2.0 Transit Timing Belt Service (Wet Belt)

What is the “wet belt”
The 2.0 Panther engine is the motor inside of a 2016 onwards Transit and Transit Custom.
The design and set up of the 2.0 Panther engines timing system involves what is known as a “wet belt”. The belt is ran in engine oil and connects the engines camshafts to the crankshaft via an idler gear, which also connects the high pressure fuel pump to the crank shaft.

The set up of the timing on the engine is significant to ensure correct operation, as these engines are interfierence engines which means when not timed up correctly, or if said belt snaps, catastrophic engine failure occurs.

Ford states the wet belt should be replaced at 120k miles, however, from personal experience after working for ford and completing 100s of wet belt and engine replacements (due to snapped belts!) We recommend the belt to be replaced at 60k miles.

There is a well known recall out for this engine at Ford, that being ” 20b44 Timing Belt Inspection”, and you will be very lucky if your vehicle is on the recall list, as not ALL 2.0 Panther engines are being recalled. If you are one of the lucky ones and they condemn the vehicle for a belt replacement, it may pay you to ask for additional parts to be fitted for a fee, whilst the engine is stripped – keep reading..

The Ford 20b44 Timing Belt Inspection recall requires the technician to remove the oil cap housing and inspect the belt via the oil fill hole, if the vehicle requires a belt, they should also replace the belt tensioner, CHECK the oil strainer (This is what filters the oil as its sucked up into the engines oil galleries just before it hits the oil filter) and also the sump pan (The bottom of the engine where the oil sits), and they will also replace the engine oil and oil filter. HOWEVER, The oil pump belt does NOT get touched as part of the recall, again this is a rubber belt which is ran in oil and if this was to snap too, the oil pump would stop turning, starving the engine of oil, causing your engine to sieze!

We have seen engines fail as low as 32K miles due to wet belt failure. If you’re reading this and you have a 2.0 Transit/Custom, and you are unsure at all about any of the above, take our advice and consider our experience with the 2.0 Panther engine, and give us a call!

The Van Doctor Timing Belt Service – Parts replaced and Price

Parts Replaced:
Timing Belt
Timing Belt Tensioner
Timing Cover
Oil Pump Belt
Oil Strainer
Sump Pan
Water Pump Stretch Belt
5 x Engine Mount Stretch Bolts
Engine Oil
Oil Filter

Total price for all parts supplied and fitted is £850.00
If outside of 20 miles of Newcaslte upon Tyne, our travel fee is £1.50 per mile charged one way from Newcastle upon Tyne to your post code. We travel anywhere in the UK for this timing belt service.

Contact us for any more information!