Bought a ford focus zetec...But..

catoutthebag

So after a couple of delibrative threads, I plumped on an 05 zetec today.

Nice car. Refined, speedy enough for me (accelerates particularly well at the higher speeds too), and well built.

It was a private sale, and I managed to drive down the price a further £395. :beer: So, similar aged/mileage cars were selling for £700-1500 more :j

But, a little cash is going to be spent on it, so I wondered if anyone had any comments or advice,

1) ENGINE LIGHT: decided to come on (and sometimes flash) on the way home! :mad: The car was vibrating and juddering. I know NOTHING about the things, but experienced this with my mk1 focus and previous car. The juddering stopped, but the engine light still appeared on. I am guessing: coil pack and/or spark plugs. I know there are 'how to' vids to replace these...should I do that or pay a garage to diagnose and do it themselves?

2) CAMBELT: at 89k, it's an average mileage, but I want to get the cambelt changed (I don't know it has been: the guy had only had it a couple months for his wife, but she was no getting a company car. It only had 1 previous owner since, and the history is sort of 'part' and doesn't show it's been done)...but may have...could a garage check if it's been done...don't know if I trust them not to lie! If not, the full cambelt kit is around £200-300. I know I can get it cheaper, and then try find someone I know to fit it.

3) ROAD TAX & MOT: due in April, so I guess that will be £120-130 total...hopefully it passes

4) SERVICE: will need to check if it's been done recently..otherwise it will need a minor or major one..again, need to find someone well priced/trustworthy. Again, if it's something I can DIY, then I will learn and do it, if that's what others recommend.

5) COSMETICS: generally, good condition for a 7-8 years old car. BUT, I am anal with these things, having had previous used cars, but were well looked after because I believe that old doesn't need to mean knackered.:rotfl: Passenger side: couple small sent on the door; PDR (paintless dent removal) will fix that. Passenger wing mirror: the plastic bit that joins the mirror to the door is slightly cracked; I guess I could find a scrap one (where?) and get a garage to attach it. Passenger mirror is slightly scuffed...will need a bit of a respray. Apart from the other minor 1-2 small scuffs, it's fine. I will just get used to it/sort with the other couple bits.

I think that's the order I will need to proceed.

So although I got an excellent deal overall, I will need to spend possibly several hundred on the above. But will do as much as I can myself, if it means learning how to do it and saving money. I don't intend to get rid of it soon, so want it looking and running smooth so I can just run it in til I need another one.

shaun_from_Africa

One thing that you should have a look at on your car.

Check to see if the carpet is wet or damp in the passenger footwell.
This is a fairly common problem with the Focus (I have 2 different models and had it on both of them).

It's down to the pollen filter housing and skuttle panel in the left hand side of the engine bay.
When the filter is replaced, a new seal should be fitted, and if this isn't done, it's almost guaranteed that water will get into the car. (it gets into the vent ducting and from there it leaks into the footwell).

Changing the seal is fairly cheap and easy but if the skuttle panel is warped or damaged, this also needs to be changed. (aagin, not too difficult or expensive).

catoutthebag

Thanks, will look out for it!

Halford charge £49.99 for a diagnostic check...don't want to pay that.

What would an indy charge on average to diagnose/fit a new coil pack and all spark plugs?

plutoniumpilot

Hi,

Is yours the facelifted mk1 or the newer mk2? Petrol or diesel engine? I have a 57 plate petrol mk 2 and it is overall a good car to drive. The engine light could be anything - you need to plug in a code reader or have it read at a garage. You can also try the dash test to see if it has the code stored:

1. With the ignition off, hold down the set button (on the indicator stalk)
2. Turn the ignition fully on but dont start the car
3. Keep button down until test appears on the dash then release
4. You can view different bits of info by pressing the set button
5. Some codes will appear under the dtc info


If you dont know if it has had the cam belt done then you should get it done asap. Ford recommend 100k or 8years for the petrol engines not sure about diesel. Probably also needs a good service. If you find it needs a new coilpack and leads make sure you get the genuine ford ones as i have heard of issues with other brands.Change the plugs also.

Hope that helps. Also, A good forum to look at is the Ford owners club:

http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/

catoutthebag

Cheers...it's a mk2 petrol. Would say the plugs need to be ford too?

Apols for being stupid, when you mean 'ignition off' do you mean the key in and not turned on at all, or turned slightly so some of the electric come on, but not the engine? What/where is the dtc?

Pains me paying a garage to read a go for £50

Will give it a go.

plutoniumpilot

Oh by the way check for leaking washer jets onto the top of the engine. Water gets through the seals of the washer and the bonnet and sometimes water will sit in the spark plug wells. This can cause misfiring, juddering etc. Coilpack is really easy on the 1.6 100ps engine - just remove leads and electrical connector on side, remove 4 screws and swap.Get a Haynes manual if you are considering diy.

catoutthebag

plutoniumpilot wrote: »

Oh by the way check for leaking washer jets onto the top of the engine. Water gets through the seals of the washer and the bonnet and sometimes water will sit in the spark plug wells. This can cause misfiring, juddering etc. Coilpack is really easy on the 1.6 100ps engine - just remove leads and electrical connector on side, remove 4 screws and swap.Get a Haynes manual if you are considering diy.

It's a 1.6 (and I guess 100ps?!)...where would I purchase a coilpack...ebay, halfords? Are there any brands to look for?

I don't know whether to get it diagnosed first (cheap somewhere) or just replace the coil/plugs and hope the engine light turns off!

plutoniumpilot

Yeah get ford plugs, leads and coilpack. Put key in dont turn, press and hold set, turn key to position 2 so that dash lights come on - dont turn over engine. Wait till it shows test an then release. You can cycle through different tests by pressing the set button several times.

There are 2 versions of the 1.6 one with 100ps and another with variable valve timing vct. You can check on ford etis:

http://www.etis.ford.com/vehicleRegSelector.do;jsessionid=90441DFAAF09CCD46AFE6AEC69EDEE25.fcvas502

I got mine from a ford dealer trading on ebay. Best to get diagnosed if you are not sure as the parts cost about 90 to 100 quid.

catoutthebag

Thanks, will try it tomorrow :beer:

shown73

The story about buying for the wife, only had it a couple of monthe, etc., etc. Oldest con in the book, used by every dodgy dealer for the last hundred years. I'd be tempted to check the mileage, if poss. Old mot's etc. Don't want to sound negative, but it does sound like a classic, from someone working from home. I'd be very suspicious.

catoutthebag

I would in most circumstances believe you, but the documents are all there which show that they were the 2nd reg keeper for a short time. The mileage clearly isn't clocked because it's not low. The history is not fully complete, but not many second hand cars are. There is one particular garage which was frequented for work, and I could easily contact them to check if there are any other works carried out. The car physically looks and runs well for the age. And the starting price was not particularly low (in between 2 valuations I carried out), and was HPI clear. Dodgy sellers won't even have spare keys, manuals and wheel nuts, all of which this has. Seller was a private individual, only his and his wife's car in the drive, and he clearly isn't hiding himself knowing we know his full name, number and address, as well as the other car |(his main). And think you may have incorrectly deduced that I was someway insinuating that something was 'dodgy' with the car in my original post - I was not. I think you can sleep well now