Warning to all Focus ST Owners!

[Milky Bar Kid]

I bought a well looked after, low mileage 2007 Ford Focus ST 5 weeks ago. Everything that's needed done according to the manual has been done by previous owners.

Saturday night, cambelt snapped on me. Still waiting to find out exactly how much damage there is but we are hoping it's confined to valves and not bottom end.

If you have one of these, I recommend you change your cambelt promptly and don't risk the 100000 miles or 10 years as Ford suggests. My car has 68k on clock.

To say I am gutted is an understatement.

[maviczap]

Even if you have it done on schedule, things can still go wrong

My BIL had the cambelt done on his Audi A3, it snapped not long after having it done. Was fitted correctly

Garage blamed a bad batch of cambelts, BIL trying to get his money back from the garage or parts supplier.

Bad luck MBK, hopefully just a bent valve or 2.

[atassiedevil]

Shouldn't be bottom end, very unlikely this would break a piston. As maviczap says, probably a bent valve or two.

If you're lucky it might have missed the valves altogether, i've been that lucky in the past. Fingers crossed for you.

[Milky Bar Kid]

I could cry. Just my luck. I'm hoping the fact I was just pulling away from the kerb may mean that I've gotten away with the minimum amount of damage. Fingers crossed.

What a blooming nightmare. This is why I always bought new cars before!!!!

[maviczap]

Better it went there and not in the fast lane at 70mph, could've been an entirely different post.

Notice I said 70mph, because being a Policeperson you never speed do you :p ;)

[SvNewbie]

Location: Germany

Could have been going a lot faster than 70mph.

[maviczap]

Could have been going a lot faster than 70mph.

Nein, nein das ist nichts der wohnplatz von MBK :p

[Milky Bar Kid]

I'll let you into a secret. I'm not really in Germany!!!

[Biker Biggles]

I bought a well looked after, low mileage 2007 Ford Focus ST 5 weeks ago. Everything that's needed done according to the manual has been done by previous owners.

Saturday night, cambelt snapped on me. Still waiting to find out exactly how much damage there is but we are hoping it's confined to valves and not bottom end.

If you have one of these, I recommend you change your cambelt promptly and don't risk the 100000 miles or 10 years as Ford suggests. My car has 68k on clock.

To say I am gutted is an understatement.

Did you buy it privately or from a dealer and did it come with a warranty?
If it was a realer they normally give a three month warranty which should cover a sudden failure,at least up to a certain figure.If private,perhaps Ford may be willing to make a contribution as a goodwill gesture.(And to avoid bad publicity on internet forums like this)
Ive just bought a new(old)car so keeping fingers crossed its a goodun.

[Milky Bar Kid]

No it was a private sale!

[L3nny]

Sorry to hear about your misfortune

Last 3 cars I have owned all featured chain driven cams for a reason.

[SvNewbie]

My flatmate has had some similar misfortune today as well. Bought an old Nissan Primera, seemed in decent nick, quiet, no noises from the suspension few bumps and scrapes but seemed mechanically ok with the exception of a slightly oil leak.

Turns out the slight oil leak is due to a warped head or an otherwise dodgy head gasket.

He's pretty ****ed off.

[thefallenangel]

T**s or tyres = trouble was what an old fitter i worked with told me.

[DJ123]

Usually a failing/failed pulley will cause early failure of the belt. The belts generally last, its the pulleys that go & cause extra strain on the belt. (failed bearings usually)

[rb8989]

Though chains can be worse when they do go.. non interference engines ftw.

[Milky Bar Kid]

T**s or tyres = trouble was what an old fitter i worked with told me.


Does that mean being a lass I have double the trouble with cars then??!

[454697819]

bugger..

they also are aged linked, so its 100 000 miles or 10 for example..

Fingers crossed for you.

[Milky Bar Kid]

Yeh I said that in OP. But it's just turned 7!

I have no idea where I'm going to pull the money from to fix it.

