Any ford zetec experts here?

[Bren]

My sister has has a w plate fiesta 1.25 zetec - it is clean with around 70k on the clock.

 

She has complained that the car is running badly, she told me that a mechanic who saw her struggling with it said it sounded like it was running on three pots.

 

I hav'nt seen the car, but knowing my sister I assume it's terminal - like most young people she is only bothered about Facebook and her mobile.

 

It had a timing belt fitted, but I suspect not the full kit - I am wondering if the belt has jumped.

 

I know the bottom ends go, and they do not seem to be an engine that like being rebuilt. If I get chance to look at it I will try turning it over by hand, as even removing the belt covers to check the timing marks is a PITA.

 

Any advice? It's a shame as the car is pretty rust free and still has it's arches at the back.

[Richard]

Are you sure it isn't just a coil pack?

[Station]

It sounds like it could be something simple like ignition. People seem to ignore things like spark plugs and leads nowadays (if it even has them).

Explain facebook is interfering with the hydrocapacitors and she must delete her account and then buy a Nokia 3310.

[simmo]

They do not relish getting hot and if they do, expect HGF and/or head warpage, in extreme cases they will  crank over faster than normal similar to cam-belt failure due to the loss of compression. 

[derek9213]

have a check at the basics first

because of the layout of the engine and water drains they are bad for the spark plug tubes filling with water, causing the spark to go anywhere except through the plug, and as mentioned above........coil pack, plugs and leads

[Ghosty]

In my experience, the thermostats are iffy on that engine too.

(And autoboxes shit themselves a lot, but that's not relevant here - ours ate three in 70k!)  

[phil_lihp]

This exact problem happened with my sister's 1.25 Fiesta, it led a fairly brutal life, had been run on low oil and overheated more than once. Initially the problem was sorted by reseating the spark plugs oddly enough but it eventually transpired that the value seals were shot and it lost all compression on one cylinder. Up to that point it had been burning copious amounts of oil though. They do eat HT leads and coil packs so well worth checking those first.

[Barry Cade]

I've changed a few burnt valves on these- do a compression check- an autoshite version.. take a plug out and see if it puts your roll up out. Do this with all 4. A healthy Zetec should be expected to at least blow off your bunnet.

[bub2006]

Our 1.6 was misfiring when we bought it. New coil pack and sorted it. 30 quid new.

[Vince70]

My sister in laws 1.25 does the same and has done for 4 years but she says she doesn't notice it as she never goes over 30..

When I used the car and put my foot down that's when I get it firing on 3 and my guess is a coil pack and it seems quite common on a zetec.

[Bren]

Apparently my sister has told my brother that the car has no power and lots of smoke.

 

I assume that it is the end of the road for this little car, which is sad because It is unusual in having good bodywork.

[phil_lihp]

Sounds familiar, I have no idea how much it costs to get the valves redone but a recon cylinder head isn't obscenely expensive http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FORD-FIESTA-1-25-ZETEC-CYLINDER-HEAD-/151256254412?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item23379347cc - we didn't go down that route as her car was already about to run out of MOT, needed work to pass and had accident damage to cap it off but if you're handy with the spanners and the car's otherwise sound it might be worth it.

[Slappy]

My 1.4 Zetec Fiesta started getting really grumpy at me during the monsoon. Lots of Ford forums screamed Coil Pack, leads and spark plugs, but the disparity between what Ford wanted and what I could find seemed a lot. I'm a novice car owner really, but if anyone knows who makes the OEM coil packs that would be helpful .

[Bren]

A bit of an update.

 

My brother looked at the car - he said it starts and ticks over normally.

 

However, he said it is reluctant to rev, to the point it is not driveable.

 

Ideas anyone?

[red5]

Mass Airflow meter - try disconnecting it and seeing if improve it / makes it worse. By n/s headlamp .

[Pillock]

Do the 1.4s use the hot wire sensors like the larger engines? My Mondeo used to do that from time to time, just not rev at all..... A bit of carb cleaner to get the crud off the heater element across the middle of the MAF and sorted.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Good luck getting an internet diagnosis off the detailed information provided thus far about the nature of the problem