tomwebb101

Hi guys,

My family has decided that the car to replace our old one is going to be a ford Focus but we have heard a few things which are worrying us so i'd appreciate some help with the following...

We have mainly looked at both the 2.0TDCi and 1.6TDCi of 2006 model year and are open to suggestions on which is the most likely reliable model of the two. We understand that both these models use a dual mass flywheel but if anyone can confirm otherwise i would be good to know. Are these DM fly's known to be troublesome and what can we expect one of these to last?

Secondly, do these models come with a diesel particulate filter and if they do are they troublesome or not?

Third we have heard that the cambelt change on the petrol and diesels is at 100k miles or 10 yrs which seems a little optimistic... is it safe sticking to this or is it better to change earlier?

Finally if there are any things we should look out for please let us know..., we dont really trust anyone but the owners of their cars to answer these Q's lol

Thanks in advance!!!

studabear

the 1.6 is a peugoet engine iirc

http://www.kelsey-forums.co.uk/

Karl benz on that forum is a ford tech, he can tell you anything you might need to know

martysmartie

iTrader: (1)

If it's anything like the Mondeo engines in addition to the DMF which all manufactures suffer from they also suffer injector problems. I think the TDCI is the better option although I get confused sometimes between the two I think it's the DI (Direct injection which is the more troublesome one)

As said the 1.6 is a Peugeot engine, and as you correctly say re Fords recommendation it's not wise to adhere to this, it's not always the belt that are the problem, the tentioners can let go.


I never owned a Diesel Focus, just saying from an educated mind of what I know of, I know the latest models have DPF as well, again this is troublesome with most manufactures especially if the car is just driven round town.

Martin

tomwebb101

thanks so far... more answers welcome!

i guess what we wondered most of all was whether the 1.6 TDCi or even the 2.0 TDCi have dual mass flywheels and if so what kind of lifespan do they have?

i cant seem to find a way to search back through this forum which might help?

Sp3no

iTrader: (1)

Not a TDCI but the DMF on my focus ST170 lasted 50'000 before it went, read countless stories of them dieing a death anywhere after 20K. The new Focus RS has a DMF i wonder how long it will be before these start coming up for renewal. Bang goes a thousand bucks.
Its a case of when not if with the DMF.

phil_focus

What use is this car likely to get?

if its going to spend ages sat on the drive and only ever driven round town or in stop start traffic, never driven hard and never taken on a decent run getting it nice and hot then DON'T get a modern common rail diesel engine. you will only have probelems and they WILL be expensive to fix.

Magnum PI

Agreed, better of getting a decent small engined petrol powered car, such as a 1.25 or 1.4 Fiesta. (or even a 1.4 petrol Focus if need a bit of extra room)

If you're getting a diesel, you need to be doing lots of miles a year to recoup any 'savings' due to the extra MPG you get.......

phil_focus

and so you don't clog up the dpf which on some cars have fluid systems along with them and are expensive to replace

and so you don't fuck the injectors as they need thrashing to keep them running good and on a 2l tdci 130ps they are £250 per injector at ford

and if fuel pumps decide to break up you ned to replace the whole lot including injectors.

modern diesel motors really are only for mile munchers imho. you need to see how much money you would actually save (if any) by comparing mpg's but not only that, you need to factor in the extra cost of the car too as modern diesels are a lot more expensive than teir petrol equivilants. then decide if your driving conditions make the injector and pump and dpf issues high risk or not.

with regards to the dmf's. all modern deisels have them and even some petrols. they perform the job they do very well but what people don't realise is that they are a servicable item that does wear out and will need replacing which is why most places replace them aswell when the cluch needs doing. the down side is they can be very expensive especially from main dealers.

Sp3no

iTrader: (1)

Some very good point made

bonnerworld

i have to agree with above, if you are not doing long journeys, the common rail engines really arent worth the extra hassle, my saab tid is doing the same mpg as my 1.8 focus at the moment, they dont heat up as quick as the petrol cars, and stop start driving really effects them, as for the DMF as said above, pretty much every car has them my friends tdci focus lasted till nearly 100k miles, my saab is on 157k on its original

martysmartie

iTrader: (1)

My reccomendation would be the 1600 if wanting the best compromise of performance/economy reliable, quick enough and hugely economical and best of all it's Petrol.

Martin

uruk hai

As a few have said already only get an oil burner if you are covering some serious miles, I only bought a desiel because I have a mate who works on them all day long so I can all the prob fixed and parts for silly money. If I didnt have a mate who was shit hot mechanic I wouldnt touch a desiel, come to that I wouldnt touch a Ford !

phil_focus

tomwebb101, you still around?