Timing belt done? Do I trust seller?

session savage

Hello everyone.

Kinda need some opinions on this.
I bought a 2008 ford Mondeo 1.8d last year and the guy selling it said the timing belt was done (and the typical tippex on the engine was correct)
The guy was from Belarus i think but there was no issue with communication and he seemed sound out. So Im certain he was happy the timing belt was done.

Fast forward a few weeks and Im talking to my mechanic and he asks if both belts were done. As i wasnt sure I rang the guy i bought it from and he gives me his mechanics number.

I called his mechanic and he had broken english but clearly assured me that both belts were done as he said "yes yes both belt done top belt wet belt done"

So I was happy enough with that.

Another few weeks pass and I bring the car to ford for a service and they say that usually they can see the bolts to the wet belt were opened but theres no real sign that they were on my car. That dont mean the belt wasnt done just that they could assure me, and they wanted me to book in for a belt change.

Milage is at 106k miles now.
I was told belts were done at 86k
The car was definitely minded

Would you guys believe the seller and his mechanic or would you get the belts done.

Disclaimer; Im poor and 800-900 quid to get the belts done would break my heart if it wasnt needed.

Well??

Mary2221

session savage wrote: »

Hello everyone.

Kinda need some opinions on this.
I bought a 2008 ford Mondeo 1.8d last year and the guy selling it said the timing belt was done (and the typical tippex on the engine was correct)
The guy was from Belarus i think but there was no issue with communication and he seemed sound out. So Im certain he was happy the timing belt was done.

Fast forward a few weeks and Im talking to my mechanic and he asks if both belts were done. As i wasnt sure I rang the guy i bought it from and he gives me his mechanics number.

I called his mechanic and he had broken english but clearly assured me that both belts were done as he said "yes yes both belt done top belt wet belt done"

So I was happy enough with that.

Another few weeks pass and I bring the car to ford for a service and they say that usually they can see the bolts to the wet belt were opened but theres no real sign that they were on my car. That dont mean the belt wasnt done just that they could assure me, and they wanted me to book in for a belt change.

Milage is at 106k miles now.
I was told belts were done at 86k
The car was definitely minded

Would you guys believe the seller and his mechanic or would you get the belts done.

Disclaimer; Im poor and 800-900 quid to get the belts done would break my heart if it wasnt needed.

Well??

No one here going say belt are done we never see car.

session savage

Ah yeah I know that. Im just wondering how many people would be happy to believe the seller and his mechanic or instead get belts done for peace of mind.

I had bought the car so there was no need or reason to lie about the belts. But the ford guys are after putting doubt in my head.

TimeToShine

I thought the diesel had to be done at 160k miles (240k kms)?

E36Ross

Depends on how much you trust the seller whether he's telling the truth or not.

I know of another Mondeo (Around 120k miles) with belts supposedly done and it snapped.

mickdw

Not a hope in hell the belts were done if he is a kerb side dealer and the only proof is tippex.
I'd possibly question the mileage on the car too. Seems very low for an 08 diesel.

Car99

800 to 900 to get the belts done? Find another garage.

session savage

Ive tried a few places and thats the cheapest. Ford wanted 1200

grogi

Car99 wrote: »

800 to 900 to get the belts done? Find another garage.

Wet belt is a pain, this is a good price actually...

Alan_007_

Have you tried seeing how much it would be to buy the parts yourself online and pay a mechanic for just labour?

I was quoted the bones of €950-€1,000 to get the clutch and DMF done in my car. Managed to get the whole lot done for about €575 when I supplied the parts myself!

biko

Mechanics usually don't add to the part price (of course this can depend) but they do have overhead (salaries, heating, rent, etc) so this can add to your cost.

The main reason to let mech source the part is that if you supply the part it may be subpar quality, and if it breaks after a year you will blame the mechanic when it was the part quality that was the culprit.

My advice is to only source a part if the mech agrees to this. They may be too busy to source it themselves.

Alan_007_

biko wrote: »

Mechanics usually don't add to the part price (of course this can depend) but they do have overhead (salaries, heating, rent, etc) so this can add to your cost.

The main reason to let mech source the part is that if you supply the part it may be subpar quality, and if it breaks after a year you will blame the mechanic when it was the part quality that was the culprit.

My advice is to only source a part if the mech agrees to this. They may be too busy to source it themselves.

