CriticalCommonEngine

Ford Territory: 2.7 TDCi V6 diesel runs a rubber timing belt, and a second fuel pump belt, that must be replaced (SZ)

2.7 TDCi V6 diesel runs a rubber timing belt, and a second fuel pump belt, that must be replaced (SZ) is a common engine fault on the Ford Territory on the 2011–2016 cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs $2,200 to $4,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 21 documented faults on the Ford Territory.

Vehicle: Ford Territory
Engine: 2.7L
Years: 2011–2016
Fuel: diesel
System: Engine

This page covers the Ford Territory as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Ford Territory faults21 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Timing belt yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The SZ's 2.7-litre V6 turbo diesel is the Ford/PSA Lion engine also used in the Land Rover Discovery 3 and Range Rover Sport. Unlike the 4.0 petrol Barra, which uses a chain that lasts the life of the engine, the diesel drives its camshafts with a rubber belt and has a second belt for the high-pressure fuel pump. Both are scheduled replacement items, and published intervals disagree - CarsGuide quotes every 80,000 km, ReDriven quotes 165,000 km - so the only thing that settles it is the invoice. The belts sit at the back of the engine against the gearbox, which makes it a big, expensive job and is exactly why owners put it off. If the cam belt breaks the valves meet the pistons and the engine is finished; a broken fuel pump belt strands the vehicle and can put debris through the injection system. Many private sellers do not know the belt exists, so 'it has been serviced regularly' is not the same answer.

What you would notice

No timing belt or cam belt invoice anywhere in the service history
Rattle, squeal or chirp from the back of the engine bay on start-up
Hard starting or rough running from a failing high-pressure fuel pump drive
Well over 100,000 km covered with only oil changes recorded

How to check it

Where to look. Timing belt at the rear of the 2.7 V6 diesel engine, between the engine and the transmission bellhousing; the high-pressure fuel pump belt is driven from the same area.

This one is checked with paperwork, not with your hands.
Ask to see the complete service history and hunt specifically for a timing belt or cam belt invoice, and for the fuel pump belt done at the same time - a thick stack of oil-change receipts is not the same thing.
If there is no belt invoice, assume it has not been done and price the job into your offer, because on this engine the belts are at the back against the gearbox and it is not a cheap afternoon.
Confirm which engine you are looking at: the 2.7 diesel has a diesel filler and a V6 under the bonnet, while the 4.0 petrol six uses a chain and none of this applies.
Start it from cold with the bonnet up and listen at the back of the engine for a rattle, squeal or chirp that settles after a few seconds.
Ask the seller when they bought it and whether the belt was done before or after that.

Parts involved: Timing belt.

What it costs to put right

$2,200 to $4,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“When was the timing belt last replaced, and can I see the invoice?”
“Was the high-pressure fuel pump belt replaced at the same time?”
“Is this the 2.7 diesel or the 4.0 petrol?”
“What was the odometer reading when the belt was last done?”

Now check the Ford Territory you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

CarsGuide 'Ford Territory Diesel: Engine, Problems, Towing & Price'
ReDriven 'Used Ford Territory review' (SZ 2.7 diesel: timing belt and high-pressure fuel pump belt service)

Ford Territory buyer questions

Is 2.7 tdci v6 diesel runs a rubber timing belt, and a second fuel pump belt, that must be replaced (sz) serious on a Ford Territory?

We rate it critical and common on the Ford Territory. The SZ's 2.7-litre V6 turbo diesel is the Ford/PSA Lion engine also used in the Land Rover Discovery 3 and Range Rover Sport. Unlike the 4.0 petrol Barra, which uses a chain that lasts the life of the engine, the diesel drives its camshafts with a rubber belt and has a second belt for the high-pressure fuel pump. Both are scheduled replacement items, and published intervals disagree - CarsGuide quotes every 80,000 km, ReDriven quotes 165,000 km - so the only thing that settles it is the invoice. The belts sit at the back of the engine against the gearbox, which makes it a big, expensive job and is exactly why owners put it off. If the cam belt breaks the valves meet the pistons and the engine is finished; a broken fuel pump belt strands the vehicle and can put debris through the injection system. Many private sellers do not know the belt exists, so 'it has been serviced regularly' is not the same answer.

How much does it cost to fix on a Ford Territory?

$2,200 to $4,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Ford Territory years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2011–2016 Ford Territory. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

This one is checked with paperwork, not with your hands. Ask to see the complete service history and hunt specifically for a timing belt or cam belt invoice, and for the fuel pump belt done at the same time - a thick stack of oil-change receipts is not the same thing. If there is no belt invoice, assume it has not been done and price the job into your offer, because on this engine the belts are at the back against the gearbox and it is not a cheap afternoon. Confirm which engine you are looking at: the 2.7 diesel has a diesel filler and a V6 under the bonnet, while the 4.0 petrol six uses a chain and none of this applies. Start it from cold with the bonnet up and listen at the back of the engine for a rattle, squeal or chirp that settles after a few seconds. Ask the seller when they bought it and whether the belt was done before or after that. Look here: Timing belt at the rear of the 2.7 V6 diesel engine, between the engine and the transmission bellhousing; the high-pressure fuel pump belt is driven from the same area.