Your Bangernomics successes

[Deleted User]

Small problem with the 2004 Focus Zetec, there is a strange click/clink sound every few seconds which appears to come from the drivers door when the engine is running and idle (but could be from anywhere). If the headlights are on they dip a bit when the clink happens as if it is taking a power load from somewhere. Not sure what it could be.

Grumpy_chap

Deleted_User said:

Small problem with the 2004 Focus Zetec, there is a strange click/clink sound every few seconds which appears to come from the drivers door when the engine is running and idle (but could be from anywhere). If the headlights are on they dip a bit when the clink happens as if it is taking a power load from somewhere. Not sure what it could be.

Could it be activating the central locking?
Some cars (not sure if it includes any Focii) have a feature where the doors lock as you drive away as a safety feature.
That would certainly give the type of sound you describe coming from the door.  Easy to check the sound by simply activating the central locking and is that the same noise?

tommyedinburgh

GunJack said:

I've just realised I've not followed my own method of calculation on this latest swapover, so I'll put it right....

1. The old Fusion cost me £901 in total for it's 3.5 years  (in the earlier post I subtracted the scrap price I got, which I shouldn't have - any sale/scrap monies get taken off the purchase price of the replacement)

2. So the new Fusion cost me (£795-£156) = £639 as a starting point. It's in for it's MoT on Friday, so we'll see how it gets on. I bought on condition & history so the fact it only had a month's ticket on it didn't worry me, if it does fail it'll only be a cheap fix, and then I'll have an even better idea of what's what with it....watch this space

Good luck, I’m predicting it will cost you less than £75 to get it through the MOT exc the test fee. 

[Deleted User]

Grumpy_chap said:

Deleted_User said:

Small problem with the 2004 Focus Zetec, there is a strange click/clink sound every few seconds which appears to come from the drivers door when the engine is running and idle (but could be from anywhere). If the headlights are on they dip a bit when the clink happens as if it is taking a power load from somewhere. Not sure what it could be.

Could it be activating the central locking?
Some cars (not sure if it includes any Focii) have a feature where the doors lock as you drive away as a safety feature.
That would certainly give the type of sound you describe coming from the door.  Easy to check the sound by simply activating the central locking and is that the same noise?

Not sure but it's doing it when the car isn't moving, usually cars that have the auto lock feature don't lock until the car starts to move and reaches a certain speed e.g 4mph etc. It's doing it the whole time the engine is on including while driving every few seconds.

I do have to unlock the car with the key in the door though, I haven't checked if the key fob is knackered or if it's just a flat key battery.

Ditzy_Mitzy

Deleted_User said:

Small problem with the 2004 Focus Zetec, there is a strange click/clink sound every few seconds which appears to come from the drivers door when the engine is running and idle (but could be from anywhere). If the headlights are on they dip a bit when the clink happens as if it is taking a power load from somewhere. Not sure what it could be.

Sounds almost like it could be the air conditioning compressor clutch clicking in and out.  I've had Fords with dodgy air conditioning that do the same thing.  

noclaf

There must be something in the air as my focus (also 2004) is giving me issues.
Last few weeks the gear change felt 'notchy' at times and something felt strange with the clutch..maybe less smoother.
Over the weekend...the car got stuck in gear even after the clutch was pressed/released a few times the gear stick would not move and I had to stall the car to then allow me to get back to neutral.
Does the above point to potential clutch or gearbox issues? My indie needs to look at it first but wondering if anyone has experienced similar on a MK1 focus. The issue resolved itself but I am certain it will.come back when I least expect it..and at the wrong time!

Ditzy_Mitzy

noclaf said:

There must be something in the air as my focus (also 2004) is giving me issues.
Last few weeks the gear change felt 'notchy' at times and something felt strange with the clutch..maybe less smoother.
Over the weekend...the car got stuck in gear even after the clutch was pressed/released a few times the gear stick would not move and I had to stall the car to then allow me to get back to neutral.
Does the above point to potential clutch or gearbox issues? My indie needs to look at it first but wondering if anyone has experienced similar on a MK1 focus. The issue resolved itself but I am certain it will.come back when I least expect it..and at the wrong time!

If it's an hydraulic clutch, which I think it is, then it could be something as simple as the fluid getting a bit old or air getting trapped somewhere.  It's potentially a simple and cheap thing to fix, if it is that.  It might be the master cylinder, which is a fairly straightforward thing to replace.  
The most expensive and complicated issue would be failure of the concentric slave cylinder.  If it has gone you might as well have the clutch replaced at the same time, just as a safeguard against future issues.  

noclaf

Thanks Ditzy_Mitzy, will get a mechanic to check it out and go from there.

GunJack

tommyedinburgh said:

GunJack said:

I've just realised I've not followed my own method of calculation on this latest swapover, so I'll put it right....

1. The old Fusion cost me £901 in total for it's 3.5 years  (in the earlier post I subtracted the scrap price I got, which I shouldn't have - any sale/scrap monies get taken off the purchase price of the replacement)

2. So the new Fusion cost me (£795-£156) = £639 as a starting point. It's in for it's MoT on Friday, so we'll see how it gets on. I bought on condition & history so the fact it only had a month's ticket on it didn't worry me, if it does fail it'll only be a cheap fix, and then I'll have an even better idea of what's what with it....watch this space

Good luck, I’m predicting it will cost you less than £75 to get it through the MOT exc the test fee. 

...and give the man a gold star!!!

Just a leaky shock replaced for the MoT, £73-odd all-in. 1 advisory to buff up the plastic headlights which I didn't get time to do before I took it, so fair call - they're not too bad but will get done when the weather is better

So, £713 to start with fresh MoT, and no sign of any other issues!!

dipsomaniac

Good work.  that is what this site is all about.