Dear Alex,
I bought my Ford Fiesta Zetec 1.0 Ecoboost brand new in 2018. I was not advised about the well-known “wet belt” engine problems, or the fact that the timing belt can only be changed at a Ford dealership. The car has covered 40,000 miles. I was intending to keep it post-retirement and beyond, but should I sell it now before any serious problems occur?
– JT
Dear JT,
A “wet” timing belt is one that runs through the oil in a car’s sump, to keep it lubricated and reduce friction, allowing the engine to run more efficiently. But over time the oil can break down the rubber – especially if the lubricant isn’t changed regularly or does not fit the manufacturer specification exactly – causing the belt to degrade.
When this happens, not only does it compromise the belt’s integrity (and if a timing belt breaks it can cause significant engine damage) but it also deposits rubber particles in the oil. These can collect in the oil pick-up pipe or filter, compromising the flow of vital lubricant.
Firstly, don’t beat yourself up about your purchase. While the problems of wet timing belts have been well documented recently, back in 2018 the industry was only just starting to become aware of the issue, so you weren’t to know.
In fact, relatively few people were aware – don’t forget that the 1.0-litre Ecoboost was crowned the International Engine + Powertrain Awards’ “Engine Of The Year” overall each year from 2012 to 2014 and continued to win awards.
Journalists – myself included – have heaped praise on it in the past, because it’s great to drive. And so is the car around it – the Fiesta is still one of the best used cars, combining value with space, good ride comfort and great handling.
So should you avoid the Fiesta altogether or, as in your case, sell one you own because of the potential for problems?
That depends on a combination of two things: your love for your car and your desire to keep on top of maintenance.
If you love what your Fiesta does and don’t want to let it go, then keep it. But make sure that the oil (of the correct specification) is changed regularly and ask your garage to check the timing belt at every service.
Set aside a budget for a replacement belt as soon as it shows any sign of degradation, no matter how small, or at 10 years old. I would suggest you ask the garage to drop the sump to check and clear the oil feed at the same time, so it will be an expensive job.
On that note, the reason you will likely have to get it done at a Ford dealer is because a timing belt change on an Ecoboost requires some special, very expensive, tools; some independent garages will have invested in them, but relatively few. It would still be worth asking local independents to see whether they can do it, though.
If your attachment to your car isn’t that strong, however, you’ll gain greater peace of mind by selling it and buying a car with a timing chain rather than a belt (although you will still need to check the service history for evidence of regular maintenance). The Honda Jazz, Toyota Yaris and Mazda 2 would all fit the bill.
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