zetecste

Thats the big problem with options, you dont actually have anything to show for your money if you walk away.

Do your homework mate! In your case if you are certain of getting a comapny car in three years, Options may be worth looking at, BUT just remember you will never own the car. everyones monthly payment will be different, its calculated like this. FORD will give you a Min guaranteed future value for the car your interested in. Take that off the screen price and the balance will be the amount your payments will be made up off, less any deposit off course. Usually the MGFV price is very much in FORDs favour, but if you intend to walk away at the end of the 3 years, that may be ok for you. But che

Just to add to that mate it does 3400 rpm @ 70 mph...... so its not too good on MPG. I have to really drive like a tart to get an average 35mpg per tank.

Quick tip, If your looking at a 2L Zetec cliamte, take the car for a test drive and get a feel for the gearing. "Some" of the 1.8 and 2 LITRE DURATEC engined cars have a really high final drive ratio, which obviousley uses more petrol. I have the 1.8 duratec HE which is crying out for a 6 speed box. which makes it quite high revving in 5th gear. great for overtaking and acceleration. but a bit too high geared for cruising at motorway speeds. just a pointer

I use a vacuum pump to change my oil, obviousley it doesnt get every last drop of the old oil out. But then i do change it in between ford services when they do take the drain plug out, ie every 6000 miles after the ford one i change it again with the pump, And i do find the vacuum pump really handy, clean and easy to use, and it does seem to get the majority of the old stuff out. And if your like me and sometimes find youve put a drop too much in when the engine has been run a few times, you can just suck a little out

good question mate, i really dont think there is a way, UNLESS you car has the low washer fluid alert fitted,

Nice work mate, the mondy looks in top condition too.............

If this was an older car id say it was the starter motor solenoind not engaged properly onto the flywheel ring every once in a while. and hence the grinding noise. or even a broken tooth on the ring itself, but on a modern car like the focus im not sure........... FOCUS550 is right about checking battery connections and starter motor connections.

Is it still under warranty? :o

seems ford used to suggest 1.3mm for most but then changed its mind and put out an ammendment changing it to 1mm as the bigger gap seemed to be burning coil packs out before thier time...............(from what i see on the net anyway) I have set mine to 1mm to see what it runs like.

Dose anyone know what the Plug gap on a 1.8 duratec he engine is, Was just going to take the plusgs out and check they are clean etc etc :wink:

In my 07 zetec climate handbook it describes the amber light as a warning for various symptoms, inc low washer fluid (i guess if on your model) and also engine temp amongst other things, and the red light on the other side of the display as a DANGER lamp that requires IMMEDIATE attention!!

I hear it mostly on light acceleration or say on a hill, I always use BP fuel whenever possible too. Think im gonna book it into Fords and get them too take a look :roll: but i know whats gonna happen, "computer says no" again, Thats the problem with these things, if the computer doesnt see it, its not happening

Does anyone elses 1.8 duratec HE pink. Mine does and its really annoying me. Obviousley its no good for the engine, and secondly somthing must be not right for a modern engine to do this. Any advice...........the higher octane fuel will probably stop it, but thats not the point, and besides its expensive :wink: By the way my OBD fault code reader shows no fault codes are present :shock:

Just being playing with the DASH diagnostic thing on the focus and have found the "PERSONALITY" code. Does anyone know what this is or what it means. The only thing i can think of is driving styles, as i beleive the car "learns" your style of driving etc etc. Any info anyone :roll:

AFAIK, its only on the 1.8 and 2.0 models that have the electrically assisted steering rack :roll:

exactly what ours does, but instead of a clunk its a stustained rattling sound, sometimes i even think its a front spring creaking as the front end lifts slightly, whatever it is im positive a 2 year old 20k car shouldnt be doing it. a light clunk yes but not a rattling, Im even going to get a another ford dealer to see if they can identify it.

air con always clunks on mine, i think its the flywheel on the compressor kicking in normally, so obviousley the first thing to do is turn it off and see if the clunks still happens........if it was on an older car id put money on a broken engine moutning, not so sure on a modern focus though, but check it out all the same. Dont forget youll always get a very slight clunk as the drivetrain takes up the drive. and thats official ford tech talk!!! My focus has a nasty sounding mettalic rattle when i lift the clutch, especially in 1st and 2nd gear, Ford techs say its normal but im disputing it as

My 07 came with one from new mate, maybe worth you trying a modern breakers yard for one! :wink:

dont forget that its FORD and FORD dealers mate, they will find a way round anything to avoid paying for anything :wink: In my service book there is a separate page for SERVICE,Paint & body and even Brake fluid , so thats three stamps i had to get for the 2nd year service

mine has done the same but at the point where the tailgate rubbers hit the inner parts of the tailgate. although its not rusted.....YET. as asdmds says technically speakin you must have the body&paint section stamped in the s/h log. I always pay the £10 extra for this at service time. ALTHOUGH im sure they dont even give the car a glance. so its basically a tenner to stamp your book!!!

Thats very good of you mate, cheers I apologise if i have tarred all ford TECHS with the same brush, its just that all my local ford dealers really are rubbish, and one of them being evans halshaw. To be fair to the service desk chap he is really good, but he isnt getting the backup from the mechanics. And all the replies have remiminded me there is a small family run dealership not too far away from me, i think ill let them have a look at the problem, Thanks for the advice focus fans!!! :wink:

Is it the 1.6 zetec SE engine, if it is.....check out the AUX belt and perhaps the idler too. i had them both changed because i couldnt get rid of a sqealing noise, and it turned out to be the idler. It was a common fault on the earlier engines, pre 02 i think...

The focus had its 2nd service today, and i also got them to do a four wheel alignment as the steering wheel wasnt centered. I also had the brake fluid flushed and replaced and all was done well, BUT as i have done three times now i reported a mechanical rattle when the drive is taken up especially in 1st and 2nd gear. The dealer has looked at this THREE times now and today they have said its just play in the drivetrain and this is NORMAL on the focus. SO focus fans can you lot tell me if your cars rattle really badly as drive is taken up. and when i say rattle i mean like a ball bearing in a t

quick tip..........if you have to cut the multiplugs off and joint the cable. Make sure you have got the right polarity on the cable. ie that the brake light works before you bolt it all up. the ST light is made up of polarity concious diodes, rather than the bulbs of the standard one. YOU CAN GUESS HOW I LEARNT THAT CANT YOU :oops: