What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
Ford Fiesta 1.2 s reg 1998 - Cambelt - Loboexe

Just had this car serviced but the history of the cambelt was unclear. It has been very reliable up to now and only cosy me £700 to buy but decided to leave the cambelt change for a later date... drove 160 miles to see my Mum and broke down 2 miles short looks like it might be the cambelt. I know - if I could go back 24 hrs.... etc

I have had the car recovered to my house (did not even get to say hi to Mum) so I am trying to decide is it worth getting fixed as I was hoping to run it a bit longer then pass to No1 son for hs first car to run into the ground....

How can I tell if there has been any damage to pistons valves etc if possible. If it looks OK,

How hard is it to do the job your self, never done one but I am mechanically able and in the long run how much worse can it get ?

Ford Fiesta 1.2 s reg 1998 - Cambelt - MrDanno

Have you checked to make sure the belt is actually broken ? What mileage has the car done ?

Ford Fiesta 1.2 s reg 1998 - Cambelt - Collos25

Once you have found out if the belt has broken then you need to remove the head and survey for any damage or you could just put a new belt on and see what happens.

Ford Fiesta 1.2 s reg 1998 - Cambelt - Loboexe

At the roadside we did loosen the cover off and the belt is still intact bu does seem loose.

I wondered if it had jumped a tooth or two :(

Ford Fiesta 1.2 s reg 1998 - Cambelt - freman

Could be a tensioner pulley packed up allowing the belt to go slack & so jump a tooth or two. It could also be the toothed section of the belt has become detached from the backing section which make everything appear to be O.K.

I saw this happen on a friends O.H.V Fiesta some years ago,it turned out to be a far eastern made look a like.

Ford Fiesta 1.2 s reg 1998 - Cambelt - jc2

OHV Fiesta was CHAIN not belt!!

Ford Fiesta 1.2 s reg 1998 - Cambelt - freman

Sorry about that, come to think of it, it was an o h c so it must have been an Escort or Orion, but it was a long time ago. Could even have been a Cortina.