I want to know is if I could have any come back from Ford. I have looked after the car, not thrashed it and although you have no warning of when the timing belt will go its gone almost 5 years or 40,000 miles before it should have been changed. Should I contact Ford directly or get the garage to do it on my behalf.
Any advice would be gratefully received

neas

timing belt every 10 years? That seems quite a long time... you sure of that?

goldspanners

its a hard one this,and as ford decided the service interval it should be up to them to foot the bill.( if it has been serviced regularly in accordance to thier spec)
my focus has the same 100k miles/ 10 years interval for the timing belt,but i just didnt trust it and didnt want the hassle if it snapped before then, so i had it done at 50k / 4 years old.

goldspanners

neas wrote: »

timing belt every 10 years? That seems quite a long time... you sure of that?

it is true for a lot of ford zetec engines. not all though.

goldspanners

op, is your regular garage the ford main dealer? is that where the car is just now?
if not i wouldnt let anyone touch it untill you have been in touch with either ford or a ford main dealer.

jeannieblue

First of all - get it to a garage - and make sure that it is the timing belt. A quick look under the bonnet cannot tell you if it has gone - its not that easy.

If it has gone. Personally I would want to speak to Ford Customer Services!

I think that 10 years or 100k is far far too long to leave any timing belt/and tensioner pulleys etc. IS200 used to be that long, but have been reduced down to 60k or 5 years as they were 'going' before that - it was more the tensioner that failed and the belt eased and wore off until it snapped.

And don't just have the belt replaced - make sure the appropriate tensioners, idlers or pulleys etc are replaced too.

Let us know how you get on.

harveybobbles

Ford belts normally snap when you start the engine or just as you pull away. You could ask Ford for goodwill I guess...

goldspanners

hi jeanie,where have you been hidding? over on theat make up board i suppose?

jeannieblue

goldspanners wrote: »

hi jeanie,where have you been hidding? over on theat make up board i suppose?

Been really really busy - note the Avatar - taken me couple of months of internet searching to find my 'soul' mate!

Plus usual work commitments - I've a few extra days off and can't believe I'm on the motoring forum!!

ellies_angel

I checked with the Ford Dealer, the Fiesta is 10 years or 100,000 miles, if it had needed it sooner I would have.

It has been serviced at a Ford approved garage with original parts since new following their specifications.

It is at my garage which is the main Ford Dealer who have looked after the car since new.

Greenflag towed it today, I did call them to let them know it was coming and what they suspected it may be. I realise I won't know for sure until they "open it up" but it seemed that way. It was booked in for an MOT Thursday. Think thats a Fail!!! Will call them tomorrow to see if they have had a chance to look at it (busy after the easter weekend) and let them know that I intend to chase Ford for the repair.
Thanks for all your help and advice

goldspanners

ellies_angel wrote: »

I checked with the Ford Dealer, the Fiesta is 10 years or 100,000 miles, if it had needed it sooner I would have.

It has been serviced at a Ford approved garage with original parts since new following their specifications.

It is at my garage which is the main Ford Dealer who have looked after the car since new.

Greenflag towed it today, I did call them to let them know it was coming and what they suspected it may be. I realise I won't know for sure until they "open it up" but it seemed that way. It was booked in for an MOT Thursday. Think thats a Fail!!! Will call them tomorrow to see if they have had a chance to look at it (busy after the easter weekend) and let them know that I intend to chase Ford for the repair.
Thanks for all your help and advice

its good that its at the same place that its always been looked after, it helps keep things simple, good luck and let us know how you get on, it should be fairly easy to diagnose a snapped belt, its just a matter of removing the cover and if its snapped you will see either no belt or a badly messed up mass of rubber and threads! this is when the hard work begins.
if i was in your position i would be expecting ford to pay for the whole repair,not just the belt replacement, dont accept goodwill of 50% or anything carp like that, this damage could cost around £500 for it to be done properly. thats assuming it wont need a new engine,which it probably wont.