timing belt change on focus

trixyben

its coming closer to the time when my timing belt is due a change and was just wondering how complex a job it is, its a mk1 1.8tddi engine, might give it a go myself, say change belt, tensioner, water pump...

Seen a few being done before but not on a tddi engine, is it a case of marking each wheel to make sure timing is right, change water pump, change tensioner, put on new belt, manually turning a couple times to make sure timing marks line up and all okay?

Nissan doctor

trixyben wrote: »

its coming closer to the time when my timing belt is due a change and was just wondering how complex a job it is, its a mk1 1.8tddi engine, might give it a go myself, say change belt, tensioner, water pump...

Seen a few being done before but not on a tddi engine, is it a case of marking each wheel to make sure timing is right, change water pump, change tensioner, put on new belt, manually turning a couple times to make sure timing marks line up and all okay?

You need specific locking tools for that engine. There are no timing marks on these.

trixyben

Nissan doctor wrote: »

You need specific locking tools for that engine. There are no timing marks on these.

does using the locking tool make it a handier/safer job to do? is there a method best to use them? never seen one being used before

Nissan doctor

trixyben wrote: »

does using the locking tool make it a handier/safer job to do? is there a method best to use them? never seen one being used before

The locking tools physically lock the cam(s) and crank in position so that the cam and crank pullies can rotate freely when fitting and tensioning the belt.

charlie10

this belt can be done in twenty mins believe me i have done alot of these a bottle of tip ex is all that is needed,the pertol ones have no crankshaft key way hence the locking tools ,but this belt only runs from the cam shaft to the injector pump and back so is a piece of cake

crosshair1

charlie10 wrote: »

this belt can be done in twenty mins believe me i have done alot of these a bottle of tip ex is all that is needed,the pertol ones have no crankshaft key way hence the locking tools ,but this belt only runs from the cam shaft to the injector pump and back so is a piece of cake

How do you ensure that the tensioner is correctly set if you dont slacken the pulley?

Plug

charlie10 wrote: »

this belt can be done in twenty mins believe me i have done alot of these a bottle of tip ex is all that is needed,the pertol ones have no crankshaft key way hence the locking tools ,but this belt only runs from the cam shaft to the injector pump and back so is a piece of cake

There is no real way to mark it correctly with a bottle of tip ex. You could be out by a tooth or two everytime you do it. Better just to use the timing tools as Nissan Doctor said.
Like the zetec engines I slack off the cam pulley bolts so it makes putting the belt on easier and also this will you stop upsetting the crank position.

charlie10

this cam belt is nothing like the zetec petrol no pulleys need to be loosened and yes the tip ex will be acurate the tensioner has a pointer on it to indicate correct tension, these engines have a wet belt also which have an interval .so thats two belts,but second belt has a bigger interval,

Nissan doctor

charlie10 wrote: »

this cam belt is nothing like the zetec petrol no pulleys need to be loosened and yes the tip ex will be acurate the tensioner has a pointer on it to indicate correct tension, these engines have a wet belt also which have an interval .so thats two belts,but second belt has a bigger interval,

There is a reason why specific tools are used.

The cam pulley has to be loosened as otherwise when you tighten the tensioner it pulls the cam back slightly from the TDC position. The tools lock the cam, you then loosen the pulley so that the belt can be tensioned while keeping the cam in the perfect position.

The petrol engines in the Focus are the same, the crank is free wheeling and once you lock the cams and crank with the tools you loosen the cam pullies so they too are freewheeling.

charlie10

i am telling you ,u do not need to loosen the pulley on the focus 1.8 diesel,i dont need to be convinced i have done up to 30 of these belts and i have never loosened it ,yes the petrol engine you lock cam and crank and then loosen crank pulley and cam pulley then fit belt andput bottom pulley back on ensure its locked up to pin on crank and pull tensioner pin then lock cams rem,ove pins rotate and put pins back in to ensure correct timing ,but a diesel belt can be done in under an hour at ease.;)

trixyben

I'll defo be taking this job on myself so to avoid messing the timing ill get a timing kit in the mean time and have it ready for the job...

when changing the timing belt and water pump is there a better make of belt over another? was just going to go to motor factor and get all there...

charlie10

water pump is not driven by timing belt so its up to yourself about changing,just remove fan belt and check for play or roughness in pullleys, gates belt would be my preference but buy from main dealer is probably most reliable

Nissan doctor

charlie10 wrote: »

i am telling you ,u do not need to loosen the pulley on the focus 1.8 diesel,i dont need to be convinced i have done up to 30 of these belts and i have never loosened it ,yes the petrol engine you lock cam and crank and then loosen crank pulley and cam pulley then fit belt andput bottom pulley back on ensure its locked up to pin on crank and pull tensioner pin then lock cams rem,ove pins rotate and put pins back in to ensure correct timing ,but a diesel belt can be done in under an hour at ease.;)

Here's hoping you have a lot of friends and that its not paying customers getting their belts done that way.

The way Ford specify the belts should be changed using the tools for precise timing set up is the correct way, you may be getting away with it, but you aren't doing it correctly.
Perhaps a little studying on the long term effects of leaving the timing slightly advanced or retarded, as will be happening with your method, would help.

charlie10

contact 3 or 4 ford garages and ask to get through to a technician and ill ensure you this will be the way they will tell you to do them ,remember the op sounds inexperienced and wanted to have a go himself asking him to go inserting timing pins and the likes isnt going to work,the 1.8tdddi belt is the easiest belt to do with out fail and i can gaurantee the timing wont be off when i do them,i have done enough of them to know.it two pulleys and a tensioner you mark them and you cant be wrong it really is that simple with this belt. have you ever done one??
in the case of a 1.3 corolla for instance would you get locking pins for them too i dont think so .any mechanic i know uses the good old fashioned corrector fluid

Jimdagym

/ gets popcorn again....

Nissan doctor

Jimdagym wrote: »

/ gets popcorn again....

:P No need I'm afraid, some 'debates' are just pointless.

charlie10 wrote: »

contact 3 or 4 ford garages and ask to get through to a technician and ill ensure you this will be the way they will tell you to do them ,remember the op sounds inexperienced and wanted to have a go himself asking him to go inserting timing pins and the likes isnt going to work,the 1.8tdddi belt is the easiest belt to do with out fail and i can gaurantee the timing wont be off when i do them,i have done enough of them to know.it two pulleys and a tensioner you mark them and you cant be wrong it really is that simple with this belt. have you ever done one??
in the case of a 1.3 corolla for instance would you get locking pins for them too i dont think so .any mechanic i know uses the good old fashioned corrector fluid

Plug, who poster earlier in this thread, is a Ford mechanic.

1.3 corollas don't use timing pins/special tools. They use timing marks and you check the timing afterwards with a timing light and adjust as needed using the electronic distributer.

I guess that your idea of doing a job properly is very different to mine. I'll stick to mine as its working well for me so far thanks.

Jimdagym

Nissan doctor wrote: »

:P No need I'm afraid, some 'debates' are just pointless.

Boooooooooooo!

charlie10

"they use timing marks " if its good enough for toyota its good enough for me night night:D

Nissan doctor

charlie10 wrote: »

"they use timing marks " if its good enough for toyota its good enough for me night night:D

Wow, the reason for peoples poor opinion of the mechanic trade laid out in black and white.:rolleyes: