Cossy Mike

iTrader: (4)

Hello all,

I've just started using my Focus Tdci Sport 2004 that I picked up 4 weeks ago.

I have to say it's awesome, love it to bits! fuel economy is generations ahead of my old petrol and the performance its better too....happy days!

2 quick questions though if anyone can help,

The steering feels a lot stiffer than my old Mondeo, is this normal? It's responsive, self centre's, does'nt pull, it just feels heavier. Passed MOT on (Friday gone)

Also the power delivery is a bit on/off, is this normal diesel characteristics? I've done the diesel filter and it's made a noticable difference but it's not 'quite there'

Thanks boys

Pariah

Hey, im new to the whole diesil thing to but i love mine. Pulling power is ace.

I dont know much about your car specifically but i know that some focus's come with three steering settings which can be changed through the trip computer.

On mine i have the choice of Standard, Sport and Comfort.

Comfort is very light and Sport is considerably harder. Maybe yours is set to Sport. This setting can only be changed when the car is stationary.

In response to your second question power delivery in a diesel (in my opinion) is a lot more dependent on the current revs compared to a petrol. For example to pull away quickly in a diesel you wanna be at about 2500-3000 for a guess. In a petrol this can be lower. Im guessing this is down to the torque curves of a diesel engine as they do have a lot more torque than petrol engines (generally speaking). Petrol has always been that tad more responsive. Diesel is getting better but its not there yet.

I hope this helps and my information isnt too inaccurate. As i say im still learning about mine. Let me know how you get on

Cossy Mike

iTrader: (4)

Mine does'nt have a trip computer

I've been out in it this evening for a good few mile and it pulls hard low down the revs and I'd say after around 3000 rpm it starts to loose puff and then change gear and it's off again....

I'm thinking it's something I'll have to get used to

Cossy Mike

iTrader: (4)

Diesel filter changed and it's a different car

JulesT

I also have a TDCi Sport 2004 and it's my second focus. I would say that the steering is a bit heavier compared to other cars.

As for performance mine is strong from around 1500rpm up to 4500rpm and it is very responsive. So maybe your EGR valve is sticking or your car just needs a good service. After changing the air filter on mine, it was much more lively.

Although another possibility maybe 1 of the pipes around the turbo or intercooler has a split.

Cossy Mike

iTrader: (4)

Yeah I've give it a good service and put a couple of redex treatment's through it.

It's helped but it's not mint. Sometimes when you pull off in 2nd hard it rockets off and other times it's more smooth.

I'll check the hoses, makes sense...

JulesT

Before a few months ago, if I put my foot down in say gear 2, it would get stuck at 3000rpm and make this loud whistling noise. The garage said my wastegate was sticking and I had to spray WD40 on it every now and then... but that only fixed it temporarily and one day the turbo blew.

So its possibly along those lines and the car is reacting differently depending on the temperature. But sometimes its hard to tell with this car, I've got a few problems with mine that are driving me mad.

Cossy Mike

iTrader: (4)

I hope it's not the turbo!!

uruk hai

When you say waste gate do you mean EGR valve ? I wasn't aware that the TDCI's even had a waste gate and I know mine hasn't and there is no way I would spray WD40 into the EGR as the car will burn that as well as the fuel and that alone "could" cause damage ?

As for the EGR valve some of the symptoms described in this thread are exactly what mine was like when I bought it. Fortunately I know I good mechanic who know's TDCI's inside out and told me that the EGR valve was sticking (very common in TDCI's that aren't revved) and the car needed a good old "Italian" tune up to sort the problem and that turned out to be the case. Twenty miles of ragging it in the first three gears and it was problem solved, I won't say it "pulls" all the way but it easily revs to the red line and when I first had it, it wouldn't do that in neutral !

JulesT

This garage "specialises in diesels" and they originally sprayed the wastegate with WD40. The wastegate on mine is on the turbo (on the opposite side of the air intake). Is yours a Mk2?
Mine still has a few problems, like engine shaking at 1250rpm and about 2200rpm so I'm getting an EGR blanking plate next week to see if it's also the case with me.

Cossy Mike

iTrader: (4)

How much are they new, just out of curiosity?

I rarely rev mine over 2500 rpm as I want the fuel economy from it

uruk hai

Mines an 04 MK1, fair play mate if the garage specialises then you would hope they are experts on these cars, my mate is a mechanic for the Police who run lots of TDCI's and as you can imagine he has had to do just about every kind of fix and repair you can imagine but I will ask him next time I see him.

Let us know how you get on with the plate as I know some valves can get to the point where they are too far gone to be sorted by a good ragging.

You've got to rev them mate, not all the time but every now and then give it a good thrashing (unless it's due a cam belt change !)

JulesT

A blanking plate? I bought one for £4 on ebay, should get it next week.
But I don't know how much it would improve the fuel economy. I hear tuning boxes or remaps increase fuel economy. I want to get a tuning box for more power but frist I need to fix all the problems

JulesT

Well thats why I put it in quotation marks... they dont know whether they are coming or going and due to there "special" knowledge on turbo diesels, I had to get another so called diesel specialist to replace my turbo! (Well he strongly recommended he put in a new one)
Yep, whenever I rag it (not too often) clouds of smoke do form from behind lol. Ofcourse I will update you when I fit it.

uruk hai

Fair enough mate, there is a thread although not on this forum regarding cleaning and blanking of the EGR valve. As for tuning boxes and remaps I've heard both good and bad things so I think it's a case of pay your money and take your chance !

Here's mine, not bad for an old Ford

uruk hai

Okey dokey, I thought you were suggesting they were the bollocks when it came to TDCI's

As said I'll aske me mate and find out what I can. looking forward to the update

JulesT

Far from it!

Another TDCI Sport! I thought these were rare....
Lovely car and colour, especially in 3 door

Here's mine, but with 5 doors... I'm 'ST'ing her up a bit...

https://passionford.com/forum/garage...20-JulesT.html

uruk hai

Very nice mate, nice colour too

Is that machine Silver ?

JulesT

Thanks buddy

Yeah she is, love it, not too common like the normal silver.

JulesT

Hi guys,
I have received my blanking plate this morning (much earlier than expected) and fitted it to my car. So I thought I'd start a new thread about it as it may take a little while for me to fully see the pros and cons:

https://passionford.com/forum/ford-f...dci-115-a.html

ExTank13

For helpful advice on "helping" your diesels then go look at diesel bob just google its and go through his menus aling the top.
Helped me a lot in my 08 focus wich currently hasa pipercross airfilter wich gives your stacks more pull at lower revs as well as a little more mpg and a new performance waitgate on the turbo again more mpg and power, next for my car is ridding of that 2nd filter on the exaust or maybe whole new system? Unsure but this all adds up the mpg and focus st killing power then when all the little bits are done ill get its chipped. Aim is to be 200ps by the autum. And btw im running around on 58mpg.