Newbie Bought A Lemon??

[hannakournikova]

I have always fancied an focus, granted i was after the 2.0 Zetec 3 dr, but ended up with a 1.6 5 door zetec.

Got the car quite cheap so was happy, UNTIL i discovered some issues.....

1. speedo doesnt work - new speedo sensor is the cure?

2. wee knock on bumpy ground coming from front drivers - End link needs replaced? whats the equiv in the UK, have only seen its documented on USA forums.

3. front heated screen - part of the screen doesnt clear

4. went to put £20 petrol in this morning, about £5 worth dripped out below the car - apparently there is a vacuum pipe that came loose?

5. when i start car in the mornings it will idle around 12-1500rpm then will settle after this. but if i leave car for 5 mins turned of and start again it idles high again.

cheers all!

[ilanbutler]

take it back .

[hannakournikova]

take it back .

wish that was an option.... :/

[artscot79]

wish that was an option.... :/

in truth fairly small issues i wouldnt even bother with the heated screen though i have to say why do people buy without testing these things first rule 1 of buying any car the high idle will likely be the idle control valve or faulty vacum hose

[hannakournikova]

in truth fairly small issues i wouldnt even bother with the heated screen though i have to say why do people buy without testing these things first rule 1 of buying any car the high idle will likely be the idle control valve or faulty vacum hose

well every fault i have googled and there seems to be an answer for them, but would be good for a "forum veteran" to confirm them.

If i was spending decent money on a car then i would test to the enth degree, but it was cheap and through an auction.

win some and loose some, hoping this isnt lost yet.....

Artscot79 - where can i locate idle control valve?

[LiamZetec]

I have always fancied an focus, granted i was after the 2.0 Zetec 3 dr, but ended up with a 1.6 5 door zetec.

Got the car quite cheap so was happy, UNTIL i discovered some issues.....

1. speedo doesnt work - new speedo sensor is the cure?

2. wee knock on bumpy ground coming from front drivers - End link needs replaced? whats the equiv in the UK, have only seen its documented on USA forums.

3. front heated screen - part of the screen doesnt clear

4. went to put £20 petrol in this morning, about £5 worth dripped out below the car - apparently there is a vacuum pipe that came loose?

5. when i start car in the mornings it will idle around 12-1500rpm then will settle after this. but if i leave car for 5 mins turned of and start again it idles high again.

cheers all!

1 - Yep you need a new Vehicle Speed Sensor

2 - You need a new track rod end or a new drop link or maybe both if they are worn

3 - If I am right, their are 2 fuses for the heated front screens and one side controls the left, the other is for the right side etc. and when one fuse goes it won't work on one side. You need to read up more about this and if it is not the fuses then you need to get a replacement heated front screen.

4 - Yeah I think it's some sort of pipe but I'm not 100% sure

5 - When the engine is cold it is normal for the car to idle at 1200-1500rpm mark as the engine needs to warm up and once it's fully warmed up / temp needle is in the middle then it will idle at the 750rpm mark. On my Focus say if I go for a short 10 min drive from cold and then turn the engine off, if I turn it on again the idle will still be slightly higher for a few seconds and then the idle will go down again - at the same time the temp needle is still not all the way to the middle and once it is in the middle the idle is at the normal 750rpm's.

Liam

[hannakournikova]

Cheers Liam, will get onto this weekend.

track road end, droplink and carb cleaner!!

[LiamZetec]

Cheers Liam, will get onto this weekend.

track road end, droplink and carb cleaner!!

Get it confirmed at a garage first to see if it is definately the track rod end / drop link. That is my bet as I have got the same sort of knock on the front passenger's side everytime I go over a speed hump and on my latest MOT advisory the track rod end was noted to be worn and needed replacing before next year's MOT. If it is the track rod end for you as well then you will also need to get the tracking re-done at the garage or at a tyre specialist as the tracking gets messed up when track rod ends are replaced.

Liam