How to Replace the Timing Belt on a Ford Focus?
2 Answers
Remove the valve cover and take off the crankshaft pulley. Remove the timing chain cover, rotate the crankshaft to bring the first cylinder to top dead center, then tighten the crankshaft fixing screw to secure the crankshaft. Rotate the intake and exhaust camshafts; there are grooves at the rear of the camshafts. Align the grooves of both camshafts evenly. Remove the old chain and install the new one.
Changing the timing belt on a Ford Focus yourself requires a step-by-step approach—don't rush into it. First, find a level surface, turn off the engine, engage the handbrake (safety first!), and put on gloves. Use a wrench to disconnect the negative battery terminal to prevent accidental starts. Then, remove the engine cover to expose the belt area. On the Ford Focus, you’ll need to take off the protective cover above the belt, which can be tricky and prone to getting stuck. Having done this a few times, I recommend taking photos of the original belt’s position to avoid misaligning the marks when installing the new one. Once the new belt is in place, align it with the crankshaft and camshaft marks, then adjust the tension using a dedicated tensioner tool—make sure it’s neither too tight nor too loose, or it’ll wear out prematurely. Finally, reassemble all components, start the engine, and check for unusual noises. The whole process takes about 2-3 hours, and you’ll need a basic wrench set and a tensioner tool. Remember to replace the belt every 60,000 km—failure to do so risks belt breakage, which can severely damage the engine with costly consequences.
