Hi all. The old man has a 98 Escort wagon, 1.6 Petrol Zetec, as his weekend gardening hack. Uses it to go to Mitre 10, garden shops and the dump. Had it for a couple of years, averages about 4000kms a year. It's currently sitting at 93,000kms (NZ new, 2 owners). Its in OK condition mechanically, but a bit dinged up but no rust - only really worth $2-$3k tops if he sells it later on. Been quoted between $890 and $1100 to do the cambelt, tensioners and waterpump. Speaking with Ford dealers, one told me do it all before 100,000kms, the other said (to my surprise) do it at 125,000kms. So 2 questions, is it even worth doing given the value of the car! I reckon he should take a punt and flag doing it, then flick it on in another couple of years myself (by which time mileage might be 110k, 115k), Or if he should, what interval should we run with! 125,000km sounds a bit optimistic from a Ford dealer I reckon. Cheers
mugenb20b,
Apr 21, 9:35pm
It is worth doing IMO (however, I would do the cambelt only). The cambelt change interval for a 1.6 Zetec is 120 000kms or 10 years whichever comes first. 1.8 litre and 2.0 litre Zetecs are 100 000kms (can't remember the time).
unbeatabull,
Apr 21, 10:09pm
Just do the belt, and tensioner/idlers. Unless the water pump is leaking, just leave it be.
Is cheaper to get the Cambelt done then buy a new car.
falco_inlaw,
Apr 23, 12:10am
just buy a volvoLOL LOL
NZTools,
Apr 23, 12:26am
Spend a few bucks on the cambelt and he will have a good reliable car that will probably last him another 10 years seeing as he only clocks up 4000 kms a year. It will cost him a whole lot more to replace the car with something newer, for very little gain.
mm12345,
Apr 23, 12:34am
My FIL has one of these, with only about 40,000 km on the clock.It is a horrific POS, and despite serious $$$ spent diagnosing and fixing various faults, it is one of the worst cars I've ever come across.I've driven the thing from Chch to I'Gill and return a few times, and I'd rather drive our (also POS) Pulsar runabout of the same age (but 5x the mileage) as at least it's reliable, seems to have more power (and that's not saying much) and despite the "zetec" label, uses less fuel. Seriously I believe that the appropriate place for junk like those escorts is a date with the crusher.Truly horrible cars.
mugenb20b,
Apr 23, 12:42am
I beg to differ (kind of). My one had nearly 300 000kms on the clock, went very well actually, and was really good on fuel. The Zetec was happy regardless of where the rpm needle was. The gearbox was super smooth and handling was better than most cars of the same size, despite a solid beam rear axle.
Of all the cars I've ever owned, the Escort was the least reliable car, and the clutch was a c. of a thing to replace. I've replaced the air flow meter, idle air control valve (x2), P/S pump, alternator, T/B and injector rail assembly (just because I had access to a lower mileage motor). And the SRS light came on due to a dirty connector under the passenger seat.
It's a cheap poxy car made to last 10 years, but I loved it, and to this day, I regret selling it, as it was a handy hack to have. Bugger.
mm12345,
Apr 23, 12:49am
Perhaps - and just perhaps - my FIL got a "friday afternoon assembly line" version.He's had a continuous series of problems - I can't and really don't want to fix his car for him, so he's handed over serious dollars to the local Ford dealer just to keep it on the road.I suppose if you're a mechanic (or DIY mechanic) then you can keep anything going at reasonable cost.
mugenb20b,
Apr 23, 12:56am
I had my one for nearly a year, and I had something go wrong (or not go at all) roughly once a fortnight. The bloody thing nearly drove me insane, but, by fixing nearly everything, apart from the body, I knew its ins and outs, and it was only then that I started to like the car.
200sx,
Apr 23, 1:13am
Interesting advice - perhaps just doing the belt and tensioners might be the way to go. I actually find the old mans wagon all right. Everything works, and no rust, which I know those Escorts can develop quite badly. Some interesting English design features as well.
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