Ford Focus Timing Belt Replacement » Cost · Free Quotes | UK (2024)

Replacing a timing belt is one of the most common car garage services. How much does a Ford Focus 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 Focus timing belt replacement cost in the UK?

The average timing belt (also cambelt) replacement cost for a Ford Focus is between £400 – £800 in the UK. The material costs for a new timing belt, tensioner and idler pulley will only be around £50 – £250. 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: £400 – £800

The timing belt replacement costs for the Ford Focus are moderate, as the timing belt replacement usually only takes between 2 and 4 hours, depending on your Focus model. However,some models can take more than 6 hours, resulting in higher labour costs. 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. The following is a cost example for a Ford Focus timing belt replacement with 1.6-litre from 2012. All figures shown on this article are incl. VAT and for guideline values only and may of course vary.

Ford Focus timing belt replacement cost (1.6l, 2012)

Overview

Cost

Timing belt, tensioner and idler pulley

£180

Labour cost

£360

Total cost

£540

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Does my Ford Focus have a timing belt or timing chain?

Almost all Ford Focus models have a timing belt. However, there are a few exceptions which have a timing chain. These models are:

Ford Focus Mk5 1.0 EcoBoost, 1.0 EcoBoost Hybrid, 1.5 EcoBoost, ST 2.3 EcoBoost

Ford Fokus Mk4 2.0 EcoBoost ST 2012 – 2018, RS 2.3 EcoBoost 2016 – 2018

Ford Focus Mk3 1.8 und 1.8 Flexifuel 2006 – 2010, 2.0 2004 – 2010

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.

Whatdoes 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 Focus’ 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 circ*mstances, 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 Focus’ timing belt?

Depending on your Ford Focus variant, the replacement intervals are roughly between 150,000 and 250,000 km or approximately every 10 years. The decisive factor is what takes place earlier. 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 Focus

Changing the timing belt on a Ford Focus 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 Focus

The Ford Focus is considered a family-friendly car with excellent value for money. It scores with lots of space, good and precise handling, lots of comfort and modern technology. In addition, the Ford Focus is very reliable and durable. For these reasons, the Focus is very popular on both the new car and the used car markets.

The compact class car Ford Focus has been built since 1998. In 2000 and 2001 the Ford Focus was the world’s best-selling car and in the past decade one of the best-selling cars in the UK. In 2004, the second generation of the model was launched, which then was replaced by the third generation in 2011. In 2018, the fourth generation of the Ford Focus was launched.

The fourth generation has been extensively upgraded technologically. Adaptive Cruise Control and Traffic Jam Assist make driving easier, as do camera-based cornering lights and other state-of-the-art assistance systems. The new Focus is also the first Ford with a head-up display and mobile wifi. The model range includes the five-door hatchback limousine, an estate version Turnier and a four-door notchback limousine.

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