Replacing a timing belt is one of the most common car garage services. How much does a Ford Fiesta timing belt replacement cost in the UK? How often does it need to be changed? Plus: How to save money and get free estimates!
How much does Ford Fiesta timing belt replacement cost in the UK?
The average timing belt (also cambelt) replacement cost for a Ford Fiesta is between £450 – £900 in the UK. The material costs for a new timing belt, tensioner and idler pulley will only be around £150 – £300. What makes the timing belt replacement so expensive is the labour cost, as it is a comparatively complex and time-consuming job. The average labour cost will range around £300 – £750.
AVERAGE: £450 – £900
The timing belt replacement costs for the Ford Fiesta are moderate, as the timing belt replacement usually only takes between 2 and 4 hours, depending on your Fiesta model. If the water pump is also replaced, the procedure takes a little longer, but the money is well invested. In this example the water pump is not changed.
Changing water pump and timing belt at the same time is quite common because they become worn out in similar intervals and labour costs can be saved. Expect to pay an additional £100 – £300 in that case. All figures shown on this article are incl. VAT and for guideline values only and may of course vary.
Example: Ford Fiesta timing belt replacement cost (Mark 7) | |
|---|---|
Overview | Cost |
Timing belt, tensioner and idler pulley | £150 |
Labour cost | £400 |
Total cost | £550 |
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Does my Ford Fiesta have a timing belt or timing chain?
Very likely, yes. Your Ford Fiesta most likely has a timing belt. Traditionally, Ford uses timing belts for engine control. However, there are a few exceptions which have a timing chain. In detail, these are the following models:
From 2018: Ford Fiesta Mk8 Fiesta ST
2005-2008: Ford Fiesta Mk6 Fiesta ST
2002-2008: Ford Fiesta Mk6 Fiesta 1.3, 1.3i
1995–2001: Ford Fiesta Mk5 Fiesta 1.3i
1989–1996: Ford Fiesta Mk4 Fiesta 1.1, 1.1i
What is a timing belt?
The timing belt is an elementary part of the engine and controls the combustion process. This belt made of plastic and fabric has many fine teeth that interlock with other parts within the engine and are largely responsible for its function. It is driven by the crank shaft which in turn controls the cam shaft.
What does a timing belt do?
The timing belt is also responsible for ensuring that a combustion engine can operate at all. The timing belt transmits the rotation of the crank shaft to the cam shaft. The cam shaft in turn opens and closes the valves and supplies the combustion chamber with the air-fuel mixture it needs.
Why does a Ford Fiesta’s timing belt need to be replaced?
Due to its composition, the timing belt wears out over time and becomes porous. Because of that, the replacement intervals recommended by the manufacturer should be followed exactly. Even if a timing belt replacement is comparatively expensive, it should never be postponed. An old or worn timing belt can easily slip or even tear.
If the timing belt snaps, the result is even more expensive engine damage. The valves of the engine will no longer be controlled and will hit against the engine piston. The car loses all its power, in a worst case scenario on the highway. In most cases the engine can be written off as a total loss and often a repair is no longer worthwhile. Usually, guide pulley, tensioner and idler pulley are replaced at the same time. Depending on the condition, the water pump may also be replaced.
What are warning signs or symptoms of a bad timing belt?
Unfortunately, worn out timing belt do not have a multitude of symptoms as clear as other car parts do. Most of the time you will only notice a worn out timing belt when it snaps. The best protection is therefore a conscientious compliance with the recommended change intervals.
In rare cases, before the cambelt snaps, unusual grinding noise / sound can be heard coming from the engine. Under certain circumstances, a reduction in engine performance may also be noticed. The car should then be parked immediately and the timing belt checked for signs of wear.
If the timing belt shows very strong wearout like overexpansion or cracky / brittle spots on the edges, it is not recommended to continue driving for safety reasons. The vehicle should then be towed away to avoid the risk of engine damage.
Can I drive with a bad timing belt?
» Get your car towed away!
Driving with a faulty timing belt is really a bad idea. If the belt snaps, the consequences will be enormous. In terms of necessary engine work and extra cost if your engine blows. It is also dangerous while driving. Your engine could lock up and brakes and steering could fail.
