Rusty Focus

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Discussion

redevil

Original Poster:

1,141 posts

213 months

Thursday 26th July 2007
quotequote all
Hi people

My Fiancee has recently purchased an X-reg Focus Zetec and we have noticed a few bits of corrosion on the bottom of the passenger side doors and the tailgate.
These things are supposed to have a 12 year warranty against this so i can't believe it has rusted so quickly.
Has anyone had any experience of this warranty and will Ford honour it and sort it out?

Thanks

Ben.

Edited by redevil on Thursday 26th July 15:10

trickywoo

12,288 posts

237 months

Thursday 26th July 2007
quotequote all
If they are anything like other manufacturers the warranty will only be honoured if the body inspection spaces in the service book have been stamped. The checks are often missed at service because they cost a stupid amount extra.

Has it spent its life on the coast?

redevil

Original Poster:

1,141 posts

213 months

Thursday 26th July 2007
quotequote all
I think it lived up in Manchester for a while. Maybe it was never washed but i'm pretty surprised to see rust after less than 7 years.
It has a full Ford service history, but i'd have to check the book to see if the inspections have been carried out.

Jon GT2

356 posts

211 months

Thursday 26th July 2007
quotequote all
Tricky is spot on,it also depends on why the rust is there stonechips that havent been touched up etc.
I dont charge my customers anything for the body and paint checks interestingly enough though i realise i am in the minority.

Edited by Jon GT2 on Thursday 26th July 15:36

redevil

Original Poster:

1,141 posts

213 months

Thursday 26th July 2007
quotequote all
The rust is right at the bottom of the passneger side doors and the tailgate so isn't stone-chip related, surely?

So if it hasn't had the inspections am i buggered?

Edited by redevil on Thursday 26th July 15:57

FWDRacer

3,564 posts

231 months

Thursday 26th July 2007
quotequote all
Sounds like poor E-coat process. Get it back to the dealership.

Jon GT2

356 posts

211 months

Thursday 26th July 2007
quotequote all
Without the inspections Ford will throw the claim out(If the rust had been identified and treated at a far earlier stage the repair may have been alot smaller etc),on recent experiences with Ford there have been no exceptions to this rule even with far newer cars than yours.

Edited by Jon GT2 on Thursday 26th July 16:32

redevil

Original Poster:

1,141 posts

213 months

Thursday 26th July 2007
quotequote all
OK, that sounds fair enough, thanks for the info Jon.

plfrench

2,892 posts

275 months

Thursday 26th July 2007
quotequote all
Don't they stamp this part of the book as part of the service normally then? Mine is all stamped up. Maybe it's because it's a company car and they just charge it on to the lease company...

Whereabouts is your dealership Jon just out of interest??

Jon GT2

356 posts

211 months

Thursday 26th July 2007
quotequote all
Until recently(The last year or so)Ford were dissinterested in the process and accepted claims without proof,all of a sudden as part of cost cutting measures i'm sure they started rejecting claims where proof could not be supplied.We have paid for a number of customer claims where the history was not complete despite us carrying out all the services,this may be your only point of argument but relates to the previous owner really.

Pl i'm based in Cardiff.

Dave_ST220

10,341 posts

212 months

Thursday 26th July 2007
quotequote all
Lets cut the BS here people.........

Subject/Concern: Areas of corrosion under the clinched flange protection applied in production on the doors, hood, liftgate and luggage compartment lid.
Model:
Focus 1999 (08/1998– ) Build Date: 08/98-31.08.2001
Build Code: WP-1G
Mondeo 2001 (10/2000– ) Build Date: 10/2000-09/2004
Build Date: YY-4L
Markets: All
Section: 501-08
Summary


Ingress of moisture under the clinched flange protection on the doors, hood, liftgate and luggage compartment lid can lead to detachment of the clinched flange protection and to areas of corrosion. To rectify this concern, all the clinched flange protection on the affected component must be removed around the entire edge (not just in the loose area). In addition, any corrosion present must be removed and the whole clinched flange must be treated with anti-corrosion wax. After the wax has been allowed to soak in for one hour, the repair area is ready for further treatment.

The photographic examples provided in this TSB are for reference to establish the required repair steps. The purpose of this TSB is to assist in repairing the affected component rather than renewing it. The service instructions and the prescribed materials have been tested carefully to allow a durable repair in line with the requirements of the corrosion perforation warranty.

In some cases the corrosion may be too advanced for the component to be repaired. Therefore, it may be necessary to renew the affected component.

In some markets prior approval from warranty administration may have to be obtained for a repair or replacement (for example by sending in a digital paint report).

Additional information regarding labor time: The required labor times of 0.4 hours for removal of the front/rear door, and 0.7 hours for removal of the Mondeo 2001 luggage compartment lid, are valid up to and including 05.09.2004. From 06.09.2004, new labor time requirements for operations 41 315 0, 41 316 0, or 41 317 0 - Front/Rear Door - Remove and Install and 41 714 0 - Luggage Compartment Lid - Remove and Install, including for the Mondeo 2001, will be available in your dealer system.


Parts Required
Description Finis Code Quantity
Clinched flange protection with flat nozzle 1 136 479 1
Anti-corrosion wax 1 219 834 1
Anti-corrosion primer (weld-through primer) 1 205 996 1
Solvents or cleaning agents (substances must be able to remove anti-corrosion wax without leaving residues. If necessary, conduct some tests in advance). locally procured 1
Front door (if required) see Microcat 1
Rear door (if required) see Microcat 1
Hood (if required) see Microcat 1
Liftgate (if required) see Microcat 1
Luggage compartment lid (if required) see Microcat 1
Door sealing film (if required) see Microcat 1
Labor Time
Operation Description Operation No. Time
Labor times for Focus 1999 and Mondeo 2001 for servicing the relevant component:
Front Door - Remove and Install 41 315 0 bzw. 41 316 0 -
Rear Door - Remove and Install 41 317 0 -
Hood - Remove and Install 41 214 0 -
Liftgate - Remove and Install 41 654 0 -
Luggage compartment lid - Remove and Install 41 714 0 -
Removing and installing bezels (where necessary), removing and installing rear door window glass (Mondeo 2001), removing clinched flange protection, applying anti-corrosion wax, primer and clinched flange protection (per component)
Focus 1999 - door (3-door model) - 1.1 hours extra
Focus 1999 - front door - 1.0 hours
Focus 1999 - rear door - 0.9 hours
Focus 1999 - rear door (wagon) - 1.0 hours
Focus 1999 - hood - 1.0 hours
Focus 1999 - liftgate - 0.9 hours
Focus 1999 - liftgate (wagon) - 0.9 hours
Focus 1999 - luggage compartment lid - 0.9 hours
Mondeo 2001 - front door - 1.0 hours
Mondeo 2001 - rear door - 1.3 hours
Mondeo 2001 - rear door (wagon) - 1.3 hours
Mondeo 2001 - hood - 1.0 hours
Mondeo 2001 - liftgate - 1.0 hours
Mondeo 2001 - liftgate (wagon) - 0.9 hours
Mondeo 2001 - luggage compartment lid - 0.8 hours
Painting of serviced component (Focus 1999 and Mondeo 2001):
Paint preparation (once) - 0.8 hours
Paint - inner surface, front door - 0.7 hours
Paint - inner surface, rear door - 0.7 hours
Paint - inner surface, hood - 0.9 hours
Paint - inner surface, luggage compartment lid - 0.5 hours
Paint - inner surface, tailgate (3/5 door, wagon) - 0.9 hours
Labour times to install new component - See Body and Paint LTS
Painting of relevant (new) component - See Body and Paint LTS
Repair/Claim Coding
Causal Part: Refer to Corrosion/Perforation section of the coding manual.
ACES Condition Code: (D7) with Program Code (P39) for replacement of panels; (D7) with Program Code (P43) for repair only
OASIS 106000, 111000, 112000
Production Action


Since 01.09.2001 (build code 1C) modified clinched flange protection has been applied to the doors, hood, liftgate and luggage compartment lid of the Focus 1999 during manufacture. For the Mondeo 2001 (10/2000-) it is expected that after 01.10.2004 (build code 4Y), sealer will only be applied during manufacture after dip priming.


