Cam Belts - Again! Take the money, or Gamble?
#1
Posted 05 February 2007 - 04:40 PM
I know this is a topic that's been mentioned loads of times ..BUT.. ... What's the likelyhood of my bog standard 1.7 Puma going 'pop' if I don't get the cam belt changed? I just want to know if anybody on here has wrecked their engine because of leaving it too long?
The reason I ask is because I'm always sceptical of companies wanting to take my money!! I'm not good at spending money on 'routine maintenance' and so far (I'm setting myself up for a disaster here!) none of the engines on any of my vehicles have ever missed a beat - despite being left to their own devices.
My cynical mind looks at the amount of cars on the road today & divides by the amount of cars that I have ever seen with a 'blown up' engine. If I were a gambling man, then I'd say that the odds are in my favour for my engine surviving longer than the rest of the car.
That said ......I think I'm going to get it serviced, & the cam belt changed when the MOT runs out in April!
#2 Guest_XIIVVX_*
Posted 05 February 2007 - 04:43 PM
I'd guess that running it to that level you would be about 99.9% safe.
But why take the chance? It really isn't that expensive to get it changed, and you'll only lose it on the trade-in if you sell it privately later.
XIIVVX
#3
Posted 05 February 2007 - 04:44 PM
#4
Posted 05 February 2007 - 08:16 PM
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#5
Posted 05 February 2007 - 08:48 PM
a ) people have them serviced
b ) people check their oil regularly
c ) people have their cambelts changed when they should.
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This post has been edited by pumanurse: 05 February 2007 - 08:49 PM
#6
Posted 05 February 2007 - 08:56 PM
#7
Posted 05 February 2007 - 09:44 PM
Given that the age interval was cut by 50% implies a lot really.
#8
Posted 06 February 2007 - 08:45 AM
come up and see me...make me smile :wink:
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, champagne in one hand - strawberries in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming WOO HOO -What a Ride!:D
1.7 Moondust Silver Sep 2002 - Aug 2009, 1.7 Silver Thunder Aug 2009 -
#9
Posted 06 February 2007 - 11:00 AM
Thanks all
#10
Posted 06 February 2007 - 11:08 AM
Hence the rule of thumb should be more related to whether you live / use the car around town mostly or on the open roads. I took mine to 100,000 miles before changing it, but it all depends on your perception is risk I guess
Jon
#11
Posted 06 February 2007 - 01:50 PM
come up and see me...make me smile :wink:
Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, champagne in one hand - strawberries in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and screaming WOO HOO -What a Ride!:D
1.7 Moondust Silver Sep 2002 - Aug 2009, 1.7 Silver Thunder Aug 2009 -
#12
Posted 06 February 2007 - 02:16 PM
#13
Posted 06 February 2007 - 07:38 PM
but how many years old was it, perhaps it was 100k miles on 5 years, rather than 100k miles on a 8 year old Puma?
#14 Guest_XIIVVX_*
Posted 06 February 2007 - 07:42 PM
Jon
Like I say, since that was the Ford recommend originally, the risk will be tiny.
After all once they'd had a couple go there was no loss to Ford to suggest shortening the interval. It was too late to affect many purchase decisions and would bring them and their dealers added income. A real 'no lose' decision for Ford.
XIIVVX
#15
Posted 06 February 2007 - 07:54 PM
each to their own, not a risk for me
#16 Guest_XIIVVX_*
Posted 06 February 2007 - 11:33 PM
Nor me. Mine was done at six years and 30 something.
But that still doesn't alter the fact the risk is miniscule.
XIIVVX
This post has been edited by XIIVVX: 06 February 2007 - 11:33 PM
#17
Posted 07 February 2007 - 08:47 AM
But that still doesn't alter the fact the risk is miniscule.
XIIVVX
I have changed 100's of belts and to be honest i have only seen a couple snap or break so i feel the belt is possibly up to the 100,000 mark as quoted by ford.
However i do find a lot of tensioners that have worn bearings which are due to colapse which will fall down into the bottom of the timing belt area. This will snap the belt and cost about £700 to rectify.
Sarah brought her car in and there was a slight ticking noise which was coming from the right hand side of the engine (inside cambelt cover) on removal of the belt and tensioner we found the tensioner spring had fallen out due to a small piece of plastic broken of the spring retainer. Sarah i still think you were so lucky it never droped down
The decision is down to the owner of the car but ford would not 1/2 the interval for no reason may be the tensioner was faulty ?
#18
Posted 07 February 2007 - 10:40 AM
In response I said I thought it had been changed to "80k or 5yrs"
He said that was for the "older ones" (How did he know I had a 51 plate?)
Anyway I asked what the cross over year was, he said it was "99 or 00 when they brought in the VCT engine".
Now correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't the 1.7VCT available from '97 to '02 ???
Therefore I reckon he hasn't got a clue!!!
I reckon I'll get mine changed, it is showing some tiny cracks.
For the record they quoted £325 for a full kit.
#19
Posted 07 February 2007 - 11:25 AM
Alan, i've got this ticking noise. I'm getting the belts, tensiners and pully changed on saturday. If the spring has dropped down will i still have this noise after getting thm changed? Or can the mechanic get the spring out? Thats if it is the same problem as Sarah's.
Cheers
#20
Posted 07 February 2007 - 11:29 AM
In my opinion its always better to be safe than sorry
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