New timing belt

adreamer · Senior Member

New timing belt

PeterInSa · Guru

Maybe Join the Ford Transit Forum. Lots of Transit experience there.

fordtransit.org/forum/index.php

Peter

Mark · Senior Member

adreamer wrote:
Hi, I have just purchased a 2001 Ford transit lwb van. It has done 119,000 klms but no books etc. Don't feel it had been looked after. Has been Fitted out as a camper by the guy who orginally bought it about 6 months ago.
I have had a service etc done but am wondering if I should have the timing belt done (and approx cost)before travelling any other things I should do?
Thanks
Helen

My experience with Ford OHC timing belts is......
If in ANY doubt as to the age or mileage of the belt, get it done for your own piece of mind and then you know where you are.

Cheers

Aus-Kiwi · Guru

Seen too many good engines blown due to timing belt issues..
Pays to check harmonic balancer too..[refering to Toyota in this case ]
If its a belt and not chain driven then yes it should be replaced ..
Check manual for when it should be serviced,,

PeterInSa · Guru

Re, Agree
[My experience with Ford OHC timing belts is......
If in ANY doubt as to the age or mileage of the belt, get it done for your own piece of mind and then you know where you are.]

And I would record the Date/Speedo reading so the belt can be changed in XX,XXXkm or if sooner if its gets frayed/cracked.

Peter

Big Gorilla · Guru

Your Owners Manual should detail all the services required and at what number of kilometers. Timing belt change on some vehicle types can be very expensive. I have an Iveco and the cost to change the belt every 5 years or 240,000 km, whichever comes first, is around $1200.00. I have only done 118,000 km.

However I was unlucky and lucky with mine. At Greens, a rodent, probably a mouse, became entangled in the timing belt and did over $11,000.00 damage to the engine. But lucky in that it was classed as an accident and the Insurance Company picked up the tab...

adreamer · Senior Member

Well did ask for help on this forum - Thanks

justcruisin01 · Guru

No history confuse confuse change it. as said a broken belt can & will destroy an engine.

At the same time have the oil seals on the camshaft & crankshaft replaced. 2001, old enough to need them & if they leak in six mths time they will destroy the new belt.

I have replaced a huge amount of these belts in the trade & refused to if seals were not replaced, it also covered us as well on a comeback in six mths when the new belt was ruined due to oil leak.

JC

Wombat 280 · Guru

They are only good for about 70-80 k so if it hasn't been changed then it's well over due. Not all that costly to do I would take it to a ford dealer to get it done as there are other minor bits associated with the timing that should be checked at the same time . Cheaper than a recon motor

VKPORTABLE · Senior Member

I have no experience with this vehicle. Although I recently purchased a 4WD and I will be replacing the timing belt and getting the balancer looked at before going to far.

I am in the process of constructing a list of things I need to get done/fitted to the vehicle and what spares I intend on carrying - as spares in the outback can be very expensive and take a long time to arrive.

I'm intending on carrying two spare shocks and coils (or the old ones if the current ones need replacing), water pump, harmonic balancer, starter motor, wheel bearings and a few other bits. May never need them but if I do I know I have them ready to go and it will save me a bit on mechanics fee's.

PeterInSa · Guru

Hi Stewart,
If the brushes are OK with your existing starter motor, you could give this unit a miss, especially if you have a manual., I do not carry a harmonic balancer but do carry a universal joint, plus hoses and belts along with a complete spring set/U bolts for our tandem van as well as a set of wheel bearings for the van/4wd as well as a set of studs/nuts for the 4wd and van.