1.8 TDCI Chain / Belt replacement (Need a 100% conclusive answer)

italianstallion · Apr 17, 2012

I have a Mondeo 1.8 TDCI MK4. The car was built on 17.06.2007 and registered on 04.09.2007.

According to what I've found online, the following is relevant to the cam belt & cam chain replacement.

Mondeos 1.8 tdci built between (02/2007-02/10/2007) have a chain and belt timing
Mondeos 1.8 tdci built after 02/10/2007 have a belt in oil (instead of chain) and belt timing

So according to online info, my car should be chain and timing belt setup. I've phoned round several ford dealerships as well as specialists and none can conclusively tell me which setup I have and what needs replacing, so many different answers have left me more confused then ever.

I have found these two images that seem to relate to the chains and belts for the 1.8 TDCI Lynx Engine:

What do I know already and what do I need to know?

Ok so I know I either have two belts (one in oil, or a chain in oil and a belt. I believe my car to have the chain in oil and belt setup due to when it was built and registered.

Now my issue, I've phoned around half a dozen so called ford specialists and all of them tell me that the chain is to be left alone, it doesn't need replacing and is for the life of the car. This is contrary to what I've read online where a few post says the chain and belt should both be replaced at 125k miles.

I was going to get this job done tomorrow at Ford Tech in Huddlesfield, who also stated that only the belt needs to be changed if it has a chain / belt setup, but I'm just not confident that this is the case and I don't want to take any risks at all. I feel like I should hold back unless I know exactly what needs doing as if either snaps, its a new engine. Its going to be a costly job as it is and I've only just purchased the car, but it is now at 122k miles so I would like this job doing as a matter of urgency so I can peace of mind.

Can anyone clarify with 100% certainty whether both the chain and belt need replacing or just the belt? Most of the Specialists I've spoke two who are apparently familiar with the Lynx engine say its just the one belt that needs swapping and I can leave the chain as it is for the life of the car, but no one has been totally sure or at least given me that air of confidence that they know what they are on about.

Would appreciate a prompt response as I've got it booked in to be done tomorrow but may pull out if I can't find out for sure.

italianstallion · Apr 17, 2012

Further to the above I did some further searches on google and I believe my car has the same engine as a 1.8 TDCI Focus. A post I found quoted this about the 1.8 TDCI focus:

"Your vehicle actually has a belt and a chain... but the chain is just for the injection pump.. there is no recommended change interval for the chain... they generally last forever !

As for the main drive belt - timing belt - Ford recommend change on that every 125,000 miles - or 10 years - whichever comes first."

Perhaps the chain doesn't need changing then and its just the belt.

italianstallion · Apr 17, 2012

Further searching reveals,

"The 1.8 diesel (kent/lynx) engine does have a cam shaft drive belt, the belt drives the camshaft via the fuel pump gear. The fuel pump is chain driven from the crank."

malford · Apr 17, 2012

3 different engine codes are listed for the MY of the 1.8 TDCi MK4
FFBA
KHBA
QYBA

Recommended replacement schedule for the timing belt & chain are 120 months or 125000 miles then again at 240 months or 250000 miles.

3.7 hours labour

italianstallion · Apr 17, 2012

Please excuse my uncertainty, but how sure are you that the chain need replacing as well as the belt?

I've phoned round several places, including a few specialists and pretty much all know know the Lynx engine has said its just the belt as chain is for the life of the engine.

italianstallion · Apr 17, 2012

Are these the parts I need?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-8-TDCI-Timing-Chain-Cassette-Ford-Focus-C-Max-Mondeo-Galaxy-Connect-/260995832783?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3cc4905bcf#ht_500wt_1084

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FORD-MONDEO-IV-Turnier-1-8-TDCi-07-Timing-Cam-Belt-Kit-/220989306073?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item3373fd34d9

misterlogic · Apr 18, 2012

Hi Fraser

The "100% conclusive" answer can be found by registering on the Ford ETIS web site: www.etis.ford.com and then entering your vehicle registration. This provides the exact vehicle specification and recommended maintenance operations. In the case of your car, the following are listed:

• Camshaft drive belt - Every 125 000 miles/10 years - Renew (LTS 21 304 9)
• Fuel pump drive chain/belt - Every 125 000 miles/10 years - Renew (LTS 21 304 9 / 21 314 7)
• Auxiliary drive belts - Every 125 000 miles/10 years - Renew (LTS 21 567 5)

This indicates that, regardless of whether the fuel pump is driven by a chain or a belt, it should be replaced at 125000 miles.