[DJ123]

Yeh I said that in OP. But it's just turned 7!

I have no idea where I'm going to pull the money from to fix it.


Have you done any research on ST forums for premature failure of cambelts? Maybe there was a fault with earlier models in the manufacturing process?
Or see if anyone has had any luck with a good will gesture from Ford?

[Milky Bar Kid]

I've had a quick look but it seems to be a pretty unusual thing!

[DJ123]

Do you know if there were any recalls on your ST? https://www.gov.uk/check-if-a-vehicle-has-been-recalled


Or any from Ford? call a Ford dealer and give them your VIN, they'll be able to tell you anything it should have had, or it has had

[Dicky Ticker]

The one thing I have learned about cars with timing belts is they are a bit like motorbikes----when you fit a new chain it pays to fit new sprockets.

[Milky Bar Kid]

Ford have said there is nothing they can do!

[maviczap]

Ford have said there is nothing they can do!

Not surprised at all.

[Milky Bar Kid]

Me neither. Didn't think they'd come good. Always some way to weasel out of it!

[Biker Biggles]

Ford are correct in that they dont have to do anything,but they might feel they could help if it got them some good publicity,or avoided some bad publicity.Just a thought but it might be worth suggesting some goodwill help?

[suzukigt380paul]

I bought a well looked after, low mileage 5 weeks ago. Everything that's needed done according to the manual has been done by previous owners.

Saturday night, cambelt snapped on me. Still waiting to find out exactly how much damage there is but we are hoping it's confined to valves and not bottom end.

If you have one of these, I recommend you change your cambelt promptly and don't risk the 100000 miles or 10 years as Ford suggests. My car has 68k on clock.

To say I am gutted is an understatement.ford seem to have moved the goalposts,i owned a 1998 2.0 zetec,and that had a cambelt service interval of every 5 years or 60k,and the ford garage would guarantee the cambelt for the service life,most newer ford petrols have a chain driven dohc,(with a duplex chain that should outlast the engine)the st would seem to have a 5 cylinder volvo lump,but 10 years or 100k seems like a long time between service intervals,especially when its only about £200 to change the belt and tensioner,and there are many reported premature cambelt tensioner failures on the t5 volvo engine at about 60k,
with a bit of luck you will only need a few valves replaced,but i think these engines are fairly labour intensive with special tools needed to get the cams and rocker cover back on

[DJ123]

Ford have said there is nothing they can do!

Has the car been taken apart or assessed yet?

[Milky Bar Kid]

My own garage got car yesterday and started stripping cylinder head. Should find out damage later today. I am ridiculously stressed about the whole thing!

[suzukigt380paul]

My own garage got car yesterday and started stripping cylinder head. Should find out damage later today. I am ridiculously stressed about the whole thing!
im guessing if there is no piston or major head damage,by the time they add labour gaskets, new valves,timing belt and tensioner, drive belt plus a new water pump its going to cost about 1k

[sdellow]

Sorry to hear about this. I had a 08 RX8 until recently, believe me I understand the stress of things going wrong that simply shouldn't and then costing an arm and a leg to fix. At one point I was told there was zero compression and the car was effectively only worth scrap. Mazda wouldn't help me either.

Let's say worst case scenario as suzukigt380paul suggests - in reality once all that is done you shouldn't have any further engine issue, hopefully for the duration you have the car.

[Specialone]

There is something amiss in the cambelt world, when I bought my golf in 2007 it's said clearly, 60,000 miles for a cambelt change, I then get a letter saying, it's 4 years or 40k, my car had not done 15k at 4 years old, there was no way I was parting with £450 on a 15k mile cambelt, I told vw this and asked why it's changed, I didn't get a very good answer.

I've had dozens of cars over the years with cambelts lasting 80-100k no bother, so what's changed? Cheaper manufacturing that's what.

Oh and Lenny, can chains aren't exempt, didn't you see watchdog regarding BMW's ?

[suzukigt380paul]

There is something amiss in the cambelt world, when I bought my golf in 2007 it's said clearly, 60,000 miles for a cambelt change, I then get a letter saying, it's 4 years or 40k, my car had not done 15k at 4 years old, there was no way I was parting with £450 on a 15k mile cambelt, I told vw this and asked why it's changed, I didn't get a very good answer.

I've had dozens of cars over the years with cambelts lasting 80-100k no bother, so what's changed? Cheaper manufacturing that's what.

Oh and Lenny, can chains aren't exempt, didn't you see watchdog regarding BMW's ?bmw's problem wasnt that it has a chain its down to the fact that there chain wasnt up to the job,most camchains on car are a duplex chain,bmw's on the effected models is a single row timing chain,the problem on the volvo lump is/or seems to be the tensioner breaking,but that said i would never run a cambelt 100k or ten years,dispite what the manufacture says,every 5 years or 60k would be my preference,or play russian roulette waiting to see if it will last,some people will get away with 100k others arn't as lucky.as to luck i know a idiot who runs a old volvo,in a 140k(may be more) it has missed several cambelt changes and he has never changed the oil,he is either very lucky,or is talking bullsh1t,but just because he has got away with it doesn't mean others will

[timwilky]

My own policy is 60,000 change. But then again I have run test rigs designed to test the longevity of belts in a past life and have seen failure in simulation of as low as 10,000 and as high as 200,000 miles.

I have in the past rebuilt heads following a piston/valve meeting only to have the engine returned as the piston crown has subsequently failed.

The other thing I tend to do is write in paint the mileage on the belt cover when I change it, that way new owners at least get an indication it has been done. Plus change tensioners/idlers/water pumps etc at the same time. Belt only is a false economy.

This reminds me the van is getting due its second, now where is my locking set.

[Mauler]

Good luck with the news, I hope it's not too expensive :(

[L3nny]

I know chains aren't flawless but you hear a lot fewer horror stories. Sold the Beemer anyway. Got a V6 Auidi TT now :D

[Milky Bar Kid]

Hairdressers car!!!

Anyway, still dreading phone call. I had guessed it was gonna be about £1k if that was the damage. I hope it's no more or I'm stuffed. Had set aside that much for a wood burner - not be getting that now!!!

I hate cars.

[chris8886]

I hate cars.



see, tis why you just stick to the bike! :P

[Dicky Ticker]

Nic,I have a friend who is high up in Fords and I mentioned this last night in discussion.


Can you give me the actual mileage with confirmation that it is genuine and date/name of Ford garage it was serviced at prior to your purchase.


He is in test and development and thinks there might be another contributory factor to the fail as they have tested the belts beyond the service interval

[Milky Bar Kid]

Garage has been in touch. I had car in to have aux belts replaced two days before timing belt failure.

Garage only replaced one. The other belts they had were wrong size and didn't replace other belt. This belt failed and took out timing belt. Valves all bent. Head has to be rebuilt.

So a £30 job is now costing me £1700.

[Milky Bar Kid]

Just to clarify. It was different garage that had it for the aux belts.

[smiley125]

Surely if the original garage failed in their service and only changed one of the two belts then they should be paying as if they had done their job properly then all this would of been avoided?

Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk

[Milky Bar Kid]

In an ideal world. Probably won't happen.

I have had it confirmed though that the belt that failed was the outer belt. They will have had to remove it to replace the one they did and then put it back.

Doesn't sound like a coincidence to me.

[Specialone]

Get a second quote for the repair work, that sounds a lot for a few new valves, which are quite cheap to buy.
What about looking for a 2nd hand replacement head? Be cheaper to swap a head than rebuild one.

[DJ123]

Garage has been in touch. I had car in to have aux belts replaced two days before timing belt failure.

Garage only replaced one. The other belts they had were wrong size and didn't replace other belt. This belt failed and took out timing belt. Valves all bent. Head has to be rebuilt.