If your timing belt has not snapped yet, you are still on the lucky side. So you will probably end up paying less, if you leave the vehicle where it is and have it towed away.
When to change the Ford Fiesta’s timing belt?
Depending on your Ford Fiesta variant, the replacement intervals are roughly between 140,000 and 240,000 km or approximately every 10 years. The decisive factor is what takes place earlier. Some very old variants (2003 and older) can heave shorter intervals. The exact service intervals can be found in the service booklet.
A timing belt wears out not only after running a certain number of kilometers, but can also become brittle or cracky over time. In this case, the recommended change interval in years will apply. This is especially relevant for short distance or occasional drivers. After 5 years at the latest, the timing belt should be checked at least once in a car garage.
A short check before the actual replacement interval is therefore useful, as the timing belt does not always wear out evenly with time. For example, dirt on the timing belt or assembly errors such as an unsuitable tension of the timing belt or mechanic inaccuracies when adjusting the tensioner and idler pulley can accelerate wear out.
There are few car parts where you should pay so much attention to the change intervals recommended by the manufacturer. For the simple reason that the follow-up costs can be very high when a timing belt snaps. This also applies to stretched or tensionless timing belts. In addition, neglect of the intervals can lead to a loss of warranty claims.
How to replace the timing belt on a Ford Fiesta
Changing the timing belt on a Ford Fiesta is a very time-consuming and complicated matter. First of all, the timing belt protection must be removed, which often involves dismantling various panels and components. It is important to note that the cam shaft and crank shaft are located on the so-called top dead center (TDC) of the cambelt change. The mechanic must also note the exact position of the gears so that he can later insert them correctly.
If this is not done properly, the engine can be damaged when starting. In most cases, not only the timing belt and water pump will be replaced replaced, but also the adjacent parts, such as the tensioner pulley and crank pulley. After the belt has been tensioned, the coverings can be mounted again.
What is the difference between cambelt and timing belt?
A commonly asked question with a very simple answer: cambelt and timing belt are synonymous for one and the same thing. It is the same thing and there is no difference.
The car brand Ford
Ford is one of the five largest car manufacturers in the world. The company with US roots not only revolutionised the vehicle industry with its numerous types and models, but also set completely new standards in the industry with the pioneering development of the moving assembly line.
Models such as the Focus and the Fiesta have become indispensable on UK roads and used cars regularly achieve a high price, which speaks for the extraordinary quality of the vehicles.
Also of note is the ground-breaking EcoBoost engine technology, which consistently scores extremely well in numerous tests. The smallest representative, the 1.0-litre EcoBoost petrol engine, has even been officially awarded ‘International Engine of the Year’ several times.
Popular Ford car models in the UK
In 2020 Ford was the UK’s best-selling car brand with 152,777 sold vehicles. The most popular Ford models in the UK include the Fiesta, Focus, Mondeo, Puma and Kuga. However, the Focus and the Fiesta have been the most popular Ford models in the last decade.
The Ford Fiesta
The Ford Fiesta has been built since 1976 and is sold worldwide. According to Ford, around 15 million vehicles of this model have been sold so far. Since the first series, the Fiesta has been repeatedly revised and redesigned. The Fiesta is particularly popular in the UK: in the years 2014 – 2020, the Ford Fiesta was the UK’s best-selling car every year. For that reason, so many Ford Fiestas can be seen on UK roads.
The Ford Fiesta is now in its 8th generation. The latest models on the UK market are the Ford Fiesta and the Ford Fiesta ST, both of which were last facelifted in 2022. The petrol version is mostly powered by Ford’s EcoBoost engine (1.0 – 1.5 litre, 100 – 200 hp), which has been officially awarded ‘International Engine of the Year’ several times. The diesel variant is available with a 1.5 litre Duratorq TDCi (85 – 120 hp).
Overall, the Ford Fiesta scores with comparatively low purchase and maintenance costs, agile handling, modern looks and durability. In addition, they are also suitable for larger people due to the generous amount of space.