In my experience I've been able to find parts for substantially cheaper than the mechanic said he could supply them for.

Of course, if you do go down that route you'd want to make sure that you buy OEM parts, so you'd have to do your research there alright.

Of course, you also have no comeback, but that's a risk you have to take if you want to save on costs!

Henry Ford III

It's a huge trust. I'd want receipts for the parts.

JohnBoy26

Car99 wrote: »

800 to 900 to get the belts done? Find another garage.

How much do you think it should cost?

ION08

mickdw wrote: »

Not a hope in hell the belts were done if he is a kerb side dealer and the only proof is tippex.
I'd possibly question the mileage on the car too. Seems very low for an 08 diesel.

Doesn't say say he is a dealer unless I missed something?

Also, I don't believe 106k miles is particularly low for an 08 diesel?

I have an 08 3.0 TDI and it has just turned 100k and mileage is most definitely legit.

OP, Funnily enough I actually bought a Focus once and I was assured timing belt was done.

Nobody here can tell you wether it was done or not or whether you should trust your mechanic or not. It's all down to you.

If you want to get it done for your own peace of mind, it should come in around the 300-350 euro mark for Timing Belt kit supplied and fitted

JohnBoy26

ION08 wrote: »

Doesn't say say he is a dealer unless I missed something?

Also, I don't believe 106k miles is particularly low for an 08 diesel?

I have an 08 3.0 TDI and it has just turned 100k and mileage is most definitely legit.

OP, Funnily enough I actually bought a Focus once and I was assured timing belt was done.

Nobody here can tell you wether it was done or not or whether you should trust your mechanic or not. It's all down to you.

If you want to get it done for your own peace of mind, it should come in around the 300-350 euro mark for Timing Belt kit supplied and fitted

Not when the wet belt has to be done too

mickdw

ION08 wrote: »

Doesn't say say he is a dealer unless I missed something?

Also, I don't believe 106k miles is particularly low for an 08 diesel?

I have an 08 3.0 TDI and it has just turned 100k and mileage is most definitely legit.

OP, Funnily enough I actually bought a Focus once and I was assured timing belt was done.

Nobody here can tell you wether it was done or not or whether you should trust your mechanic or not. It's all down to you.

If you want to get it done for your own peace of mind, it should come in around the 300-350 euro mark for Timing Belt kit supplied and fitted

No it doesn't say whether kerbside dealer or not hence I say not a hope if he is a dealer. Possibly poor phrased on my behalf.
Mileage is low for the age and for a diesel.

Mary2221

session savage wrote: »

Ive tried a few places and thats the cheapest. Ford wanted 1200

I think I remember George Dalton posting that he do them 650

JohnBoy26

mickdw wrote: »

No it doesn't say whether kerbside dealer or not hence I say not a hope if he is a dealer. Possibly poor phrased on my behalf.
Mileage is low for the age and for a diesel.

The fact that the mechanic mentioned the wet belt was done is a good sign imo but if the op wants piece of mind absolutely replace it again

session savage

Your right it was not a dealer. Just a family man selling his car. I did the deal at his kitchen table. Little kids were showing me their pet birds and all that jazz. Im confident he was a genuine guy.

I suppose Im just perplexed. It was a month after I bought and paid for the car that I rang to double check both belts were done. He, and the mechanic, would have no reason to lie about it.

Unfortunately because theres two belts its a pricey job. Best quote I got was 800. If it was only 300 id probably get it done for peace of mind but jesus 800 is a lot.

Anyway, I genuinely appreciate the replies folks. I just wanted to guage what others would do in my situation.

Thanks

biko

You could visit his mechanic and see if you can gain some trust from him.
Perhaps he can explain how the bolt didn't look like it was touched.

JohnBoy26

biko wrote: »

You could visit his mechanic and see if you can gain some trust from him.
Perhaps he can explain how the bolt didn't look like it was touched.

Tbh I wouldn't bother mentioning the bolt if you haven't done already.

The Real B-man

Try http://www.timingbelts.ie/ might save a few quid

The Backwards Man

I wouldn't trust my own mother with the receipt in her handbag when it comes to timing belts. Factor in getting it done yourself when you're buying and you know where you stand from then on

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

mikeybrennan

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

Tbh I wouldn't bother mentioning the bolt if you haven't done already.

