My brother is looking to get a 02 or 03 Focus TDCi to replace his N reg Escort.

Is there anything in particular that we need to be aware of or look out for?

Enginewise? Bodywork? Interior? Braking and suspension etc?

Any advice or comments appreciated.

CheeRS

 

Check for cracked turbo pipes, i managed to blow a work's 1.6TDCi up on the motorway as it hadnt been serviced, hence not spotted the cracked pipe that had developed after 34k. New turbo Ł800 later

 

perfect cars mate, really good on fuel as well. i have had mine a year now and have had no problems apart from fitting new brakes all round. this is the sport version with the st170 interior. only problem is with mine is the stonechips (as its the imperial blue, many complaints were made about the paint), its not that bad though! and this is the rarest colour as 500 were made. i may be selling this very soon as i want a focus rs, this is on 24k.

 

Thanks mate, I'll be on the look out.

 

Thanks for the info.

Yours looks really nice, Imperial blue is the best Ford colour though!

 

We've had a fair bit of problems with the 2.0 common rail engines when they hit around 50k. Quite a few have been and had the injectors replaced or re-phased and all the high pressure lines replaced [not too expensive in the grand scheme of things though].

Other than that though, cracking cars and great value for money

Not had so many 1.6 TDCi's and [touch wood] they don't seem to be as troublesome from what I've seen

 

We've got about 50 or so (mk2 - new shape) 1.6's in our fleet at work, 90% have had to have the turbo pipe replaced on services, i was just unlucky enough to borrow the one that had never been serviced for the day

Bit worrying about the 2.0TDCi though, as mine's rapidly approaching 30k since last may. At least it's fleet maintained though. But i already spent one friday night this year sat by the M1 waiting for the RAC

 

if its got a chrome trim on the bootlid, then look out for rust as the corners of the trim rub on the paintwork. Also check for rust underneath the mirrors and along the bottom of the doors. Squeaky pedal boxes can be a problem, although i thik that fault had been eliminated by 02/03 year.

rich

 

You mean the chrome boot pull thing on the hatchback?? Think that was only on the Ghia models, and possibly special editions (ebony, black, chic etc) CL/LX/Zetec's have a nice black plastic one. Same on the mk2 that i have, Ghia/Titanium have body coloured ones, everything else has got black plastic


Also they didnt make a 2.0TDCi in the Mk1/1.5 Focus did they?? I always thought mk2 onwards was only one's to have a 2.0 oil burner?

 

yes thats right that it was only the ghia models with the chrome strip. And yes, the facelift mk1 does use the tdci engine, its the early ones that use the tddi rattly old thing lol

 

The facelift Mk1 only came in 1.6 and 1.8TDCi though didnt it??

 

It only came with the 1.8 in two variations... 100PS and 115PS. Make sure you get the 115PS version.

 

Also when I had mine it stalled time and time again and I was getting pissed off. You would try and get a quick start and it would just stall sharp. But I was reading on a forum that everyone was having the same problem and after a while you would get used to the clutch which I did. Mine wasn't so quick in 1st and 2nd but once into 3rd and up it pulled like a train.

 

My 2.0 is the same, sometimes you try and get a quick start it'll just lurch a bit and then slowly the power will kick in, other times you do it and it'll wheelspin all the way up to 3rd gear

 

Thanks for all the advice guys.

I appreciate it.

If you think of anything else...

 

Update on the car that blew up on me..... had it back for 2 weeks, car was given to the new engineer. It's now back at Benfield Ford after it shot it's entire load of oil out the exhaust pipe, followed by an awful crunching noise.

Ford say it needs a new engine...whooooops, looks like it fucked more than just the turbo.

 

learn to drive better

 

Get on www.ffoc.co.uk and search the new joiners section, there's a list somewhere in there of every fault to look out for when buying a Focus.

It wasn't just the Ghia boot strips that rust underneath they nearly all do cos it's where the water collects, same goes for the bottom of the rear window.

 

LOL! I'm not even going to try and explain myself to you... I shall just admit I am shite.

 

Found it:

ALL Focus models
� Back window rust water collects in the gap between the wiper and the window
� Rear wheel bearings
� Fuel gauge randomly & intermittently showing 'Empty' (Not a common Fault but can happen)
� Rust/Bubbles in paint right where the wing mirrors meet the door (at the back of the mirror housing)
� Water damage to trim in front passenger footwell (caused by incorrect refitting of seal on pollen filter replacement.
� Gear lever not returning to centre on IB5 gearboxes.
� Rattly boot caused by movement in striker plate on catch.
� 1.6 Engines Stall while driving (Early models only)
� Estates - Models not fitted with plastic sill protectors, look for stone Damage and possible rusting at rear bottom edge of front wheel arches
� Ford CD Players, in particular the 6006, jamming and refusing to eject CD's - Very common problem with these.
� Some Cars have been known to have Fuse number 35 coming loose and stopping all electric modules working
� Speed Sensor going on the older models, Identified by the fact the Speedo drops to zero and the odometer stops working
� Ghia Models - Where the chrome strip meets the boot, water gets trapped and the boot starts to rust, also check ford badge.
(Dealers know about this and paint the boot and fit a 3mm gasket to the rear of the handle)
� Check - Front suspension drop links coming loose and rattling, Front suspension linkages, and bushes.
� The bulb holders on the Rear Number Plate lights corroding on older models
� Power steering pump (Prone to fail on older models)
� Rear washer jet gets blocked of comes apart and covers the inside in water (Parcel shelf)
� Pedal box squeaking

CMAX
� C-Max there was a recall on the 2.0 TDCi early models for dodgy ECU's, symptoms were poor running.
� C-Max 1.6 TDCi, Car can cut out.

ST
� Brakes - Early ones 02/52
� Fuel consumption - Early ones 02/52
� Check Cam cover bolt oil seals
� Throttle cable - Vibration
� Hub cap corrosion - Need to replace
� Oil leak from VCT solenoid -
� Loose exhaust heat shields

RS
� Battery going flat if car left standing from over 2-3 weeks. Generally down to a software fault in the 6006
� Seat bases look creased
� Rubbing brake pipes - Early ones
� Banging from Exhaust or Shock
� CD player errors
� Suspension knocks on some roads
� Rattle by passenger B pillar
� Gearbox whining when using engine braking
� Clunk as gears go in on up-changes
� Whining noise when using steering on full lock
� Clunk from steering column when cold
� Squealing brakes
� Squeaking seats
� Another one is the head coolant plug in between no 2+3 cylinders leaking coolant in to the HT lead chamber causing a misfire.
Simple fix just remove plug and seal with thread lock and tighten up to "FT"

 

just bought a 1.8 tdci 115ps 03 plate lx model with just 42.000 on the clock bought it from main ford dealership its absolutly mint get it on friday, its also a local car so i now all about it 1 guy had it from new then trades them in for a new one every few years
bye bye to fast cars

my s2 loved it

my evolution very fookin quick.. need a petrol tanker behind you

now im mr average boring coont in ma TDCI
fully comp insurance Ł157.42 lowish tax
evo insurance Ł700 everybody tells me it wont last and i wil be back in the evo

andy

 

morto Why not have it chipped? [/quote]