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Well I thought I would make a start and post up my project thread.
My plans for the ST170 aren't that grand, I just want to get her "Foxxie" 100% right, and then I will look into performance modifications.
So firstly a little background on the car.
I bought the car through a garage near to where I live in Dorset on the 24/10/2012, and they had bought the car from Manheim Auctions. Foxxie has covered 117,000 and had 3 owners, the first was Ford Motor Company Ltd. Foxxie was built on the 13/06/2002 and was then registered on the 25/07/2002.
The paint is Capri Blue, and the interior is Waffle / Midnight Black. She is the series 15 fitted with a 2.0L Zetec VVT (170ps) engine.
When I bought the car I knew it came with a few faults, hense the bargin price but seeing as I work at a Ford dealership I thought I would bite the bullet and make a start.
The list of faults with the car are:
2 x Front tyres low on tread,
Exhaust blowing at the front and back.
Oil leak,
Coolant leak,
Screen washer bottle leak,
CD's stuck in the player,
Dipstick housing corroded,
General lack of love...
So yesterday morning when I arrived at work (6:45am) I parked my car up, came in, set up for the day.. I then had to move some of the sales cars around, and in doing so I needed to move Foxxie. So I moved her then walked back to where the sales cars are and on my walk I noticed a rather large slick of oil, I thought to myself, well that wasn't there this morning, so I wonder who's car was parked there ? I then realised it was my ST. Now I knew it was dripping the odd drop of oil, but that was all it was, an odd drop. So I called down to the workshop and said to the lads that I think my tiny oil leak seem to have grown
So Jamie one of our mechanics took Foxxie down to the work shop and then 5 minutes later called me down there. Upon arriving I was greated by the site of there being a tiny hole in my sump on the N/S corner. Jamie offered to fill it with a chemical putty, but I asked for a new sump to be fitted (yes I knew the cost )
So later that day when I popped down to the workshop I could see they had fitted my new sump but sadly the old dipstick case wouldn't come out. In the end it took nearly an hour to remove it, and then another 30mins to fit the new one. The part was ordered for the ST, but it seems there may have been 2 types ? seems very odd.. So next week we will order the other and see if it fits better.
You can also see in the photo how we replaced some of the exhaust nuts, as the old ones had disintegrated through age.
One of the other things I noticed on the car was that the engine light came on for about 2 days, then it went away, only to come back on a day later.
We stuck it on the diagnostic system at work and it came up with the P1518 code, which is for the IMRC being stuck open. But the car seems to be running really well, so I wasn't sure on this one. We reset it last night, I have been out and about for a 30 miles trip today, and nothing, but time will tell
Well today I came down to find there was a tiny drop of oil on the drivers side car mat, so I assume it's the brake seal, we will look at that also on Thursday when I get it into the workshop.
One thing I did try out today was a new small steam cleaner I bought in Robert Dyas for Ł16.99 (Beldray Handheld Steam Cleaner), I had no high hopes for the cleaner, but I tried it on my wheels and it did shift a lot of brake dust, so I was happy.
So as I was off today I thought I would take a look at the IMRC unit, as I would rather try and fix it than replace it.
I lifted the airbox up and checked the position of the clip to make sure the cable was slack which it was, then once I started the car it moved, I wasn't sure if it would do this if it wasn't working ? so I thought I would take the unit out at take a look.
I removed the 3 nuts that hold it to the bulk head, and lifted the unit up and undid the screws whilst it was in situ, once I did this I could see that the spring wasn't in the correct position. So clipped the spring over it's little holder, then walked into town to pick up some chemical metal.
That's where the spring had come off from.
When I got back I mixed up a pea sized amount of chemical metal, and placed it on the clip to give the spring less chance of jumping off.
I waited a good 20 mins before I took the car anywhere, so in the mean time I got a tiny bit of paper/card, and cleaned the metal switch inside, not very easy and I wasn't sure how dirty it actually was.
Well I've just been out for a 10 mile drive and although the light on the dash hasn't gone out yet ( will reset it at work ), the car is transformed.. it pulls well in all gears, and boy does it fly
So today I got my car back from the workshop at where I work, I had asked for a fair few jobs to be done, left them with the car yesterday morning, and took home a Fiesta for my troubles
The list is as follows:
Oil leak: Changed the sump and dip stick, also changed the oil filter and oil at the same time.
Fluid on drivers floor: Changed the brake master cylinder.
Coolant leak: Replaced the blanking plug, topped up the coolant.
Cambelt: Fitted a new cambelt kit, belt, pulley etc.
Tyres: Fitted 4 new Toyo PX4 tyres. Also did the tracking and alignment.
Also turned off the engine light on the dash, so I will see if my fix sorted the IMRC.
The bill was on 2 pages, but as I work at a Ford dealership all of the parts were at cost price (around Ł600), and the labour for the lot was Ł190. So yes I was a happy boy, when you think the tyres alone should of cost Ł450+...
So with a full tank of full in her tonight, that's 1/3 of my working budget gone.
