Smokey 2004 tdci Focus now bought for £450

[Vince70]

I wonder if someone can give me some pointers on the ford focus as tomorrow afternoon I'm off to buy my father a new (well new to him) 04 ford focus Tdci.

 

It looks in lovely condition and has been very well looked after but has had little use lately and now the cars mot and tax is up and the owner now has a company car.

 

My father took it for a test drive earlier and he's over the moon with it but the owner told him it smokes sometimes but it doesn't use oil or water etc, I wonder could anyone could tell me if it's normal for this type of engine as I'm not into Derv lumps.

[spike60]

I think like the Mondeo the pump and injectors turn to shit. Neighbour was quoted £2000 to sort one worth about 1/2 that. I think the pump was breaking up filling the injectors with shrapnel, still driving just smokey with limp home tendencies.

[twosmoke300]

Egr valve , poorly injectors(140 quid each and coded) and maf are favourites.

[Pillock]

Smokes when? What colour?

If it's only getting used around town, it'll chuck out black smoke when you boot it as it's not got a DPF to catch all the soot (this is a good thing - why on earth would you want to collect soot?).

 

There were some Ford lumps that used to split the intercooler hose and create black smoke and loss of power, but I'm pretty sure it was the TDDI lump not the TDCI.

[Vince70]

I think the smoke was a white colour and was only for a second or so on starting from cold but it seems to pull well apparently and no Christmas tree lights are lit up on the dash or have in the past.

 

The owner said that she has noticed it sometimes when putting her foot down in second gear though.

[twosmoke300]

I have a good used set of injectors if you need em !

Mucho bargains .

[Danblez]

I have one and from 70k to 160k it has always chucked out white smoke on startup. Absolutely nothing to worry about unless it is smoking out the street.

 

Likewise it likes to chuck a load of grey smoke out when giving it the beans.

 

I know not everyone will agree but bloody belting motor!

[Pillock]

It's a diesel. They smoke. White smoke is oil isn't it, so maybe turbo or rings. However if it's not pluthering out, just drive it. Worst case is a £100 turbo out of a scrapper, but that sounds a long way off....

[Mr Lobster]

I had one when they were new and it smoked a bit. Cracking car though, really liked mine and would have another any time!

[STUNO]

The old story

White smoke is water vapour, usually seen while the exhaust system is cold. On continuous short runs the exhaust does not get hot enough to turn the water (a by-product of combustion ) into steam so it collects as a pool of water in the mufflers etc. It is not unusual to see a car dribbling water out from the exhaust esp. when pulling away from the traffic lights. Solution, a good long hot run to clear it out. PS it is corrosive so eats the exhaust from the inside !

It can also be a sign that you drive a Rover (and /or any other vehicle) and the head gasket has blown, allowing water into the combustion chambers. This is not good. Usually signalled by needing the radiator topped up frequently and steam or water from the exhaust when all is hot and dry inside it.

 

Blue smoke is oil being burnt usually signs of wear in the engine. If buying a 10.000 pound car that produces a lot of blue smoke run away as fast as you can. If buying a 100 pound car that smokes a lot it is your own fault when it dies next week.

 

Black smoke is overfuelling usually adjustable or a fairly minor repair.

 

That is my opinion so there!

[Honey Badger]

Had an 03 Focus TDCi for about 2years and approx 20000 miles, in that time it ate 2 fuel cards/pumps and a set of injectors, thankfully all under warranty as it was at least £1500 to fix it each time and it had a 3rd card on its way out when we chopped it in for the S2000.

 

When it worked it was great and I really liked the engine and how it handled, it was deceptively quick.

 

 

Didn't like the 18" alloys though with rubber bands attached in the place of tyres, nor did my spine.

[sutty2006]

Check boost pipes for splits etc.

[Vince70]

I've got to admit I'm more than happy with the focus even though I do prefer a golf but the car is absolutely mint condition and as for the smoke I can't see any so I'm chuffed with the purchase.

 

But the car isn't for me as I'm letting my father have the car but it's been really well looked after there's no wear whatsoever on the interior the only problem I can find is the drivers side electric window makes a bit of noise which hopefully I will fix with a grease up.

 

Here's some pictures but being black it looks filthy.

[Mr Lobster]

That looks superb for the money.  This was mine - really, really rated it and I'm not a particular Ford fan but it was quick, nice to drive, comfy and pretty much exactly what I wanted. I'd have it back like a shot.