So a £30 job is now costing me £1700.

I'd ask Ford for a price and haggle the hell out of it (join their service plan and you get a discount on labour and parts {20% I think})

[JulesW]

MBK, sorry to hear about this, hope you get a cost effective solution. Good luck!

[Milky Bar Kid]

Get a second quote for the repair work, that sounds a lot for a few new valves, which are quite cheap to buy.

What about looking for a 2nd hand replacement head? Be cheaper to swap a head than rebuild one.


It's due to it being the ST model Phil. The quote is reasonable.

[Dicky Ticker]

Sorry old girl but it obviously confirms what my mate said about a "Contributory factor"




Go back to motorbikes ,you had better luck with them

[Specialone]

It's due to it being the ST model Phil. The quote is reasonable.

Yeah I'd expect a bit more but valves are still valves, I bet the valves are the same as used in standard models.

My mate had his v6 Audi rebuilt with all new valves and belts etc for less than that.

Trouble is they have you over a barrel and being a female customer, they have probably piled it on, in fairness unless you're clued up, there's no way of you or anyone else checking to see what they are telling you is correct.

[Milky Bar Kid]

Phil, don't imply that I'm an idiot because I'm female.

The recovery was almost £200, it's taken 4 hours to strip cylinder head so another £120 before we even start, the cost of the parts (shims and valves) are £400, then the labour for the rebuild of the head, then new belts and I can't remember if he said I needed a new pump or not. So no, I don't think I'm being scammed or that they are being unreasonable. A 2nd hand head is not cheaper than the rebuild. It was an option that was looked at.

The T5 engine is known to be labour intensive in these sort of situations.

[Specialone]

I wasn't implying anything, I was implying that garages sometimes take the pee with women and what they perceive as vulnerable.

I was only trying to help, it's your money, spend it how you like.

[DJ123]

Phil, don't imply that I'm an idiot because I'm female.

The recovery was almost £200, it's taken 4 hours to strip cylinder head so another £120 before we even start, the cost of the parts (shims and valves) are £400, then the labour for the rebuild of the head, then new belts and I can't remember if he said I needed a new pump or not. So no, I don't think I'm being scammed or that they are being unreasonable. A 2nd hand head is not cheaper than the rebuild. It was an option that was looked at.

The T5 engine is known to be labour intensive in these sort of situations.

I don't think he was implying you are an idiot because you are female or for any other reason. More trying to look out for you as some people can be naïve & garages take advantage of this.


The price doesn't sound too bad overall. I always find it useful to price up the parts from an auto factors & the manufacturer to see if I am getting value for money.

[Milky Bar Kid]

Phil and I have had this out before. I'm just being tired and cranky. Sorry Phil!

[maviczap]

Phil and I have had this out before. I'm just being tired and cranky. Sorry Phil!

Not surprising really, given the stress you've beeen under :(

Take a chill pill ;)

[Milky Bar Kid]

It's more the nightshifts that have done it! They make me grumpy enough as it is without this on top!

[maviczap]

Yep, I know how you feel, nights do my head in

[Specialone]

Phil and I have had this out before. I'm just being tired and cranky. Sorry Phil!

No problemo :)

[Amadeus]

I wasn't implying anything, I was implying that ...

I'm a smart ass :)

[Dabteacake]

Sorry you have been unlucky but when they are running they re brilliant! I had a 10 plate in Germany and used it to it full potential on the autobahn

Hope you can keep the costs down

[Bluefish]

100k is quite a strech for a belt?

[Milky Bar Kid]

Apparently not. There's few failures I can find. And it appears that mine has only failed as a result if something else failing

[BanannaMan]

It's a Ford!
Found On Road Dead
Fix Or Repair Daily

If you want dependable, Honda or Toyota are your best bets.

[Milky Bar Kid]

It's a ford in name only, Volvo engine!! Lol!