Focus Spark Plug Corrosion

[Phillip82]

Hi

I currently have a 2002 focus saloon 1.8 whch has been great however it's time for a change and due to my good experience with this car thought I would probably just go for a newer focus prob something around a 2007.

However after reading the reviews I keep coming across this problem reagrding rain water and screen wash draining down to where the spark plugs are making them corode and eventually snap off ending up with a very expensive repair. I was wondering how much of a problem is this is it just a couple of isolated incidents or is it quite common?

I understand that as long as your engine heats up it should burn the water off my concern though is that Monday - Friday my car sits outside the house and is hardly used and when we do use it it is mainly just short trips round town a mile or two, the furtherst would be a 12 mile round trip to visit the relatives once or twice a week. I am worried that due to the lack of running this could make it ideal for me to come across this problem.

This is the only question mark I have about getting another focus so was just wondering if I am worrying to much about it and even if it is a common problem is there away round it to stop it from happening.

[H3lly]

It sounds like the frost plugs are perished, this allows water to accumulate in around the plugs. That corrosion is a dead give away. There cheap, about £2 or so from ford.

They look like these.

[Phillip82]

Thanks for the advice.

Also do you know anything about water getting in from under the offside jet on the bonet due to a bad fit?

[artscot79]

Thanks for the advice.

Also do you know anything about water getting in from under the offside jet on the bonet due to a bad fit?

there are revised jets which you fit and i recommend using silicone sealant on the underside of the jets to be sure the plugs wont corrode in place if you copper grease the threads on them 2 times per year like any car they have there faults and the guys on here can tell you there personal issues and many have done there own fix for this so if you do it youreself youll have nothing to worry about most cars that have corroded plugs in fairness from waht ive seen the plugs havent been removed in a while and some havent been serviced regularly when viewing a car ask the dealer to remove the plugs and check them in front of you many wont have an issue if they refuse walk away theres plenty focis for sale

[catch]

Thanks for the advice.

Also do you know anything about water getting in from under the offside jet on the bonet due to a bad fit?

Your barking up the wrong tree with the core plugs, your first thoughts were in the right direction. Though it's nothing to do with washer jet water [assuming they are spraying onto the windscreen, and the washer pipes are not leaking where they press fit onto the washer jets] No it's pure and simple rainwater getting past the grommets that sit between the washer jets and the bonnet.

It was an early build issue on the Mk2 Focus, which was rectified by revised washer jet grommets on later builds of the MK2 Focus. So buying a 2007 build or later model I doubt you will have that problem. Either way it's easy to see if any car your thinking of buying has the problem....just pull the spark plug leads off the spark plugs, it there is rust staining on the leads the washer jets need replacing with the revised ones. Cost £26 the pair for the heated washer jets, peanuts if they are not heated.

I know this because I had the problem on my 2005 Build Mk2 Focus. In fact I did a problem and fix thread on the issue. It is said by others [though I totally agree with their observation] that it is the most informative Problem and the Fix thread on the web.

Water In Plug Ports Issue, With Pictures

[reprised]

I have this issue on my 2007 focus, however it seems that screenwash not rain water leaks on to the top of my engine from both jets. I asked a Ford technician and he said my car has the revised jets and not to worry if you get screenwash all over the ht leads and coilpack hmmmm....

What's the best sealant to use to stop mine leaking?

[Barry_]

Sure this only effected the 1.6 petrol version as well from what i can remember.

And standard silicone sealant should to the trick.

[catch]

I have this issue on my 2007 focus, however it seems that screenwash not rain water leaks on to the top of my engine from both jets. I asked a Ford technician and he said my car has the revised jets and not to worry if you get screenwash all over the ht leads and coilpack hmmmm....

What's the best sealant to use to stop mine leaking?

It can appear to be screen wash, but I'd bet it's rain water. Mind you easy test is, on a dry day fire up the washers, if its dripping onto the plugs it is indeed your washer pipes/joints leaking.

Anyway as you will see by reading the thread I linked to, I tried using a quality silicone sealant to no avail. But on taking the advise of a passing plumber I used silicone grease problem solved.

[Phillip82]

Wow thanks for that Catch just read your thread most intresting and has killed an afternoon at work!

Any cars I look at I will make sure I get them to remove the spark plugs and make sure all is dry and rust free.

Intresting that just putting the new jets on didn't fix the problem by itself you would have thought when Ford made the new jets they would make sure they did the trick.

Thanks for your help

[reprised]

It can appear to be screen wash, but I'd bet it's rain water. Mind you easy test is, on a dry day fire up the washers, if its dripping onto the plugs it is indeed your washer pipes/joints leaking.

Anyway as you will see by reading the thread I linked to, I tried using a quality silicone sealant to no avail. But on taking the advise of a passing plumber I used silicone grease problem solved.

It is definitely screen wash as I can see and smell the pink residue on engine cover, ht leads, coilpack and battery cover. Just been reading that other thread so I'm gonna try some of that silicone grease. Thanks for the info Catch

[catch]

It is definitely screen wash as I can see and smell the pink residue on engine cover, ht leads, coilpack and battery cover. Just been reading that other thread so I'm gonna try some of that silicone grease. Thanks for the info Catch

Pink! I've never seen pink screen wash, the stuff I've only ever see or used blue. Isn't the engine coolant water Pink? Have not got the car at present so cannot confirm that myself.

Phillip, glad to be of help, you don't need to pull the plugs out, just the leads. The bit that is sealed by the rubber grommets engine side will be stained rust colour if it's got water in the plug ports.

And don't worry buy a Mk2 or Mk2.5 with confidence, reliable motors and cheap to fix if you hit a problem. I've had the Mk1 and the Mk2, what the Mk2 lacks in exterior styling against the Mk1 is compensated by it being the better of the two and bigger to boot.

[reprised]

Pink! I've never seen pink screen wash, the stuff I've only ever see or used blue. Isn't the engine coolant water Pink? Have not got the car at present so cannot confirm that myself.

Phillip, glad to be of help, you don't need to pull the plugs out, just the leads. The bit that is sealed by the rubber grommets engine side will be stained rust colour if it's got water in the plug ports.

And don't worry buy a Mk2 or Mk2.5 with confidence, reliable motors and cheap to fix if you hit a problem. I've had the Mk1 and the Mk2, what the Mk2 lacks in exterior styling against the Mk1 is compensated by it being the better of the two and bigger to boot.

Yeah I've got the pink stuff from Halfords ;-) My coolant is orange by the way.

[Nigel S]

It is a problem only on the 1.6 petrol engine. The 1.8 and 2.0 engines have a full cover.

[artscot79]

It is a problem only on the 1.6 petrol engine. The 1.8 and 2.0 engines have a full cover.

1.8 and 2.0 engines sit the other way round so any leaks drip right past the engine whereas the 1.6 sits closer to the bulkhead leaving the spark plugs right under the jets