Timing belt change on old car low mileage? - Ford Focus mk1

Question

I bought a Focus mk1, 2.0 automatic last week, first registration January 2004.

The car is well maintained and has only done 51,000 km. It was driven by a pensioner as a second car.

My question to you: Since there is no checkbook, I do not know whether the timing belt has been changed, there is also no sticker. Should I have the timing belt changed better in a timely manner or is that not necessary due to the low mileage of the car?

My car is: Ford Focus mk1, 2.0, 131 HP, automatic

Answer 1

Ford says every 10 years or 160,000 km, if the belt had never been changed it would now be 16 years old. That would be far too long, and the strap can cause you trouble faster than you'd like. Can you ask the previous owner if and when the belt was changed?

Without information, it would certainly be advisable to change the belt, you certainly want to drive the car longer, then investing some money on timing belt would not be a mistake.

Comments

I can only agree with Jepson, if the strap is really 16 years old it is far too old.

I don't know now whether the 2.0 is a freewheel, but a toothed belt crack is never a good thing.

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Thank you for your answers. Will have the timing belt changed.