Next on my list I will be looking at flywheel conversions, after which I will look at some tuning i.e cat back, map etc..
have you fitted the OE heat sheild on the exhaust under the sump, as its the heat that causes st170 sumps to bugger up in first place, also a little worried you call the car by a name
Yes the DM fly will fail at some point, they decided to make the fly from two parts with rubber bushing between, once the rubber bushing goes the fly wheel is scrap.
I fitted a Stage 3 Clutch and aluminium fly to my old ST170 and it transformed the car, pulled like a train in 1st & 2nd and easily knocked a second of the 60 time. With the few mods i had i could get to 60 in under 7 seconds You will get a bit of noise on idle with the clutch pedal up though but it never bothered me and if it bothers you push the clutch in and it goes away.
I'm still working off my list of jobs to do, at the end of this the car should be 100% sorted. Then I can begin to start messing with her
So this morning before work I fitted my new Bosch areo wipperblades, I tend to do this every year as they cost so little, yet make such a huge difference in the rain.
One thing I had noticed is that the old owner had put the smaller blade on the drivers side and the larger of the two on the other side. So who ever sat in the passenger seat would of had a better view than the driver
Also I took the old aerial off as the base was all cracked, sadly I couldn't get a photo of the new one fitted as it was pretty dark by then,
One other thing that did turn up today was these...
looks tidy. im also a fellow 170 owner. got imperial blue one 05 plate since new and last month i picked up a 53 to use as track car. they may not be the fastest thing around but the handling makes up for the lack of power i think. this wk i had to do same fix as you on imrc. simple and cheap fix.
Foxxie was booked into the workshop today to have the screen wash bottle leak checked, and it turns out its leaking from around the bumper sprayer.
So I had a new air filter fitted (bottom of the box was a little oily so not been done in a while), new plugs were also fitted, and a new fuel filter was fitted. Also had the IMRC light turn off again, so I will see if my second fix has worked, oh also had another key made up
Once I get the new screen wash sprayer part sorted, that will pretty much be the list of "normal" jobs done. It's also pay day on Friday, so I suspect I will be ordering my first upgrade part.
I suspect it will be a cat back exhaust or something ?
Is Milltek the way to go ? I have about Ł600 put by for an exhaust, but heard only to do cat back ?
I fitted a new power steering cap tonight, as mine was a little worn. Not much of an update, although I am hoping to get some photos done very soon with some of the work done.
I bought Pratical Performace Car magazine today, and there is a nice 4 page guide to modding a Mk1 Focus
when you de-cat these they have same economy as a cossie but hardly any performance gain , magnex. scorpion or m,tec is the way to go, just keep away from powerflow
when you de-cat these they have same economy as a cossie but hardly any performance gain , magnex. scorpion or m,tec is the way to go, just keep away from powerflow
i picked up a powerflow for 65 of ebay and just fitted it. sounds ok.
worried now though after your comment. whats wrong with them???
i picked up a powerflow for 65 of ebay and just fitted it. sounds ok.
worried now though after your comment. whats wrong with them???
they are better than the mild steel ones but build quality on these and lack of internals normally means they are ott loud and normally not very good quality s steel, but for 65 sobs you cant go wrong
they are better than the mild steel ones but build quality on these and lack of internals normally means they are ott loud and normally not very good quality s steel, but for 65 sobs you cant go wrong
yeh its bit loud and 110mm tail pipe which is too big for my age but im building a budget track car so i have to take whatever bargains i can find
Well some quick photos from this morning, as I'm taking the other 1/2 out Christmas shopping
If I get time when I return, and it's still light I will try and take this "IMRC" apart again, as having reset the light on Friday at work, it came on again yesterday afternoon.
I really don't understand it, the cable is working at both ends, and I have cleaned the contact in the unit itself. The car runs really well, yet the light comes on within about 2 miles of resetting it. All there is left to do is check the solder isn't cracked on the power feed going onto the pcb.
Would a sticky throttle body throw up a light ? with the same warning code ?
I was outside bright and early this morning, the plan was to start working on the IMRC unit, but it was rather icy.
One thing I do love on this ST over all the Japanese cars I have owned is the heated front screen.
Start car, turn on heated front screen
30 Seconds later.
Less than 1 min in total.
I feel sorry for one of my neighbours who was out there spraying and scraping the ice off of his car
So do ST170s not go any better with the cats removed then?
at certain revs it may be more beneficial glen but I would not bother as it can make the car run lumpy and pop and fart and can lead to other electrical sensor foul ups
Originally Posted by PaulinhoT
I feel sorry for one of my neighbours who was out there spraying and scraping the ice off of his car
10-11-2012, 11:51 AM
Foxxie Focus ST170(ish)
but seeing as I work at a Ford dealership I thought I would bite the bullet and make a start.
)
i.e cat back, map etc..
You will get a bit of noise on idle with the clutch pedal up though but it never bothered me and if it bothers you push the clutch in and it goes away.
