Ford Focus diesel - a few questions

spaceboy

I tested a 2003 Focus TDdi Zetec today, it had a few things wrong with it, just wondered if they were easy to fix and if it was worth buying:

1) Central locking doesnt work on front passenger door - has to be opened from inside.
2) Air-con needs charged
3) No service history - 118,000 miles - cam belt?
4) Odometer reads 95,000 miles as dash was changed because fuel guage didnt work

Apart from that it ran nicely and was good to drive.


One more thing it said 115hp on the engine cover but I'm sure the TDdi was only 90hp?

rev_henry

spaceboy wrote: »

I tested a 2003 Focus TDdi Zetec today, it had a few things wrong with it, just wondered if they were easy to fix and if it was worth buying:

1) Central locking doesnt work on front passenger door - has to be opened from inside.
2) Air-con needs charged
3) No service history - 118,000 miles - cam belt?
4) Odometer reads 95,000 miles as dash was changed because fuel guage didnt work

Apart from that it ran nicely and was good to drive.


One more thing it said 115hp on the engine cover but I'm sure the TDdi was only 90hp?

Well, the first two aren't really cause for concern; can be sorted out reasonably and aren't integral to the function of the car. The cambelt will DEFINATELY need doing unless you can find evidence of it having been done. Officially its 100k/10 years but I've heard that's stretching it a bit. I would also be a bit concerned by no SH and the dodgy mileage.

Hammyman

Walk away. Too many question marks and too many on the market with full documented history to risk buying this one. Everything screams "WALK AWAY"

It would have to be seriously cheap and you willing to accept taking a gamble.

spaceboy

Yeah I think you're right. It's advertised at £1600.

harveybobbles

tddi was available in a few different power levels.

goldspanners

spaceboy wrote: »

I tested a 2003 Focus TDdi Zetec today, it had a few things wrong with it, just wondered if they were easy to fix and if it was worth buying:

1) Central locking doesnt work on front passenger door - has to be opened from inside.
2) Air-con needs charged
3) No service history - 118,000 miles - cam belt?
4) Odometer reads 95,000 miles as dash was changed because fuel guage didnt work

Apart from that it ran nicely and was good to drive.


One more thing it said 115hp on the engine cover but I'm sure the TDdi was only 90hp?

1) try pressing the open button on the key fob twice this might open the passeger door ( its an anti hijack thing and can be turned off)

2) air con can be recharged cheaply and at that age it should be expected, but beware it may need recharging as it has a leak,but personally i wouldn't worry to much about air con.

3) my focus has no real service history as i service it myself, its an easy car to service,(although i have the 1.6 petrol version) im sure the tddi isn't too complicated.

4) the fuel gauge thing was a common problem on all focus' of around this year and older and ford fixed it either under warranty or done it for £99 for cars out of warranty i think.

the timing belt i would get changed straight away if there is no history to prove its been done, also use this as an angle to negotiate a discount. the belt should cost around £150 to £200 to change,call your local ford dealer for a quote and also try an independant garage aswell to see how much they want to do this job.

how much is the seller asking?

goldspanners

spaceboy wrote: »

Yeah I think you're right. It's advertised at £1600.

that seems fairly cheap to me,i would offer £1450 if open to offers and then get the timing belt,water pump done and a good service.
there should be plenty life left in that yet.