2004 LR Zetec R - The Red ***** !

[bunnyman1962]

Gday , In 2009 I decided to purchase a Focus for my daughter. I found a very smik little Red one with all the fibreglass bodykit extras and nice mags. As a bonus it was also a manual. Unfortunately it was a repairable write off - a victim of the brisbane floods.

Yep I know I shouldn't have bought it and to make matters worse I bought it online whilst the auction was live and with one ****** and very blurred interior picture ( couldnt really see how far the water got up inside.)

Anyway when the car arrived by car carrier and I opened the door I was greeted with water and mud marks over the dash. The car cost me 5 thousand. The body was unmarked. After stripping the car bare we eventually got it going with new battery, oil, plugs etc the fun really began. In fact I've been having fun with it ever since.

Replaced - Alternator, starter motor, dash board, aircon switches, power window switches, radiator, engine mounts, wiper stalk, indicator stalk, airbag module, radio ...the list went on and on.....

We got it roadworthy and running. Two weeks after handing it over to my daughter then aged 17 she left the handbrake off, in neutral - rolled down her girlfriends driveway and straight thru the loungeroom.......

Getting the car back repaired more trouble - the car kept chugging, stalling etc......so we dropped the fuel tank and replaced the fuel pump. Thinking stupidly that the car was now right the little red ***** had more in store.

The car suddenly broke down in Sydney ....the engine was dead.....verdict from the specialists - e10 fuel coupled with erratic computer making the engine to misfire led to cracked piston etc etc .......

So add another engine and computer to the shopping bill. I've now spent over 10 thousand on the little red "gem" in addition to the initial 5 thousand!

Roll on 2014 and now the "red *****" is really playing up. I've searched the net , read 120 pages here, spoken with mechanics etc searching for the reason why this car is doing the following to my daughter........

The car has just been serviced and has done this before and after the latest service.

The car just loses power on her. 5 times this has happened. In peak hour Sydney - the car was only going 5 minutes from Randwick to Redfern when in 4th gear there is no power , she feels the car pulling back so she changes down gears until she is in first and barely crawling. She stops , attempts to start which it does but no forward movement . She waits , it starts , it goes , no more problems. It was evening , it wasnt hot.........Fuel was just under half........This type of scenario has happened at least twice more.....

I take the car back , I drive it only short distances and for approx 1 hour around streets plus a short trip on the M1 . No problems . Fuel between 3/4s and full.

Confident the car is ok I give it back. She drives all the way from Newcastle to Byron bay last week . The car doesn't miss a beat. However driving back from BYron around Kempsey mid afternoon at 100 kmp/h with half a tank of fuel the car loses power , once again having to change down until crawling in first gear. My daughter rings me . I tell her to get out , lock the car up wait 5 minutes ( hoping the computer may reset who bloody knows). She jumps back in , it starts , it goes ..in fact it goes all the way back to Sydney.....

Two days later she is coming off Parramatta rd onto Silverwater road at 20 kms when it dies again. This time the red ***** wont drive . No matter how many times she starts it , no matter how times she puts it into first , the damn thing goes a couple of metres and stops . The engine is on and no ones home!

Eventually she starts and stops for an hour and a half and makes it home. She says it had a 1/4 n the tank......

I get down to Sydney next morning, start it , it runs, I fill it up , drive back up to newcastle no problems. Its back at the mechanics now. Whilst I have some mechanical knowledge I'm puzzled.

This problem appears to me and talking to some mates so far has no common circumstance apart from it only happens to my daughter and when the fuel is less than 3/4 full. Looking on the net and here possibilites are -

EGR, Fuel pump, Catalytic converter, accelerator sensor, clutch sensor, vacuum hoses, oxygen sensor, computer( again)

Well thats about it, I'm thinking about starting at the cat punching out the honeycomb gizzards off it but will that effect the oxygen sensor and computer?


Also when this car stops does the LR have this Limp mode that I read of newer models having?

I know I should cut my losses with the little red ***** but my daughter loves it, it does look good but I'm losing patience and money fast with it.

Any ideas , suggestions of what to look for would be appreciated. I dont think its mechanical. Emissions, Fuel or electrical is my guess but hey I'm open to anything!

[bunnyman1962]

...forgot to also add checking the crank angle and MAF sensor as possibilities.....

[marg99]

I assume the fuel tank was properly drained after the flood and the fuel pump & its inbuiolt filter cleaned or replaced?