I hope that helps.

italianstallion · Apr 18, 2012

Thanks that is very helpful, however :

I've taken the car to two Ford specialists, who confirm that whilst ford say the chain needs doings at 125k, it is the exact same chain as on the previous 1.8 TDCI Lynxs variants including focus, transit and other models, there is no difference. I am informed that engine has evolved on the mk4 1.8 tdci mondeo but is mostly the same, albeit with an upgraded fuel system. They have confirmed that the chain setup is entirely the same as on older lynx engines and the chain has always been for the life of the car.

Further to this, I was informed that its a very short chain that is strong and not prone to breaking, it has a proven track record as long as the cars oil is changed regularly. Both specialists were able to say, that having serviced many lynxs engines over the years and they have never seen this specific chain snap and as such recommend that only the belt needs doing. They were of course happy to replace the chain if I was insistent but obviously there would be extra for the parts and labour involved.

Conclusion - The servicing of the chain at 125k may possibly be a technical blunder by Ford, who have simply put a token service interval on it, due to the belt / belt in oil setup needing both doing at 125k, therefore in fact to labelling both setups together for simplicity when in fact they are two completely different scenarios, i.e. Belt / Belt need both replacing at 125k and Belt / Chain only needs belt at 125k. Its either that or its about making £££ as the belt and chain together are much more to replace.

Finally I'm still not 100% sure if my car is Belt / Chain without physically taking the car apart to check? The build date of my car is 17.06.2007 and it was first registered 04.09.2007, is there anyway of knowing for sure?

italianstallion · Apr 19, 2012

Can I just ask a final question, is there anyway to 100% verify whether my car has the chain / belt combo? That is without taking it apart.

danwfastford · Oct 20, 2012

Sorry, I was referring to the 2.0.

lucich · Nov 16, 2012

@italianstallion,
Basically you have 2 options. Open it, see which version is your car. If the chain is in it:

Opt A. Trust nobody....it is evident you don't. Replace it, do not ask for price.
Opt B. Replace the belt(s)...keep the chain as it is. Trust that it will not crack as it hasn't for 99,999% of people.

somervillearron · Oct 9, 2015

here is a video guide showing how to swap the wet belt with a chain

Squirt · Oct 9, 2015

I've never seen a chain break/strip

I advise my customers to leave chain and just replace belt but ford do state it's now a service item

kriskin · Jan 31, 2017

hi all i havea 2008 smax 18i tdci just asked my garage to change my cam belt today they rang me and said i need the wet bet changed as well total £550 he did ring ford and they did confirm this and i trust my machanic 100% who ive been with for years

Danwul · Aug 3, 2020

Hi, what did you conclude in the end? Did you have a lower chain and what did you do? I have an S max with chain and ford said the same : shall be replaced. Cost about £ 1800 go Get it done Here in norway æ.

quote name="italianstallion" post="1870510" timestamp="1334875054"]

Can I just ask a final question, is there anyway to 100% verify whether my car has the chain / belt combo? That is without taking it apart.[/quote]

PURPLE_2L_LX · Aug 4, 2020

Hope your sitting comfy this thread is over 8 years old and the OP has not logged

in for the past 7 years.

mondy zetecs · Aug 4, 2020

Only clue if correct to wet belt or chain is put your vin no. into catcar or 7zap

then confirm it with a reputable parts supplier .

TheAntman · Aug 15, 2020

My engine has the later wet belt setup. I bought my car with a full service history, but it looks like most of the servicing was carried out by an independent garage - i.e. not Ford main dealer and it appears that most of these independents are unaware that Ford changed the design in 2007 and replaced the chain with a belt, so they're only replacing the upper belt.

I learned this the hard way. I had the lower belt fail at speed. It doesn't snap though, the teeth strip off.

So I had the joyous task of rebuilding my engine.

Yes, I opted to rebuild rather than replace. Actually the better option, as a replacement engine would likely have to be second hand and then you're entering into unknown territory in respect of the engines history.

Plus, the other benefit of rebuilding is that the car still has it's original engine. And on a limited edition model such as mine, this could ultimately affect value.

New Pistons, valves, cam shaft and shims. All reasonably straightforward to do - though not a job I'd recommend to anyone unfamiliar with working on cars.

Oh, and then I found that my turbo had reached the end of it's life, so that got replaced, along with the EGR and Catalyst.

Given the amount of work I had to put in due to a failed belt, I wouldn't recommend taking any chances and just go ahead and replace both.

Apparently, there is a way to definitively identify which system you have. The belt / chain tensioners are slightly different - so removing and inspecting it can tell you which you have.

Although you have to remove the serpentine belt and the power steering pump / bracket assembly to get to it.

1.8 TDCI Chain / Belt replacement (Need a 100% conclusive answer)

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