by "SVTyler" (svtyler)
Published 06/28/2017 at 22:17
by "SVTyler" (svtyler)
Published 06/28/2017 at 22:17
No Tags
STARS: 0
For the third time in six years the Focus goes away on the back of a truck, this time with an ignition lock cylinder that won’t turn. Luckily I already had an appointment at my mechanic on Friday to fix a bunch of other stuff but man is this just icing on the cake. I keep telling myself this car is worth it... whether or not it actually is is a different story.
"Nibby" (nibby68)
06/28/2017 at 22:25, STARS: 3
"2Fast2Furious: Rotary Powered" (2fast2furiousfc3s)
06/28/2017 at 22:40, STARS: 1
That’s what a 16 year old focus with strain on all it’s parts do to “spirited” driving will do
I wouldn’t expect an svt to not be beaten on, maybe you need a reliable daily if it let’s you down so often?
"Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies" (jordanwphillips)
06/28/2017 at 22:52, STARS: 1
I wouldn’t call once every two years often, especially on an American car from the early 2000's.
"SVTyler" (svtyler)
06/28/2017 at 22:56, STARS: 0
Yep, that’s something 18-year-old me (who had way more money than sense and was obsessed with finding a ‘driver’s car’ to deliver pizzas in) should’ve put more thought into. Realistically this is the first true non-consumable part I’ve had to replace in the last couple years so it’s not like it’s some complete basket case of unreliability, stuff just tends to happen at really inconvenient times (for example during the summer when I rely on my car for my job).
And that’s definitely the plan once I graduate college next year, maybe find an early 2000's Civic or something to keep as a backup. I love this car and want to keep it as long as I can, but having it as my only mode of transportation isn’t looking like something I can do once I get a 9-5 and need to get to work everyday .
"Steve in Manhattan" (blogenfreude01)
06/28/2017 at 22:56, STARS: 0
Anything else big that can go bad, or have you done everything?
And you can always ask your mechanic to go through the car to give you an idea of what’s coming (and estimates) - it might be time to bail. otoh you might get a lot more use out of it.
"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
06/28/2017 at 23:06, STARS: 1
This is why you need multiple cars!
"SVTyler" (svtyler)
06/28/2017 at 23:12, STARS: 0
I mean I don’t think so at least, apart from a downstream O2 sensor tripping a check-engine light every six months or so (which is a known problem with these cars and doesn’t effect driveability or reliability) I’ve pretty much had no real issues after I fixed all the stuff wrong with the car in the first year I bought. Beyond just regular maintenance and the occasional dumb little thing like this it’s been perfectly fine for a 120k-mile, 15-year-old performance car, it’s just that as my first and only car I take it a bit personally every time something happens, especially considering I rely on it for my job as a pizza delivery driver.
I did ask my mechanics to give it a once-over to see if there’s any other problems that might pop up. I’ve taken it to them before asking the same thing and they’ve always come back with nothing and told me to stop being such an alarmist hypochondriac so I dunno. The way I’m looking at it is that it just has to last another year and I can throw all the money I want at it once I graduate and get a real job.
"SVTyler" (svtyler)
06/28/2017 at 23:13, STARS: 0
That’s the plan once I graduate. For now, I’ve had my eye on this:
https://indianapolis.craigslist.org/bar/6141628097.html
"Flyboy is FAA certified insane" (flyboy396)
06/28/2017 at 23:15, STARS: 1
That sucks, I bought my fiesta ST like two weeks ago and I think I already have to take it to the dealership.
On the drive to Florida it would sometimes randomly stall at idle. I’m hoping it was just bad premium from a bumfuck gas station
"Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo" (thetomselleck)
06/28/2017 at 23:18, STARS: 1
“it never gets dark in the city”
That would sabotage batman’s career.
"SVTyler" (svtyler)
06/28/2017 at 23:23, STARS: 0
Sorry to hear that man, was it just that one time after you filled up? I remember reading somewhere that it happened with a lot of the ST’s after getting gas but no one really knew why. At least you’ve got a warranty.
edit: actually found this, maybe it’s not the gas itself but the vapor sensor in the tank:
https://www.reddit.com/r/FiestaST/comments/2uc9rs/idle_dropstuttering/
"SVTyler" (svtyler)
06/28/2017 at 23:30, STARS: 0
Shit, maybe that’s why there’s so much crime in Indianapolis, too much light for wealthy, anonymous superheroes to enact vigilante justice.
"ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable)" (adabofoppo)
06/28/2017 at 23:32, STARS: 1
I know those feels, bro.
How old is the timing assembly? That’s the super important parts to keep up with. I never had any issues with the ingition on mine, thankfully.
Only times I ever needed a tow were: I flooded it checking to see if it would run one cold winter day. The coolant crossover pipe exploded on my way home from work (only a few blocks away from my house and on a side street fortunately). And just before I sold it it sat too long and needed hauled to the shop for them to check the charging system. Don’t remember what they fixed if anything.
I sold it shortly afterward.
Still miss driving it. Damn does that car like to turn. I haven’t quite figured out how to hustle my GTI around with the same enthusiasm yet.
"2Fast2Furious: Rotary Powered" (2fast2furiousfc3s)
06/28/2017 at 23:34, STARS: 0
Tbh I was tired and thought it was 6 months
"2Fast2Furious: Rotary Powered" (2fast2furiousfc3s)
06/28/2017 at 23:37, STARS: 0
As a reply to same thing, I actually thought you wrote third time in 6 months, I can tell you that its way more reliable than I thought after I read 6 years, I’m glad you enjoy your car, I wasn’t hating, temperamental Ford’s have happened in my family, and I’ve heard how unreliable svts are do to the strain that “spirited” drive the 3rd or 4th owner does in these things
"Flyboy is FAA certified insane" (flyboy396)
06/29/2017 at 00:06, STARS: 0
It happens every time I fill up after driving for a long time. Probably that sensor in the post you had.
Most Ecoboost 4-cyl apparently do it so I guess it’s not really a problem
"SVTyler" (svtyler)
06/29/2017 at 00:14, STARS: 0
Oh dude no worries, I didn’t think you were hating. Hell, I thought you were being rational lol. And as it happens I’m the fourth owner so I’m been driving this car like a little old lady and treating it really nice, getting maintenance done ahead of time, replacing known problem parts with improved aftermarket ones, etc. and it’s been OK for the most part, honestly I just think it’s more age than anything else. Sixteen years is a long time for any car to last so I’m not surprised it needs stuff at this point, the timing of it is what’s irritating more than anything.
"SVTyler" (svtyler)
06/29/2017 at 00:29, STARS: 1
That was actually one of the things I as going to get fixed before tonight happened. The belt’s like six years old so I ordered an assembly kit just in case, but since I’ve not even driven half of the 80k service interval my mechanic recommended to wait and see what the belt looks like before they change it. Still want to do it before I leave for school in August just for peace of mind but if I can save a few hundred dollars now that’d pay for the ignition.
And yeah, it’s definitely a great little car and I’m not going to get rid of it anytime soon, it just gets frustrating at times.
"diplodicus" (diplodicus)
06/29/2017 at 08:17, STARS: 1
Have you replaced the wiring harness for the coils? Ford didn’t make the original long enough and it stresses the wires to the point where they will break off eventually. Leaving you with a 2cylinder.
http://www.tascaparts.com/oe-ford/3u2z14s411tna
ETA: Also if you leak a bit of coolant it’s your thermostat housing. You can swap it with a housing from a countour and use a 1/8"npt plug for the extra hole on the countour housing.
If you ever notice a wet spot underneath the clutch pedal, it is time for a new clutch master cylinder.
"SVTyler" (svtyler)
06/29/2017 at 16:22, STARS: 0
Oh thanks, I’ll go ahead and save that link just in case, haven’t had any electrical problems yet but the way this car goes you never know. Actually replaced both the thermostat housing and master cylinder within a few weeks of buying the car since they were both known problem areas; couldn’t find a Contour housing so I just got an upgraded version of the OEM one from CFM which has been perfectly fine so far.
"diplodicus" (diplodicus)
06/30/2017 at 08:03, STARS: 0
The only other electrical issue that’s common is the dual stage intake solenoid either going bad or the contacts get dirty. It will throw a code if it happens, you can still drive it, you just lose what little low end torque the engine has.
"SVTyler" (svtyler)
06/30/2017 at 23:11, STARS: 0
You know I had a a code for the VCT solenoid come up in like the first year I owned the car and just cleaned it off hoping it’d fix it. Haven’t had a problem since which is a good thing because the forums were up in arms a few years ago because Ford pretty much tripled the price on a new OEM one. Seems like they’ve been doing that more and more with rare parts :(