[stigman1]

just sell it champ, no even worth fixing anymore. Your better off finding yourself a ford fiesta, as they are cheap and so far, ive had no problems with it

[bunnyman1962]

Originally Posted by marg99

I assume the fuel tank was properly drained after the flood and the fuel pump & its inbuiolt filter cleaned or replaced?

.....initially no , however when it started chugging back in 2011 , the tank was removed, fuel pump replaced and for a period I didn't have my hand in my wallet....

[bunnyman1962]

Originally Posted by stigman1

just sell it champ, no even worth fixing anymore. Your better off finding yourself a ford fiesta, as they are cheap and so far, ive had no problems with it

....you obviously dont know my daughter.....

[bunnyman1962]

***Update*******

Well last week the mechanic took it home . On the way, up came the engine light, note the car hadn't missed a beat , no stalling , no break downs. Plugging the computer in it showed error code p0420 (cat) + p0460 ( fuel level sensor). So off we went to my muffler mate . Diagnosis - Cat was basically broken inside with remnants of it stuck in the exhaust pipe and muffler. On instruction he removed the honeycomb junk thus now I have a cat converter in shell only. So far the car hasn't broken down , however I wonder what the hell the sensors either side of the cat makes of it. So far they haven't thrown a hissy nor has the engine light came on.......

Thus perhaps the choking , stalling and break down saga could well be at an end . However this car knows I hate it and it bloody well hates me too.

Whilst the car ponders its next move I have been out and about in it at various wreckers trying to source a decent pollen filter cover. Of course my daughters rubber gutter seal has split on the end and all the wreckers have is the cover where I want the rubber end seal. Of course Ford want to charge me $130 dollars for a new one ( are they insane). I have had a peek on line at various sites but have come up empty. Does anyone have a reasonable fix for this defective piece of plastic and rubber rubbish?

[Franco Cozzo]

Replace the cat, take it down to an exhaust shop for them to do it as if you get caught like that its a huge fine from the EPA with a gutted cat.

[spedwards]

Originally Posted by bunnyman1962

Whilst the car ponders its next move I have been out and about in it at various wreckers trying to source a decent pollen filter cover. Of course my daughters rubber gutter seal has split on the end and all the wreckers have is the cover where I want the rubber end seal. Of course Ford want to charge me $130 dollars for a new one ( are they insane). I have had a peek on line at various sites but have come up empty. Does anyone have a reasonable fix for this defective piece of plastic and rubber rubbish?

I'll be interested to see what you managed to sort out here. Mine is also gone and on the to-do list.

[bunnyman1962]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

Replace the cat, take it down to an exhaust shop for them to do it as if you get caught like that its a huge fine from the EPA with a gutted cat.

Damo - a couple of points.

1. In NSW there is no emission testing. I'm unaware of Vic roads Pink slip procedure. All the mechanic does here is look to see if a cat is present.

2. Whilst I as yet have been unable to take the car for a long drive , there does not appear to be any additional noise or unusual smell emitting from the exhaust.

3. In NSW the EPA/Police rarely work in conjunction with each other for blitzes but when they do they target noisy "hoon" mobiles not nice quiet Focus' driven by black licenced young ladies.

4. Should the car get pulled over for a test and it fails with subsequent fine issued then its off to court we go with the defence of "guilty me lord , however as the car is second hand and passed numerous pink slip inspections over the years how were we to know that the cat was empty and must have been vandalised by the previous owner"

I think His honour will take the view that a section 10 be granted.......


However Damo I'd be more concerned on how well these "oxygen
sensors " are not telling the ECU anything presently. I thought these sensors were employed to tell the computer how well the cats running. Well at the moment the Cats empty apart from emissions and air . The sensors don't appear to be worried and the car is not breaking down. So if the sensors are happy then so am I.

The car appears to be running fine. In Fact It appears to have better acceleration and at this stage anyway likes the change. I liken it to when I changed from underwear briefs to boxer shorts . Room to breathe and move so to speak!

Naturally next week something else will break down but thats what you get I guess when you buy a Focus thats flood damaged.

[bunnyman1962]

Originally Posted by spedwards

I'll be interested to see what you managed to sort out here. Mine is also gone and on the to-do list.

Sped ,

I'm looking into it. Yesterday I went to Ford who brought out the modified Pollen Filter Cover/Scuttle plate/ - ( defective plastic rubber junk). On the end of it was just what I needed. The pristine rubber gutters. These rubber gutters just slip on and off . However naturally Ford wont sell you the rubber ends. They expect you to buy the whole unit.

