Going to look at a 2002 1.6 Ztec Focus - pointers

GeX · 10 Oct 2011 at 13:44

Hi all

Going to go look at a 1.6 2002 Focus (3dr) for the my other half to drive. It's done 110k. What should I be looking for on it? What's the cambelt interval / cost on these?

shoes · 10 Oct 2011 at 13:47

GeX said:
Hi all

Going to go look at a 1.6 2002 Focus (3dr) for the my other half to drive. It's done 110k. What should I be looking for on it? What's the cambelt interval / cost on these?

I have a 2001 one of these with 117k on the clock when I bought it. I have had it a year and done 20k and so far I've had to replace:

Coil pack
battery
brake cylinder - rear
thermostat housing

All are readily available and very cheap.

Otherwise a very good car, and very comfortable.

Sin_Chase · 10 Oct 2011 at 13:50

Damp passenger footwell/standing water there. Pollen filter area needs re-sealing properly. Easy fix.

I never got a single problem in 5 years ownership of a 2003 1.8 Zetec however.

fadetoblack · 10 Oct 2011 at 13:53

Seals on bottom off all the doors they can rot

Paul. W · 10 Oct 2011 at 14:05

Cambelt interval is set at Ford to 100k. However most (including I) do them at around 80k. So make sure its been done, and if it hasnt then use that to knock down the price. Up to you whether you want to do the water pump at the same time, doesnt cost much more as the cambelt needs to come off for its replacement anyway. I paid £140 from an indy for a cambelt/pulley change.

Check for usual rust spots (arches, sills etc) Damp footwell as above, is a poorly fitted pollen filter seal. Very easy fix.

If its got the climate pack with front heated windscreen, test that as well.

Will you be able to test drive it?

GeX · 10 Oct 2011 at 14:10

Thaks for the tips so far guys.

Yes Paul, I will be test driving it.

Conscript · 10 Oct 2011 at 14:12

Speedometer failure. Common fault caused by failure of the gearbox sensor. But a cheap and easy fix, and on a 2002, may have already been dealt with.

LEK-89 · 10 Oct 2011 at 15:12

I can only echo what everyone else has said as that just about sums everything up to look out for. At 110k the cam belt is an absolute must on this car.

A common rust spot on the MK1 focus's is the boot lid right above where the number plate is, it usually starts where the plastic panel above the number plate is (I've got a 5p size rust spot on mine

)

Liam

shoes · 10 Oct 2011 at 16:25

Conscript said:
Speedometer failure. Common fault caused by failure of the gearbox sensor. But a cheap and easy fix, and on a 2002, may have already been dealt with.

Why do I never remember this fault with my car... it's had an intermittant fault with the speedometer ever since I've had the car. It doesn't bother me too much, I know how fast I'm going from the rpm gauge in 4th / 5th at 30/40/50/60.