Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums Modifications Zetec Maintenance 4 cyl timing belt

also, i said it is stretched. i didn't say "visible stretched". to visibly identify a stretched belt is impossible. it would have to be stretched so far it would be hanging off the cam sprockets along with some cracking i would assume. all i said was that i checked it and it was okay. the stretching comment was due to its rubbing on the cover. so in all reality, it may not be stretched at all, since there is a tsb out on this lowly built cover. it is neither cracked or running loose as i watched it idle with cover off. according to my Ford dealer, it will not damage the engine if it does indeed break while running.

I talked with another tech at work while he was replacing a motor in a ZX2 about a week or 2 ago and he said the zetec is a free-wheeling engine. It will not damage the motor if the belt breaks.

So which is it guys? Will it damage the engine if you run until it breaks or won't it. Where is Terry when we need him?

We've just done the swap last weekend (with a help of a friend who used to be a car mechanic in his younger years), me being a more-or less beginner in this business.

It took us 8-9 hrs together with the water pump (mostly because of the inadequate tools and lets be careful method)

Without the w/pump we'd finished it in 3-4 hrs. It was a serious pain to remove and install that beast (lack of access).

We didn't use the lock tool (didn't even remove the plugs and the vve cover), my friend rather belived in the good old mark-with-paint method. After removing the old belt, the valve springs (?) twisted the shafts a little bit and held them tight afterwards.


At 73k mi, the old belt looks to be in better condition than the aftermarket replacement one, but the w/pump bearing was nearing the end of its life.

Tivadar

The only way to settle this argument is to find proof of some belts breaking without damaging the engine.
i'm all for NOT taking that risk.

I'm not a wimp. I'm cheap and I don't like to be incovenienced. Replace it at or before the recommended interval and you are less likely of being stranded and needing a tow.

That's not being paranoid, that's being wise.

TB

replacing this belt at the 50,000 mile range when factory "recommendation" is at first 60,000, then they realize they're even being ignorant on this one, and raise it to 80,000, would be in my opinion a perfect example of paranoia. oh yeah, i would not put you in the "cheap" classification if you replaced the belt prematurely. i would say i'm the cheap one in waiting until that magical 100K mile mark.

Ok

Timing belt costs $200 to replace. At 60K miles that is $0.00333/mile

At 100K intervals the cost per mile is half at $0.002/mile. So following the factory interval and you're costs over 100K miles is $333. You've save $133. Take away $50 when you need to get towed, and now you've only saved $83.

I made nearly 3x that an hour when I was teaching Java/Networking/etc, so when my time is considered, it is cheaper for me to have the work done as scheduled.

Plus, if you schedule the replacement, you can choose the shop at your leisure, you are guaranteed that it will be at a convienient time, etc.

So, if a broken belt causes me to miss 1/2 or classroom time, I've lost more money than I could have possibly saved.

That's not a gamble I'm willing to take.

I wanted every one of those billable hours

TB

a couple of things: first, i don't believe that you make $240/hour teaching anything these days. especially networking, when the field itself is so overpopulated and on a downward slide as far as jobs go. second, i think you think wayyyy too much dude. third, like i said earlier in one of my posts, i have towing insurance. and considering you discreetly claim to make that type of money/hour, im surprised that you do not. im also a little surprised that you drive a relatively crappy car for someone who makes or "made" $240/hour. if i made $480,000/year, im sure id at least have a BMW or Porsche, maybe a couple each.

Not exactly.

You don't get to teach every week.

You have to pay all of your travel costs yourself.

You have to pay for your health insurance.

You have to pay twice the social security taxes that someone who works for an employer pays, since your employer matches your social security.

You have to pay to take courses so you can retain your certifications.

You may teach a course several times FOR FREE when you are trying to certify to teach it. And you are still paying the travel.

Yeah, you make a bunch of money when you are teaching a class full of students whose employer just shelled out $2K-$3K just to sit there.

But the take home is not silly stupid money after all of the expenses are figure.

Plus, I am cheap. I'd rather put 20% in savings/retirement funds, than drop a big wad on a depreciating asset. I also bought about 1/3 of the house the bank said we could afford.

The other thing to consider is what happens when the economy slows.

Sure, back in 1996 when Java was the hottest thing going, I taught every week the first six months of the year.

However, it's not like that now. A lot of my peers didn't stash cash and now they are scrambling.

Heck, I lost enough in the market to buy a BMW and a Porsche last year.

Over a year ago, I took a regular job, and my net income is nearly the same. Without all of the headaches of being self employed and hassle of 50-75% travel. I gladly took a slight cut in pay to be home every night. Having the beeper go off right now is preferable to sleeping in some new city every week.

Good point on the towing insurance. I do have AAA (hmm I think it's about $50/year)

BTW, the best way to become rich is to spend less than you make and invest wisely. A car is usually a bad investment.

HTH,

TB