Decided Not To Replace Cambelt (Ford Figo)

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Sly21C

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Hi All

My Ford Figo went for a 100 000km service today, at a Ford Dealership in Centurion (Lazarus). The consultant told me that when a car reaches 100 000kms, cambelts must be changed. He told me it will cost me R6300. This was a surprize to me and therefore I declined for them to change my car's cambelt.

They went ahead to service my car and replaced other things, which cost me R1700. When I fetched my car, I asked the consultant if I can bring back my car after about 10 000kms later so that a cambelt can be changed, he mentioned that I can and it might set me back R4000. Bear in mind that in the morning he told me R6300.

I also noticed that on my service book, he wrote "Cambelt not replaced". I'm obviously not happy with this because nowhere does it say on my service book that my car's cambelt must be replaced. Is this normal? Did I make the right decision not to replace my Ford Figo's cambelt?

Thanks
 
And yes, the interval is 100k.

You made a bad decision. If it breaks, you are in for a very costly repair.
 
Some cars indicate various things that must be done at various kms like VW recommends cambelt around 100k or so. You might be lucky and make the 10000 km but then you may be unlucky and the belt snaps and then it sets you back >20k and your warranty won't cover it. It's a risk you take.
 
R13... said:
Some cars indicate various things that must be done at various kms like VW recommends cambelt around 100k or so. You might be lucky and make the 10000 km but then you may be unlucky and the belt snaps and then it sets you back >20k and your warranty won't cover it. It's a risk you take.
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I hear you. It's better to pay R6300 rather than R20k if it snaps on me. I think I will give them a call, book my car in so for an interval service so as to have my cambelt replaced. My car is uninsured (only third party insurance), so I won't be able to afford R20k if it breaks and damages my engine.
 
Sly21C said:
I hear you. It's better to pay R6300 rather than R20k if it snaps on me. I think I will give them a call, book my car in so for an interval service so as to have my cambelt replaced. My car is uninsured (only third party insurance), so I won't be able to afford R20k if it breaks and damages my engine.
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Why would insurance cover it?
 
I had the opposite experience. If my cambelt had been done with the service it would have only cost R1900. I told them not to, thinking I'd do it another time. When I got back and asked them for a quote on the cambelt so I could do it later, it was R3600. The belt alone was R2200 which didn't make sense to me considering it could all have been done for R1900 extra initially. They also wrote "No cambelt" in the service block.

My car was at a 150k service although it's only done 145k. I think I'll have the cambelt done at the next service. ( should be around 155k by then) or sell it before it reaches 150k and it can be the next guy's problem.
 
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Do the cam belt yourself or have someone do it for you. Pretty straight forward if you know what you doing.
 
If a cambelt goes, you will have serious engine damage. If the car is in warranty or maintenance, you have voided it. If it's out of warranty, take it to a private workshop or replace it yourself but to not do it at all, would be a truly stupid decision.

Someone mentioned insurance? No plan, insurance or extended warranty etc would validate a repair if components were not replaced/serviced at their correct intervals.
 
The interval is just a indicator.
You don't have to do it at 100000km.
But best do it in the next 10000 km.
 
Pitbull said:
Do the cam belt yourself or have someone do it for you. Pretty straight forward if you know what you doing.
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Yes try find a proper vehicle repair shop that will do it for less, the dealership will always charge a lot more for services
 
Just make sure you line the cogs up correctly, otherwise gg wp. Then you'll be a real Tero.
 
R23k for a snapped cambelt and damage caused by it? I'm not so sure. I had my Astra's cambelt snap years ago, twice in a row (yeah facepalm, I know), and each time they only replaced the pulleys, belt, and 4 valves.
 
I had a belt snap on 60 000 KM. cost me R36 for a new belt and drove another 150 000 KM with that engine...

I love Toyota free rotating engines :whistle:
 
Slootvreter said:
R23k for a snapped cambelt and damage caused by it? I'm not so sure. I had my Astra's cambelt snap years ago, twice in a row (yeah facepalm, I know), and each time they only replaced the pulleys, belt, and 4 valves.
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29k for me.
 
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