Mondeo 1.8 Zetec - Timing belt or chain? - Bri H
Hello All,

Could any body please confirm wether a 2002 Ford Mondeo 1.8 Zetec has a timing belt or a timing chain? In addition, could anyone please confirm at what mileage intervals it should be changed (if it is belt driven) and also the approximate cost for a job of this type at either a Ford main dealer or smaller independant garage?

Any help would be really appreciated.

Thanks.
Mondeo 1.8 Zetec - Timing belt or chain? - Aprilia
I think you mean the Duratec engine. It has a chain. Just keep the oil changed regularly - dirty oil wears chains.
Mondeo 1.8 Zetec - Timing belt or chain? - Bri H
Thanks Aprilia,

I've been looking on the internet trying to get technical data but as I'm not too mechanically minded, I have struggled slightly. I do remember reading somewhere that this age/model Mondeo is fitted with the Duratec engine as you say so I just wanted to check. Thats a bit of a relief really as I have just purchased the car and a friend of mine asked me if I'd checked when the timing belt was changed within the receipts that came with the car.

Thanks again.

Bri H
Mondeo 1.8 Zetec - Timing belt or chain? - Aprilia
This range of Ford petrol engines are of Mazda design, I believe, and have a good reputation for reliability. I think the engines for UK cars are actually built in Mexico, that's what I was told a while ago anyway....
Mondeo 1.8 Zetec - Timing belt or chain? - LeePower
I thought the Duratech was just an updated Zetec lump with a few fancy bits stuck on & upgraded like the timing chain instead of a belt.
Mondeo 1.8 Zetec - Timing belt or chain? - cheddar
Aprilla is quite right, the Duratec is based on a Mazda design and is unrelated to the Zetec though I thought the UK 1.8 and 2.0 Duratec HE engines were buit in Europe (perhaps Dagenham?) and that US spec 2.0 and 2.3s were built in Mexico for Ford and Mazda. If not Mondeos then perhaps Mazda 6's here use Mexican built engines?
Mondeo 1.8 Zetec - Timing belt or chain? - Collos25
It could be and more than likely be a belt zetec 1.8 in 2002,in 2003 they used the duretec 1.8 which is chain easily solved by lifting up said bonnet.
Mondeo 1.8 Zetec - Timing belt or chain? - Bri H
Hello all,

Thanks for all of your posts, I pick the car up on Saturday and shall check under the bonnet first thing. As I mentioned previously, if belt driven, has anyone any idea how much it will cost to replace the belt and tensioners at either a main dealer or smaller independant garage?

Info about your experiences would be greatly appreciated.

Many Thanks.

Bri H
Mondeo 1.8 Zetec - Timing belt or chain? - Quinny100
All Mk3 Mondeo engines, petrol or diesel, are chain driven.

Anyone who tells you otherwise is misinformed or a liar.
Mondeo 1.8 Zetec - Timing belt or chain? - Collos25
Tthere are plenty of cambelt driven 2001 to 2003 mondeos.
Mondeo 1.8 Zetec - Timing belt or chain? - Quinny100
There will be a small number of Mk2 Mondeo's that were registered late after the Mk3 was launched in October 2001, but I doubt any of those were hanging around long enough to be registered in 2003.

A 2002 Mondeo is more than likely a Mk3, and all Mk3's are chain driven.
Mondeo 1.8 Zetec - Timing belt or chain? - cheddar
There were very few Mk IIs that made it on to a Y plate in 2001, mainly ST200's, though not later as far as I know, the first Mk III's were 2000 on a X, as Quinny says ALL Mk III's are chain cam.
Mondeo 1.8 Zetec - Timing belt or chain? - Bri H
Hello All,

Once again a big thank you for all your thoughts and suggestions posted. I have just been reading through Honest John's FAQ section, it contains a list of all engines which are chain driven as oposed to belt driven. In the Ford section of the list it says that all Mondeo's since 2001 are chain driven, is this the general concensus of opinion, I hope so as it would save me a couple of hudred quid!!

I'm sure I'll find out in reality on Saturday when I pick the car up from the dealer.

many Thanks,

Bri H
Mondeo 1.8 Zetec - Timing belt or chain? - Waino
In HJ's C by C breakdown, he refers to the 1.8 SCi engine being introduced for 2004 Mondeos. Can anyone tell me what the significance is of the SCi and if it's proving successful i.e. living up to its 130PS reputation and economical/reliable ?
Thanks, Waino
Mondeo 1.8 Zetec - Timing belt or chain? - Quinny100
The SCi is/was a damp squib. I know a couple of company car drivers who got them to replace 1.8's and they proved be no faster and were actually worse on fuel unless you kept them under 70 on the motorway. I also know a retried neighbour who bought one and it kept going into limp home mode because it has to be run above 50mph for 10 minutes every so often as the ECU does some sort of burn-off of carbon.

2.0 TDCi 130 is a much better bet.
Mondeo 1.8 Zetec - Timing belt or chain? - Collos25
With 70 being the limit in the UK then no problem should arise then,on the timing chain front collegue is just changing his on a 2003 it rattles like a tin of nails along with the tensioner and gasgets its not a cheap job.
Mondeo 1.8 Zetec - Timing belt or chain? - TurboD
145ps 2L is the better option, plenty of 'go ' too. no nasty thing to go wrong.
chain driven, but use that correct oil - 5/30 or else!
Mondeo 1.8 Zetec - Timing belt or chain? - jc2
Going back to one of Cheddars' posts,the only petrol engines now built at Dagenham are the DOHC(8v & 16v) used in the old Galaxy and Transit.A vastly underated engine.
Mondeo 1.8 Zetec - Timing belt or chain? - DP
>>.A vastly underated engine.

I agree. It goes back a bit now though. First appeared in later 2.0 Sierras, as well as the Granada/Scorpio, and also in transverse form in the Escort RS2000. I always remember it sounded fantastic in the Escort with its tubular manifold and standard biggish bore exhaust.

AIRC it's basically a twin cam Pinto.

Cheers
DP

Mondeo 1.8 Zetec - Timing belt or chain? - jc2
It bore no relation to the Pinto-strictly a stand-alone motor.The Pinto,in fact,was only the US 2.3 version of the2.0 OHC.The European title was T88(unlikely to see it anwhere) and was available as 2.0,1.8,1.6 and 1.3(not UK).
Mondeo 1.8 Zetec - Timing belt or chain? - DP
Cool, you learn something every day. I've always known it as the Pinto.

The 1.3 Pinto/T88 was sold in the UK in the early Sierra. It was not a nice combination.

Cheers
DP