Timing Belt question.

[NickD]

Longish post alert!

Hi Guys, I have used the search function but can't find an appropriate answer, so sorry if this is the 3rd most asked question!
If you have read my introductory post you will know I have a 2010 RS which I didn't expect to own. It has done high mileage, over 200K. I expected to be changing engine a box pretty quickly, however it seems better than I expected it to be. So to the questions. I have read the official procedure for changing a timing belt, however this shows quite a lot of special tools required. Obviously it would be easy to go to a garage to get the belt checked and changed, but I don't particularly want to go to that expense if the engine may not last too long. I have literally driven the car about 30 miles in total so no idea if it uses oil or anything else. It does have check injection on the dash, which I understand may be the dephaser (or something else)
So first question is it possible to change a timing belt without having to "do all the stuff" as in I can count the teeth, etc. Is it possible to rotate camshafts at the timing pulleys without having to reset everything as in the procedure. The outboard pulley flange is on the exhaust pulley, when the tensioners / idlers pulleys are removed will a belt fit over the top and on to the pulleys?
Secondly, is the dephaser or VVi unit serviceable? My first thought is it may be full of crud or the actuation valve. Mazda units, that I am familiar with, are a very simple device that are basically 4 vanes. Picture.
My job takes to to circuits very often and I did not have a track capable car. An 80bhp Fiesta, while surprising a few people, does not really cut it. So I want this car for track, but not as a "track car" as that means having to trailer it everywhere. I am however on the look out for a Megane Turbo engine and box with slippy diff, if there is one out there, which is another reason why I don't really want to drop £500 on overly fixing what is a high mileage unit that might grenade its self after a short period.
Any insight will be gratefully received .

 

[turkie172]

Personally I think your mad in the head if you want to half arse the timing belt change the tools are £150 to do the job right and you could sell them on after. It is a job that can so often be done wrong and if the car has over 200,000 miles with no service history and possibly clocked and from what I gather you got it for next to nothing so do it a favour and do all the important items water pump, dephaser pulley etc. and use a specialist then your engine and car is worth something cause you have some proof it's done and counting teeth does not fill me with confidence that you can do the job, and if you cant spend £500 do the job then don't do anything and take the hit.

Lets put it like this to do the timing belt is always going to be cheaper than buying another engine and fitting it, plus that engine will need a timing belt anyway and no history again. If your going track day it and Meg it as well and you have been driving a 80Hp Fiesta and only drove this car 30miles just use it's standard engine I think will be more than enough better spending money making it handle than go faster and not handle.

 

[Johnny 99]

Personally I think your mad in the head if you want to half arse the timing belt change the tools are £150 to do the job right and you could sell them on after. It is a job that can so often be done wrong and if the car has over 200,000 miles with no service history and possibly clocked and from what I gather you got it for next to nothing so do it a favour and do all the important items water pump, dephaser pulley etc. and use a specialist then your engine and car is worth something cause you have some proof it's done and counting teeth does not fill me with confidence that you can do the job, and if you cant spend £500 do the job then don't do anything and take the hit.

Lets put it like this to do the timing belt is always going to be cheaper than buying another engine and fitting it, plus that engine will need a timing belt anyway and no history again. If your going track day it and Meg it as well and you have been driving a 80Hp Fiesta and only drove this car 30miles just use it's standard engine I think will be more than enough better spending money making it handle than go faster and not handle.

....but they handle pretty damned good anyway!
Either get the belts done with proof or take the hit. If you're not going to use the engine not many folk are going to be interested without the belts being done& as said if you do the belts & keep the engine it's gonna be so much more than an 80bhp Fiesta anyway. I've always enjoyed my Clio on track without it being legged.

 

[Foxspeed]

not locking the keyway-less engine is really a bodge...might be ok on something that is timing tolerant but the f4r are not hence the locking tools - not only that with a new belt you will have to loosen the pulley to get the tension correct and hence timing if not they run like shite and put ecu lights on

 

[NickD]

Gentlemen,
Thank you for your replies. So the answer is, no, because the cam pulley's have no keyway. Makes sense. Having removed it today, it actually looks in pretty good condition, as did all the other bits apart from a semi collapsed engine mount, which is unfortunate, but there you go.
Regarding spending £500 with a garage to give some value to a 220,000 mile engine, I expect I would be lucky to break even if I wanted to sell it. As for the fearsome 200 horses, I shall try to survive.