He could say the ford garage said it ,see what the reaction is

Personally i wouldn't trust it

JohnBoy26

mikeybrennan wrote: »

He could say the ford garage said it ,see what the reaction is

Personally i wouldn't trust it

But why open that can of worms? An unmarked bolt means nothing and for all we know the mechanic could well be telling the truth and could end up being wrongly accused.

If it was me I wouldn't bother saying anything to the mechanic. There is nothing to gain from it anyway.

Stoolbend

€800 isn't a lot compared to what it will cost if it fails.

enumbers

ION08 wrote: »

Doesn't say say he is a dealer unless I missed something?

Also, I don't believe 106k miles is particularly low for an 08 diesel?

I have an 08 3.0 TDI and it has just turned 100k and mileage is most definitely legit.

OP, Funnily enough I actually bought a Focus once and I was assured timing belt was done.

Nobody here can tell you wether it was done or not or whether you should trust your mechanic or not. It's all down to you.

If you want to get it done for your own peace of mind, it should come in around the 300-350 euro mark for Timing Belt kit supplied and fitted

Why quote a price that should be paid when you have no idea what this job on this particular car involves,

corks finest

session savage wrote: »

Hello everyone.

Kinda need some opinions on this.
I bought a 2008 ford Mondeo 1.8d last year and the guy selling it said the timing belt was done (and the typical tippex on the engine was correct)
The guy was from Belarus i think but there was no issue with communication and he seemed sound out. So Im certain he was happy the timing belt was done.

Fast forward a few weeks and Im talking to my mechanic and he asks if both belts were done. As i wasnt sure I rang the guy i bought it from and he gives me his mechanics number.

I called his mechanic and he had broken english but clearly assured me that both belts were done as he said "yes yes both belt done top belt wet belt done"

So I was happy enough with that.

Another few weeks pass and I bring the car to ford for a service and they say that usually they can see the bolts to the wet belt were opened but theres no real sign that they were on my car. That dont mean the belt wasnt done just that they could assure me, and they wanted me to book in for a belt change.

Milage is at 106k miles now.
I was told belts were done at 86k
The car was definitely minded

Would you guys believe the seller and his mechanic or would you get the belts done.

Disclaimer; Im poor and 800-900 quid to get the belts done would break my heart if it wasnt needed.

Well??

Personally,i wouldn't trust anyone ref timing belt ,unless it was my own mechanic did it

monkeysnapper

The bit I don't get ...

Is your mechanic the same as ford where you took it for service.

If it was me I'd call over to mechanic with car , and just be polite and ask again and maybe say ford had doubts it was changed .

At least you can see what kind of set up this mechanic has . does he seem genuine . Does he keep his place clean and tidy .

I think its all above board by sounds of it . but in my opinion calling over to this mechanic would reassure you .

Noccy_Mondy

Without receipts, I wouldn't trust it to be honest. Any gombeen should know enough to keep records of a major spend like that, especially if they planned to sell the car on.

We have an 08 mondeo, done the TB about 4 years ago at a cost of around 600ish. (receipts still there to prove) I'd do some more digging first, but for piece of mind I'd be looking at getting it done again. You're looking at massive money if it snaps.

mikeybrennan

Who does timing belt and doesn't keep a receipt?

Fred Swanson

This post has been deleted.

The_B_Man

Google the mechanics phone number. See if it comes back associated with an actual mechanic or garage. Otherwise it could just be ur man's mate or brother or something, in which case obviously it's be bogey. (or try ring it from an unknown number and see of he answers as a mechanic)

I got mine done through a trusted mechanic on the recommendation of the gf's father down the country. No receipt as he works out of his house. I'm 100% sure the work was done to a top standard despite no receipt. I'll be back gettin me next service done there for a fraction of the price as well. But it's a small town so reputation is everything.

JohnBoy26

monkeysnapper wrote: »

The bit I don't get ...

Is your mechanic the same as ford where you took it for service.

If it was me I'd call over to mechanic with car , and just be polite and ask again and maybe say ford had doubts it was changed .

At least you can see what kind of set up this mechanic has . does he seem genuine . Does he keep his place clean and tidy .

I think its all above board by sounds of it . but in my opinion calling over to this mechanic would reassure you .

What will that tell you though? An untidy place doesn't mean the mechanic isn't competent or not reputable.