 

Ford Focus Zetec TDCi 3dr by Mr Lobster, on Flickr

[CortinaDave]

Great but for the money. I'd be delighted at that. Good cars these

[Micrashed]

£450 for a 2004 diesel - BARGAIN!

[Bren]

Considering one of these for my other half, or maybe a golf/ astra.

 

The only thing that puts me off is that they do rust a bit - cosmetically they can be ok, but the sills tend to go at the back. A lot of them seem to be very tired.

 

For the mileage she covers (4k a year), we have ruled a diesel out, 1.6 pez is our preferred choice.

[Vince70]

I would have preferred my father to have a nice little petrol one as I don't like cars that are fitted with tractor engines unless it's something reliable like the old Peugeot/Citroen Diesel engine or an old merc lump.

 

The first thing I checked was for rot around the back and to my surprise it's rot free the only bit I can find is a bit on the inner part of one of the back doors so sometime this week I will get the Krust and hammerite out and see if that stops it in its tracks as it should be an invisible repair as I've just got to it in time.

 

I've been driving VAG stuff myself for the last couple of years so I've never had to worry about rust prevention for awhile but I think a diesel golf on an 04 in good nick would have cost about 10 times the price but it does look a nice motor.

[Lacquer Peel]

My mum's neighbour owns an 04 Mk5 Golf and it's hanging.

[Pillock]

Sills and door bottoms. Just mud traps really so if they were cleaned well they last better. Saw an 02 yesterday with a gaffer tape tidemark.

[Vince70]

I've booked it in at just mots for a service and fresh ticket to see if anything is up with the car as it's only £99 all in.

The service I think is quite basic at that price and think it comprises an oil change and a wipe over of the rocker cover with an oily rag.

 

Normally I do my own servicing but I'm a bit busy next week plus the oil filter is a ramp job as I think it's buried down the back of the engine somewhere.

 

I'm quite lucky on my A4's as everything for servicing is accessible from the top of the car apart from the brakes of course lol.

[mrbenn]

Well bought! Looks like a nice spec, is it the Edge model?

 

I've just done over 800 miles in a week in my mk1 Focus (1.6 petrol), up and down the hills and passes of the Lake District. Thats more miles than it usually does in a month, with not so much as a cough.

 

If I were you I'd have the door cards off (just a few screws and clips) and spray some anti corrosion stuff inside there. I coated mine when I bought it 2 years ago. The N/S/R door had a pin prick of rust (not even broken the paint) and it has got no worse since. Also might be worth having a look behind the soft rear wheel arch liners. They seem to hold water a bit and can rub at the front edge of the rear wheel arch. Mine needed a bit of wire brushing and a coat of paint here.

 

Great cars IMHO.

[RichL]

Looks decent. I'd say it is an Edge with those wheels, end of line spec and a lot of them were black and 1.8 pez or TDCi.

 

The later ones are better bodywork wise. If it proves hard to start in cold months don't fear the worst; more than likely it will be a weak starter motor.

Thermostat housing's also tend to leak, dribbling coolant on to aforementioned starter, which don't help...

[Bren]

Prices for these are all over the place - would'nt dream of paying near £2k when you can get the later model for less than that.

[Vince70]

Thanks Rich I did wonder about the spec as I looked at a few pictures online and didn't see one with those wheels on.

I've just gone through the service history since you've told me the spec and the only thing suggesting it was written in ballpoint on the inside of the cover of the service book.

[Pillock]

Perhaps the Edge models were dealer-specced so didn't exist as such until the last minute.

[RichL]

Spec is the same as a Zetec climate I think, A/C and heated front screen? 

Badges cost money. It will say "Focus" on the bootlid and that's all...

[mrbenn]

I noticed, when looking for my Focus, that a lot of the Edge models didn't have the electric mirrors oddly enough. Only saw one that did on my travels. And not all had the heated front screen.

 

They did get a rather nice boot spoiler though!

[Vince70]

It's got the nice boot spoiler.

 

But no electric mirrors

 

And looking at the dash I can't see a heated front screen.

 

But I think the car was owned by this man before

 

As it's got his name on the floor mats lol

Except it's misspelt

And why are my pictures upside down

[RichL]

RICHL FORD SPEC KNOWLEDGE FAIL.

 

Looks more like a base spec then. My old 04 plate zetec didn't have a spoiler, that looks like the standard ST170 one