Ecoboost 1L cam belt change

daniellejwilson

I've reached 151,000 miles in my 2013 ford fiesta ecoboost, i've had it serviced religiously but now need to look to get the cam belt changed. I've read it's an involved, long job and have been quoted £1100 by ford. I'm trying to weigh up whether it's worth it, or whether to start looking for a new car. I've chatted to the mechanic who's serviced it over the 8 years i've had the car and he says, one done, it might do another 100,000 miles with only wear and tear costs (break pads, possible clutch).

Has anyone bitten the bullet and had it changed? Was it worth it for you? Did anything else go wrong? My mileage has come right down so have gone from 100 miles a day 5 days a week to 60miles a day 3x a week....

Thanks in advance, Dan

facade

daniellejwilson said:

I'm trying to weigh up whether it's worth it, or whether to start looking for a new car.

What new car could you get for £1100 plus an ecoboost due a cambelt change?

It is a massive job, and you need some special tools, anyone would think Ford didn't expect the engine to last long enough to need a cambelt.

If you like the car, and you trust the mechanic, seriously consider getting it done, it will be cheaper than swapping the car for someone else's troublesome cast-off, and you might get another 10 years out of it, which lets you write the cost off at £110 a year- about £2 a week.

daniellejwilson

facade said:

daniellejwilson said:

I'm trying to weigh up whether it's worth it, or whether to start looking for a new car.

What new car could you get for £1100 plus an ecoboost due a cambelt change?

It is a massive job, and you need some special tools, anyone would think Ford didn't expect the engine to last long enough to need a cambelt.

If you like the car, and you trust the mechanic, seriously consider getting it done, it will be cheaper than swapping the car for someone else's troublesome cast-off, and you might get another 10 years out of it, which lets you write the cost off at £110 a year- about £2 a week.

Many thanks, I'm just fear that i bite the bullet, get the work done and something else goes wrong. I think i am leaning on getting the work done though, as you say, there's not much i can buy for the price of the cam belt change and i still really like the car. Many thanks again. 

photome

I believe it’s overdue a belt change as I think it should be every 5 years or 150000 miles. . Even if you were to sell/trade it the value would be reduced as the belt is overdue/due. 

daniellejwilson

photome said:

I believe it’s overdue a belt change as I think it should be every 5 years or 150000 miles. . Even if you were to sell/trade it the value would be reduced as the belt is overdue/due. 

On this model the belt was originally meant to least the lifetime of the car, but its been changed to 10 years or 150,000 miles. The difference between this belt and others is the work involved - 10-15 hours, removal of engine etc....so quite the investment. 

Lomast

You said you were quoted 1100 by Ford, have you asked an independent garage for a quote. 
Find a trusted local independent and the Labour cost is likely to be half what ford charge

Ibrahim5

So glad I avoided the Ecoboost engine. Imagine buying it for the MPG and then all your savings are wiped out by a cambelt change.

JGB1955

I love my Eco boost Fiesta.  I would NEVER go to a main dealer for a service (and told the dealer that when I bought it 'second hand' with 5 miles on the clock that they would never see it again)  We take all of our cars to  an independent garage who confirm it will need a new cambelt at 10 years/150K miles.  I would expect to pay less than £600 then.  If it's £1K it's still a bargain.

[Deleted User]

Why do they make cars so difficult to work on these days? Even simple things like changing a bulb is an hour+ work on some cars.

Just reinforces my mantra that they make cars designed to be scrapped after 3 years when the lease is up. 

tommyedinburgh

Deleted_User said:

Why do they make cars so difficult to work on these days? Even simple things like changing a bulb is an hour+ work on some cars.

Just reinforces my mantra that they make cars designed to be scrapped after 3 years when the lease is up. 

Not three years but I seriously get your point. Perhaps not every manufacturer though? 

[Deleted User]

tommyedinburgh said:

Deleted_User said:

Why do they make cars so difficult to work on these days? Even simple things like changing a bulb is an hour+ work on some cars.

Just reinforces my mantra that they make cars designed to be scrapped after 3 years when the lease is up. 

Not three years but I seriously get your point. Perhaps not every manufacturer though? 

Maybe not 3 years, but the manufacturer wants to wash their hands of it after 3 years when they have flogged the punter a new car.