It's a known problem, TSB issued on it.


Edited by Dave_ST220 on Thursday 26th July 18:05

Nighthawk

1,757 posts

251 months

Thursday 26th July 2007
quotequote all
the secrets out now eek

Jon GT2

356 posts

211 months

Friday 27th July 2007
quotequote all
Just because its a known concern doesnt mean Ford will pay for it,as i mentioned in my earlier post if the rust had been reported at an earlier stage the repair would have been smaller which will be Fords argument as well as the faliure to have the body and paint checks carried out by the previous owner,i have no interest in getting into arguments on these forums as i have plenty of other things to be doing i have given my honest educated opinion and wish you good luck in getting it resolved.

Dave_ST220

10,341 posts

212 months

Friday 27th July 2007
quotequote all
Maybe not but it's pretty obvious it is a known fault. Can't really argue if it hasn't had the checks done but it's underhand to try and pretend it's stone chips or whatever(which i'll almost gurantee a dealer will say). If you are taking your car to a Ford dealer they should be performing the paint check as part of the service IMO, if you have to request it then again, a very underhand tactic IMO. You are paying top dollar for a FFSH(and dealers around here mostly employ kids that are probably on minimm wage!) to make the paint check an extra or only done if requeasted is something that will come back to bite the ever cost cutting Ford on the arse again! Things like this really boil my piss! Can you tell?! biggrin

Jon GT2

356 posts

211 months

Friday 27th July 2007
quotequote all
I can Dave,as i said i do carry out the checks f.o.c i know this is not the case country wide and i have raised this issue many times at dealer council meetings which is all i can do.I have worked in this industry for over twenty years and find it an increasingly frustrating place to be.

Edited by Jon GT2 on Friday 27th July 09:50

Dave_ST220

10,341 posts

212 months

Friday 27th July 2007
quotequote all
Your not the only one Jon wink I know you/dealers don't make the rules but Ford need to start looking at what Lexus do, their dealers replace alloys that show any sign of corrosion when the car only went in for a service! Every car has faults(hell i have a list as long as my arm for the 220!) but it's how these faults are addressed that matters wink I wasn't meaning to have a go at you and i understand as a dealer you would not want to post TSB info but the sad fact is this guy will probably end up paying for repairs that really should be covered thanks to a stamp on a piece of paper.

Jon GT2

356 posts

211 months

Friday 27th July 2007
quotequote all
No worries Dave,i dont think that will be the case with Ford for some time yet and i could go into lots of detail but lets hope that we see improvements soon.

Mondeo Bob

1 posts

207 months

Monday 6th August 2007
quotequote all
I agree with what you say Dave - it's how the faults are addressed that matters. I have a 2001 Mondeo with this problem. I have taken it to a dealer who blames it on (unspecified)'outside factors', and I have written to Ford's Customer Relationship Centre who keep denying that there is a problem - their written reply says "Ford Technical Information Centre ..... are currently unaware of any corrosion concerns on the Mondeo" - but since they have issued a TSB about this they obviously DO know about it. Ford are of course unlikely to pay for any repairs, the warranty is an 'anti-perforation' one and so the panel would have to rust right through before they even consider it (even then they will find an excuse to reject the claim). I guess we will see quite a few rusty Focus's and Mondeos in the next few years - the best you can do is inform Ford when corrosion is first seen to give them an opportunity to fix it and if they don't, publicise it so that potential buyers know how good Ford cars and their customer support are!