The price - $170 dollars but he said he would sell me it for $130. He thought it was a joke and so did I .

However I may have some info shortly......stay tuned!

[bluetvrs1]

Originally Posted by bunnyman1962

Sped ,

I'm looking into it. Yesterday I went to Ford who brought out the modified Pollen Filter Cover/Scuttle plate/ - ( defective plastic rubber junk). On the end of it was just what I needed. The pristine rubber gutters. These rubber gutters just slip on and off . However naturally Ford wont sell you the rubber ends. They expect you to buy the whole unit.

The price - $170 dollars but he said he would sell me it for $130. He thought it was a joke and so did I .

However I may have some info shortly......stay tuned!

Just had a look on Ebay and a guy from the UK is listing just the seal (search "Ford pollen filter seal") for $25 inc postage.

[bunnyman1962]

Originally Posted by bluetvrs1

Just had a look on Ebay and a guy from the UK is listing just the seal (search "Ford pollen filter seal") for $25 inc postage.

Bluetvrs1......yes I've seen that . However the seal is a secondary concern at the moment. My problem is the plastic/rubber ends that slide onto the right + left extremities of the pollen/scuttle panel.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by bunnyman1962

Damo - a couple of points.
4. Should the car get pulled over for a test and it fails with subsequent fine issued then its off to court we go with the defence of "guilty me lord , however as the car is second hand and passed numerous pink slip inspections over the years how were we to know that the cat was empty and must have been vandalised by the previous owner"

I think His honour will take the view that a section 10 be granted.......

Naturally next week something else will break down but thats what you get I guess when you buy a Focus thats flood damaged.

Hopefully, we don't have a yearly RWC thing here in Vic, but just in case she gets hassled by police or the police/EPA are doing an operation in a particular area and she gets caught in the web if they want to pick on her when she is just driving through etc.

How is fuel usage at the moment? If the O2 sensors are fried it usually uses tons of fuel.

[bunnyman1962]

Originally Posted by spedwards

I'll be interested to see what you managed to sort out here. Mine is also gone and on the to-do list.

Sped , I thought I found a solution however I've hit a road block. To summarize , I went back to Ford and had a look at the new beaut "improved" cover. I noticed with the new one apart from the underside plastic water storage tub nothing appeared to have changed on the topside apart from the new and improved plastic/rubber ends that slide off..... I was tempted at the time to keep sliding it off and into my pocket!

Anyway you cannot buy just the ends and Im not paying $130 . Ford can get stuffed. So I started ringing wreckers. Everyone I spoke to said their rubber ends were torn and split so i figured that was a dead end. So I started searching on the net for a solution and I thought I found it . Below is two links to a ford spare parts site in the states.

I contacted them but they tell me " us spec parts do not work on non us spec vehicles"

Now I'm not 100% sure that these are the rubber ends ( yellow) from the diagrams needed . I need both right and left sides. Anyway you be the judge . This Tasca mob didn't seem real interested in assisting me


http://www.ebay.com/itm/BRAND-NEW-OE...ab7183&vxp=mtr


http://www.ebay.com/itm/BRAND-NEW-OE...81f960&vxp=mtr

I contacted Ford Parts UK as well....the lady was lovely , she thought it sucked as well. I gave her the US websites with the part numbers but drew a blank as well.

Next step will be me contacting a Ford dealership in the states direct .....stay tuned..........

[spedwards]

Did you note the shipping price for that listing, $41USD - ouch! For the two of those plus shipping it would almost be better to buy the part from Ford, remove the bit you need and then on-sell the rest.

I'll need to take a better look at mine, but I think I'm after a different part to you. Mine appears to be the "Grill Assy - Vent Air Outer", which is part 02228 in that diagram.

Have you been able to identify the part (or parts) number which Ford is trying to sell you. Maybe if we need different parts of the same piece we can work something out?? I'll post a pic of my damage if I remember.

[mik]

i wish you where my daddy....... you are a seriously good dad !
i take my hat off to you sir.

[small_fordz]

Mate I have an old pollen filter scuttle cover off my 2004 Focus, the plastic clips are broken (when I replaced the pollen filter) which is why I replaced but the rubber drain bit looks at the wing end looks okay. That said I don't know how it would be removed. Happy to send it to you for the cost of postage from NZ.
Gerard