Focus 1800 Diesel Engine Problem

[brian_c]

Hello all I am new to the Forum so not sure if I am posting this in the right section.

We are wondering if any forum members can make a suggestion

We have a problem with my daughters Focus 57 reg 1800 Ghia Diesel.

She was driving along quite normal but after setting off from a junction the car did not respond properly she was only able to get her speed. Up to about 30 mph.

The service depot where we usually take our cars suspected an hose problem that usually splits, they did find this pipe damaged but after renewing it the problem was still there.

The garage tried many thing but finally told us that they would have to take the car to the main Ford dealer who had more sophisticated equipment and should be able to diagnose the fault.

Well to cut the long story short the ford dealer has had the car for about a week now and have been unable to find what is wrong, everything they try the problem is still there.

They have now suggested trying some type of filter and a new turbo an estimated cost for parts of about £2000

However they can't be sure that this will solve the problem. But we will still have to pay for the parts even if they turn out to be not needed. And of course the fitting and diagnostic work.

It looks like we could be left with a car that cost us £7000 about a year ago that will only drive at 30 mph

We still need to talk with our garage to see how much all their diagnostic work is going to cost.

I have a feeling we could be driving the car that looks immaculate with about 50000 miles on the clock to the breakers yard. At 30mph

Has anyone got any ideas or had a similar experience.

Regards Brian

[jeebowhite]

welcome to the forum, I will move your post to the Focus Section for more bespoke advice.

So how does the car feel? is it generally underpowered between 0 and 30?

Was there any noise / odd behaviour when it first started to misbehave?

What happens if you try to push the car beyond 30?

[brian_c]

Hello thank you for the reply.

The car is just unresponsive, no smoke starts ok but you could not pull away from a busy junction with any confidence. It will steadily build up speed to about 35 mph but to be honest we took it straight to the garage so didn't feel comfortable driving it in that condition. When it happened my daughter was pulling away from a junction driving to work having already driven about 12 miles ok no knocks, bangs or indication of any kind and no dashboard fault lights.

Our mechanic now suspects either some filteration equipment within the exhaust system or a defective Turbo or indeed both.

The ford dealers have also come to the same conclusion but like our mechanic says fitting either or both may not cure the fault so we are at decision time.

The problem these components are not items that the garage can substitute for a quick check. In effect you have to buy them to eliminate them. Our mechanic says that more and more this type of situation is arising with most makes of car. He puts it down to the sophistication of the equipment used to give performance to modern engines and also to the reduction of emissions.

He also told me that my engine is made by Peugeot I was flabbergasted at that.

Thank you for your reply.

Regards Brian

[Stoney871]

£2000 for a turbo? Jesus that not steep, that's flamin' Everest tbh.

You can get a recon one for far less and it will serve you just as well.

Also your mechanic is talking out of his hat, your engine is most definitely not a Peugeot block.

It's pure Ford although many engines in the Ford range are modified Peugeot ones.

The sluggish acceleration and limited speed does indeed point to the turbo failing, the bit about a possible exhaust filter fault would tally if the engine was a Peugeot one as they have particulate filters fitted but yours definitely does not (only the standard catalytic converter which certainly wouldn't cost £2000).

I strongly recommend you try at least a couple more garages for quotes, maybe one that actually knows Fords enough to even be able to recognise what type of engine you have.

But £2000? no way!

The 1.8 engine is the most reliable one in the range and it's definitely not suffering due to emissions reduction devices, he's pretty much talking cobblers again.

The only thing other than the turbo on the 1.8 that may remotely cause problems is the exhaust gas recirculation unit (EGR) but wouldn't be that expensive to check or clean, it's readily accessible and easy to remove.

[ffz]

The 1.8 TDCI is definitely 101% Ford.

Take it to someone who knows what they are doing. A reconditioned turbo is £500 at the most, there are loads on eBay from different companies at a range of prices.

I've done a bit of research into my own engine and turbo failures, and seen the eye watering prices some people have paid at main dealers, and you price eclipses them!!!!!

Take it to another garage, ASAP.

EDIT: I see you are in Yorkshire. Where abouts are you?

[brian_c]

Thank you for your comments. I think the combined cost of the exhaust equipment and the new turbo made up the estimated £2000.

My mechanic spoke about cleaning the EGR in one of our earlier conversations but to be honest it was all going over me by this time.

He is a really approachable nice guy so I am going to ring him and tell him what you say about the 1800 engine and the catalitic exhaust.

I find it hard to take in the fact that the ford dealer is also unable to pinpoint which of the components is actually at fault.

I don't suppose I should feel to bad because since 1968 I have mainly had ford cars and this is the first time I have had a serious problem. Starting with a ford pop then a couple of Anglias then Mk1 and Mk2 cortina then escorts and now on to focus.

I did for a couple of years have a talbot solara which for a 1300 was a great car. I pulled a small caravan all over the country with that. Perhaps I have been fortunate.

Favourite of all my previous cars . My Mk. 1 Cortina not even a special model but loved it I even managed to get the rust spots to shine.

Thanks again for the reply.

Regards Brian

[Stoney871]

Please be sure to keep us updated with how things go.

[jeebowhite]

like Clive, I am shocked at the prices quoted, and can see why you dont want to jump into it!

[Frogfoot]

i have had to change three cats on focus 1.8 tdci due to it breaking up inside,over time it vibrates and eventualy you are left with what looks like a tennis ball size chunk ! this then blocks the exhaust causing the lack of power. it can somtimes vibrate free again if the car goes over a bump. the early signs are a vibration rattle sound coming from under the car on tickover.

its worth checking out by removing the cat,it may not be the fault you have ,but the first one we came across at the dealers took some time to work out.

[brian_c]

Hello all. I have a good news update. Our mechanic fetched the car away from the dealers and has managed to sort the fault. Yes it was eventually the Turbo which he has sourced and installed. Our Final Bill around a quarter of the prices that we were originally being speculatively quoted, so whilst it has cost quite a chunk of money we are quite pleased that after all this time we now have the car back ok. With a part fitted that was actually required.

I am more than pleased that the guy at the garage we use has managed to sort out everything for that price I know he has spent a considerable amount of time and substituted parts from his own car to check things out. Not to mention managing to sort the Ford dealers charges.

He was genuinely concerned that when we finally needed to buy a part it was in fact required and not just fitted in a process of elimination.

So we are up and running again my confidence in ford cars dented but not terminally, I have been using them too long and this is our first major headache.

Anyway kind regards to all and safe driving.

Brian

[Stoney871]

Glad to see you got the problem resolved and for less than quoted.

Nice also to see that some mechanics out there still have common sense and enough integrity to actually solve a problem rather than throw parts at it until it goes away.

[jeebowhite]

Glad to hear of your positive experience Brian, and might I say its refreshing to see a garage who arent in a hurry to take all your cash and offer you none of the effort to earn it!

[salsheikh]

Glad to hear of your positive experience Brian, and might I say its refreshing to see a garage who arent in a hurry to take all your cash and offer you none of the effort to earn it!

this.

thankfully i know a mechanic like this but use my dad to fix my cars!