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Old 18-10-2010, 07:32 PM   #1
Talldude
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Default Timing belts

Was told by my friendly neighborhood mechanic that it is about time to change belts.... well wayyyyyyyy beyond time to change belts on my 03 focus zetec.

It has done 120,000k's am I pushing my luck?

I think so but I have been lazy!

Has anyone had a belt fail on them?

Just curious

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Old 18-10-2010, 11:55 PM   #2
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I'm also curious to know when they're due, whether it would have been done at last service (95,000 - done not long before the car was traded & I bought it) or whether I'm up for some big $ next service (110,000km) to have it replaced?
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Riksta likes VN's so much, he has the ashes of a VN in a jar on the mantle piece, a vile of VN engine oil hanging from his neck and a BT1 build plate locked up in a safe, buried under 6ft of concrete.
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Old 19-10-2010, 02:16 AM   #3
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Is the focus belts or chains? If chain, you can drive them hard well over the recommended. I've driven a chained up to 195k and still fine, in a non focus.

If belt, I'd "almost" follow its scheduled. Belts are strong but not as strong as chain. Belts are not to expensive to replace, few hundred inc parts.
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Old 19-10-2010, 09:34 AM   #4
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Riksta, your car is chain driven and the chain only needs to be replaced every 240,000km.

The old Focus is belt driven. Leaving it too long is playing with fire - snapped belt = new cylinder head!
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Old 19-10-2010, 08:20 PM   #5
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Thanks DZFord, I assumed they were all belt, in fact, somebody even told me I should get my belt checked out. If LS is actually chain, I'm laughing. Will be easier on my wallet!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Nikked
Riksta likes VN's so much, he has the ashes of a VN in a jar on the mantle piece, a vile of VN engine oil hanging from his neck and a BT1 build plate locked up in a safe, buried under 6ft of concrete.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Day-mow
pretty much what has happened here is i trolled you. and it was fun.
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Old 19-10-2010, 09:22 PM   #6
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I can go one better. I picked up my car from Ultratune for the 60,000km service and they told me that my timing belt is due. Even if it HAD a timing belt, why would you replace it at 60k km?
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Old 20-10-2010, 07:49 PM   #7
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Yeah I dont go to Ultratune no more they talk out of their ****!

Yeah I have been playing with fire so I am getting it changed on Tuesday.

Wish it was a chain though.

But Astra's were chain drive and my brother in law had his one go bad after 80k's caused a heap of damaged.
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Old 20-10-2010, 08:12 PM   #8
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I looked inside an engine today (Renault) that the belt had stripped 20 or so teeth..... It had a belly full of bent valves and cracked pistons and swarf all through the oil galleries. An estimate $6k repair bill minimum.

This was a key point in why I purchased a Focus, the whole Duratec philosophy is great, look it up sometime.
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Old 21-10-2010, 07:19 AM   #9
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I'm sure the astra has a cambelt, and they had to lower the sevice interval from 120,000 to 60,000 due to a lot failing. It was due to a poor tensioner design.
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Old 21-10-2010, 08:28 AM   #10
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peugeot 2l turbo deisel every 50000!!!!!!
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Old 21-10-2010, 01:26 PM   #11
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Quote:
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peugeot 2l turbo deisel every 50000!!!!!!
French cars....
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Old 21-10-2010, 06:11 PM   #12
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I've just picked up a 1985 1.6ltr corolla with a busted cam belt. They thought new head, valves etc, etc. But these engines are non-interference so chuck on a cam belt and away we go.
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Old 21-10-2010, 06:49 PM   #13
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Lucky about the corolla.

I hate to think how much it would cost to fix a french car!
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With ST170 Suspension all round, ST170 Snorkel, K&N air filter, 2.0 Auto Air deflector, MSD Ignition coils and high amp leads. (In red adds at least 5bhp!) Also Under pulley kit. Refreshed ST170 wheels now!
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Old 21-10-2010, 10:14 PM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Talldude
I hate to think how much it would cost to fix a french car!
Just walk in there threatening them (with anything), they'll surrender pretty quickly!
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Currently: 2014 Mazda6 GT (Daily) and 1999 Mazda MX5 (Fun Car)
Previously: 2001 Ford Escape XLT; 2010 MC Mondeo; 1984 FD LTD; 2001 AU2 Falcon Forte; 2005 LS Focus Zetec; 1988 RE Colt; 1982 RB Colt; 1974 KE20 Corolla
Quote:
Originally Posted by Nikked
Riksta likes VN's so much, he has the ashes of a VN in a jar on the mantle piece, a vile of VN engine oil hanging from his neck and a BT1 build plate locked up in a safe, buried under 6ft of concrete.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Day-mow
pretty much what has happened here is i trolled you. and it was fun.
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Old 27-10-2010, 06:59 PM   #15
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Well I am $700 dollars lighter now.

Had a look at the timing belt it was worn and was starting to peel slightly but overall was good.

Not bad for 120k's
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With ST170 Suspension all round, ST170 Snorkel, K&N air filter, 2.0 Auto Air deflector, MSD Ignition coils and high amp leads. (In red adds at least 5bhp!) Also Under pulley kit. Refreshed ST170 wheels now!
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