Hi guys, new here and hopefully someone may be able to shed some light?

I'm looking to buy a 2002 1.8 Focus Estate - it's to use as a runaround in Spain, it's RHD but imported into Spain some years ago.

It has 125,000 miles and drives ok, no major wobbles, clunks, knocks etc. Only thing that got me a little concerned was a sort of whining noise which increased with engine speed when driving (happens in all gears) the noise goes if I dip clutch or put in neutral. As I said nothing else was really noticeable.

Gear change was smooth and all gears engaged without issue.

The car is for sale for not much money, so just what we are after - I just don't want to be landed with a major expense a few months down the road.

Thanks very much in advance.

I had an 1992 Escort for about 5 years (front wheel drive). One day I noticed a whine in all gears that seemed to appear that day, not gradual. I had owned cars before that had gearbox whine that had lasted a long long time with the whine - but all those previous ones had been rear wheel drive . I thought this Escort would go on for years making the noise, but not so, within about 1k-2k miles from when the noise started, the gearbox was make a strange screeching noise on the overrun and jumping out of gear and it got so bad with strange clunks whilst driving also, I had to stop driving it because it seemed like it was going to totally fail and jam up inside or something like that at any moment. I then changed the gearbox.

It might carry on for years but based on my Escort experience I would not assume so

 

When I had a whine from my diff it was there all the time and directly related to road speed. Dipping the clutch or engine load made no real difference.

It was confirmed by running the engine with the wheels off the ground and listening carefully with a stethoscope.

ScaniaPBman.

Check for leaks from the selector shaft mines was leaking and I had a loud whine. I replaced the input selector shaft seal and siphoned out all the old oil and filled it back up with the correct specification and now there is no whine and the gears shift like butter.

Thanks guys - I'll check further and see where we are at - fingers crossed 

+1 To F0CUE, just had a minor driveshaft seal leak sorted for a second time as the first time it was done was during a clutch & belt change, the garage nicked the seal a little so had that changed and always felt whiny and very difficult to get in to 1st & reverse. When sorted the first time it felt better overall but not perfect; they'd swapped the seal out for a non brand and just topped the fluids - then about 2 weeks later I noticed it was leaking again where it had been caught again! -__-'

Now the second time I bought the parts from Ford (~£13 for the seal and shaft bolt) and had a garage drain, fit and replace the GB oil - now lovely changes and a quiet 'box. Feels as though it drives like I've had a clutch change! It's so odd how much of a difference it's made..