catch

I've still got the problerm [I checked the wiring in the extended rubberised sheaf, twixt bulkhead and boot lid many moons ago, and it was fine]

So it's either checking the wiring from Gem back to the motor, or the contacts in the motor it's self. Now seeing as it's no big deal to "manual park it"  I cannot therefore be @rsed to undertake the aformentioned............

Spending money on brakes is an investment in your own safety, and it could even save somebody's life.

Sorry to sound so dramatic, but brakes are such a critical part of car safety, so please get them looked at immediately as the consequences of doing nothing could be very serious.

Spot on, in the mind of any rational person the one area of a car that corners should not be cut, is the braking system and tyre maintenance. Anybody who thinks different, should not be contributing to the humane gene pool

The question, how cold is it?

Ask the wife, she could be freezing, where as me, I could be taking a layer of clothing off. What I'm saying is, it can be a subjective question. You can either go back to the garage and tell them your not altogether happy with the temperatures its achieving, and that you would like them to check the AC coolant system is at the optimum pressure levels. That is what I would do, hell they have just sold you a car, and also pocketed the commission on selling you a three year warranty.

There again if your the kind of person that perceives, such a request could be construed as being "confrontational" and would rather avoid going down that route. Then check you cars AC performance against the same model maybe a relation.friend of work colleague may own. Failing that go to a garage and look like you could be interested in a like for like model, and ask for a test drive. That way you can do a like for like test in the same ambient conditions.

Two Year Update:

my original fix is proving to be the solution.............remember silicone "GREASE" is what you need

Now taking the view..............better late than never

If the question in the post prior to this one was directed towards me. Unlike that poster I have the 100PS engined Mk2 Focus

Hi there woody,

welcome to the forum.

Regards the choice between the 100PS and the 115PS TiVCT, if both are equal in all respects as to condition, then I'd obviously choose the later. But that said, I have a 55 plate 100PS engined car with 44K on the clock and it is a good car. Had it three years and plan to keep it another two at least. Plan being to trade it in for an estate version of the Mk3 Focus 1.0 125bhp Eco boost. Obviously if the next two or three years prove that it stacks up reliability wise, and proves to be as good as the pro reviews say it is. Why the estate route? Well the only bad point mentioned in the pro reviews I have read is the disappointing boot space compared to the Mk2/2.5 versions of the hatchback. Plus I think the estate is a better looker than the hatchback, and the wife said the additional 20cm in length would not be a problem to her

I also had a Mk1 Focus and while it was a great car [a mould breaker] the Mk2 is a better car, though body wise compared to the Mk1it is a tad boring visually on the front end. Hence Ford brought out the Mk2.5 version, which apart from adding ESP as standard was the same car as the Mk2 engineering wise, but with a more visually appealing exterior.

Sorry I digress........... something I tend to do on occasion.

Anyway back on topic:

What to look out for, well the car your looking at is like mine an early build of the Mk2, and I found it to have two build faults:

1. The potential to rust on the bottom of the front wheel arches, and the leading edge of the sills where they meet the front wheel arches. In later builds Ford introduced added protection in these areas.

2. Water in the spark plug wells, again this was remedied by fitting revised washer jets on later builds.The fault being poorly fitting grommets that sit between the washer jets and the bonnet, unfortunately they cannot be bought separately.

Now I have done threads on both "Fixes" [see my sig below] which if like me you do yourself, are dirt cheap to remedy.

At seven years old, I just had it in for it's MOT yesterday, as per usual it sailed through. My mechanic asked me if I wanted to sell it as he had a customer looking for a clean reliable Focus, and as he said mine certainly fits the bill in all aspects..................so if you pick a good one you will be well suited.