I bought a ST a few days ago, lovely looking car but give it a once over today and already finding faults even though the previous owner clearly said there were NO faults and needs nothing.
My findings so far:
As soon as i got the car home ESP fault ? Fault code U2023 ? Reset this twice now but comes back on next day.
Both bottom arm ball joints fucked and the rear bushes
Front wheel bearing now noisy
Rear drop link hanging off
1x rear shocker bad leak
Engine needed 2.7litres of oil
The exhaust isn't what the guy said it was
Probably my own fault for not noticing this on the test drive.

Can someone suggest a place to get poly bushes for the new bottom arms?
I'll put a pic of my exhaust later today if anyone knows what make it is.

Thanks
Ryan

 

so you got it and it needed near 3 litres of oil! good luck mate

 

U codes are generally communication codes between modules. How have you got that code? Code reader or dash self test? Common on ST ESP fault is the brake pressure sensor failure, new ESP module from Ford is Ł1400+vat, can get them repaired from ECU specialist repairers.

 

Graham at car parts express is very good for st parts.

Sounds like you've bought the first st that you seen, heart over head.

(most of us have done this)

 

Ouch!!!

 

what exactly did you check when you bought the car? lol

 

It's an ST?

Yes.

Pay the man!

 

Might be a zetec s

 

Ouch!!! That's quite a list of faults, did you manage to haggle anything off the price?

 

No point in buying new wishbones if your going to poly bush it. Replace the ball joint on the arm and replace worn bushes with polly ones

 

By the sound of it he didn't realise the faults were there until he had paid/got it home.

 

Usual stuff, it drove great but only tested it on a duel carriageway but without jacking the car up how was i to know

Good points are:
2 new drive shafts
4 new tyres
New alternator
Awesome sound sytem
body work is immaculate (few stone chips)
As said heart ruled my head and bought the first one

 

The old clear the faults down before potential new owner arrives.

 

Yup
come to think of it i said i was on my way then he text me "what time exactly"
Oh yea and the eml is on aswell, scanned it and come up with MAF and lambdas

 

It gets worse!

I'd be raging!

 

Ahh didn't know you can just change ball joints. How? just cut them off the arm? Do new ball joints come with bolts.
I'm just gonna find the poly bush for the rear of the arm if they sell em.

 

I am! what can i do it's sold as seen
Should av know i work on cars for a living

 

You should be able to get the ball joints through your local motor factors, carefully grind the rivets off both sides of the arm then you bolt the new ball joint on.

 

You will need to know what size ball joint is on your car. I think the choice is 18mm and 21mm.

 

Before you go putting MAF and Lambdas on it, have a read of this post.

https://passionford.com/forum/6264166-post109.html

Also has it had a de-cat?

 

Polly bushes are on ebay,

shock absorbers I would defo try car parts express, I used him for my front shocks for the wifes st, service was second to none.

 

Cheers bud. Dunno about the decat have a look at my pics in a few mins

 

Here she is


I'm thinking it's just the standard cat?
was told it had been decat but didn't think to look as is sounded like it had (pops and bangs) then again the exhaust isn't loud and would like abit more noise.


?


No wonder the exhaust is quiet. Is this a standard part?





When the light is reset the esp works

 

Standard cat is 'rounder' than that on the ends, the rear exhaust looks like a Powerblow special.

As I posted previously, U codes are communication faults between modules, you could have a can-bus wiring fault, or a fault in one of the modules itself. Need to check resistance at the OBD connector for the can hi and lo terminals, should be 60 ohms on each. (from memory)

I did have a can fault on a mk2 Focus once and it was a poor connection on a multi plug behind the glovebox in the footwell area, was behind the carpet IIRC ended up hard wiring the can lines.

 

Poss a mongoose sports cat on that

 

It's not a standard exhaust its got 2 rear silencers instead of 1 big one. It's a race cat or sports cat standard cat is twice the size of that. If its 3inch it ,ought be a mongoose. Are the exhaust tips detachable?

The eml will be the race cat I guess, is the lambda plugged in? Also get some maf cleaner. These are fuckers for mafs like most new age maf cars lol.

 

You got a link for the scanner your using? As for the lower front arms best off going to ford as most car spares shops don't stock the right size I've just had new lower arms its a complete unit.

 

We use this scanner as work but can't remember what it's called.

 

Sounds like it lol mine done 107 k and never burnt losed a drop so whats going on there for starters

cant you take it back or was is it cheap i.e 2k ?

 

2k lol that's not cheap that's stolen

 

No leaks or anything
The car cost Ł5700 just under 82k on clock

 

Yes detachable tips and i think 3 inch. Whats that huge silencer all about though near the tank?
Anyone got a link to a decat pipe that will bolt straight on?

 

To be fair the decat is the least of your troubles at the moment.

 

eBay mate loads. He's just attached the rear silencers and the racecat to the middle pipe. That's a mongoose I'd say then, remove that big box it'll be loud. Mines proper loud and its just a decat but remapped lol

 

Jesus.. At least you'll have a new car at the end of it!

Cut that shit exhaust off and bung a cherry bomb on!

 

Get an mot tester to give it the once over. One you know or friendly mate one.

 

I work in a garage so have given it a good going over and that list above is what i've found

 

have you sold the escort and sierra ?

 

Just the Escort sold so far, made a huge loss on this bugger

 

Well id would top it up with oil and keep a very close eye on it as it could engine or turbo related or just a never serviced correctly and filled to begin with

the exhaust isnt standard and nothing like ive seen before it looks like a cheap knock up

regards the esp fault you will need sort the drop links out the shocker and front arms as the wheel sensors and level sensors are a bit narky on the st or new sensors as thats what the code is