Cam belt change cost

Strider590

Belts rarely break of their own accord, it's almost always the tensioner that takes out the belt.

This is why when I get a car, regardless of the history, I ALWAYS get the belt, tensioner and water pump changed. Too many cheap a55 people out there who just swap the belt.

fred246

I always wonder how many people pay £400 for a cambelt change to a garage and not actually get it changed. Garages will do anything if they think they can get away with it. Most customers won't have a clue. I would always do it myself to make sure the job is done properly.

audigex

fred246 wrote: »

I always wonder how many people pay £400 for a cambelt change to a garage and not actually get it changed. Garages will do anything if they think they can get away with it. Most customers won't have a clue. I would always do it myself to make sure the job is done properly.

Depends on the garage and area: I live in a fairly small town and garages here live or die by their reputation, so they tend to be pretty good.

Strider590

fred246 wrote: »

I always wonder how many people pay £400 for a cambelt change to a garage and not actually get it changed. Garages will do anything if they think they can get away with it. Most customers won't have a clue. I would always do it myself to make sure the job is done properly.

If they do a 12 month warranty/guarantee on parts and labour, then they'll try to do the job right.

fred246

Mine last 5 years until the next change is due. Wouldn't be very happy with a 12 month warranty.

EdGasket

I wouldn't like to even give a 12 month warranty if I were a garage. Who knows what the owner, or subsequent mechanic might do? I once had a timing belt replaced and I know it was done correctly because I watched the man put it on BUT 3 weeks later it broke. On investigation the water pump had started leaking onto it and this caused the failure. How can a garage guarantee a timing belt against unrelated stuff to the job happening which nevertheless breaks the cambelt? The owner could also be redlining the whole time putting undue stress on the belt.

gabitzul

Guys, stop with the water pump stuff. This is a MK2 Ford and on all the engines I know are being used in this car, the water pump is not run by the cambelt like it is on some Vauxhalls and VWs for example, but by the aux belt..

No need to waste money - change the water pump when needed (if/when becomes noisy).

To answer the actual question, I paid £275 for the exact job (Focus MK2 55 reg, 1.6 petrol). As already mentioned though, GET IT DONE PROPERLY. Sorry if the caps upset anyone, but it's critical with Fords. The mechanic needs to use a proper Ford crank/cam locking kit (crankshaft at TDC, cam pulleys need to also be loosened first, then locked with the locking bar). The cam pulleys are taper fit and once all is alligned, the last thing done is to tighten the cam pulley bolts at the correct torque.

If they plan to use marks on the pulleys to mark positions, run away.

steve8005

Thanks to all of you for your replies, It appeared that it has a chain instead of a belt. Just bought it and the mileage was 80000 so was thinking of changing it.

peter12345678910

steve8005 wrote: »

Thanks to all of you for your replies, It appeared that it has a chain instead of a belt. Just bought it and the mileage was 80000 so was thinking of changing it.

I have a 1999 focus 115000 miles, it has not needed a new cam belt?

Inner_Zone

theapocalypse wrote: »

lol at all the people who change their cambelts. My car has a chain so never worry about that.

Chains can stretch Mercedes some models are known to have this issue, Vauxhall again some engines also have this issue.