Focus mk1 no413
Discussion
I have wanted one for years and looked on and off and even test drove a few, however something else always cropped up.
Well the money was in the bank doing nothing and I fancied a project, and here it is!
Generally sound and quite an honest car, not without its faults - actually quite a long list, but nothing too major.
It goes well, handles well and stops most of the time.
Inside is in great condition, original wheel filthy so looking at a retrim.
In the garage next Friday to raise the rear slightly (fully adjustable Gaz coil overs), service, coolant flush, new rear tyre, new discs and pads alround, new washer bottle, etc etc
Once the basics are done I am hoping to get it booked into Motorsport developments in Blackpool for a good engine check, it's a right mess with un clipped hoses, wires dangling and an air filter flapping around, dodgy boost hoses - but again the basics seem OK! Then hopefully get it on their rollers and see what it makes!
Well the money was in the bank doing nothing and I fancied a project, and here it is!
Generally sound and quite an honest car, not without its faults - actually quite a long list, but nothing too major.
It goes well, handles well and stops most of the time.
Inside is in great condition, original wheel filthy so looking at a retrim.
In the garage next Friday to raise the rear slightly (fully adjustable Gaz coil overs), service, coolant flush, new rear tyre, new discs and pads alround, new washer bottle, etc etc
Once the basics are done I am hoping to get it booked into Motorsport developments in Blackpool for a good engine check, it's a right mess with un clipped hoses, wires dangling and an air filter flapping around, dodgy boost hoses - but again the basics seem OK! Then hopefully get it on their rollers and see what it makes!
DanielSan said:
If they're not fitting awful f
king graphics RS owners do tend to love a chav plate 
Tidy looking car though OP, keep the exterior as it is now and it'll look good forever
That's the mk2 fanboys,a new breed of RS owner.The mk1 tends to be left alone as they should be.king graphics RS owners do tend to love a chav plate Tidy looking car though OP, keep the exterior as it is now and it'll look good forever
Looks a nice car,always fancied one of these myself.
Blakeatron said:
Yes uk spec lights, struggling to find an orange bulb that fits so they are currently flashing white.
Plate came with the car but will be coming off eventually, got an initial plate to go or might go back to its original one.
Should be easy, some indicator bulbs have offset pins, some don't, Yours should be one or the other. A good motor factor will have stock of both. Plate came with the car but will be coming off eventually, got an initial plate to go or might go back to its original one.
Going through the paperwork it came with last night and found this graph from 2009, since then there are receipts for a milltek downpipe and stainless exhaust, larger front mount intercooler, cam, induction kit and dreamscience chip.
Assuming all the above is on it and still fitted it might be pushing 300, something to aim for anyway!
Assuming all the above is on it and still fitted it might be pushing 300, something to aim for anyway!
Had to go to the ford dealer to order some parts, as i was leaving she muttered the words every man fears "can you take the kids and do the big shop"
A few hundred spent at Ford and another £90 in Aldi and we are off home, so its quick and practical...!
A spare hour after lunch to get some niggles sorted :
1 - flick wipe stopped on release of lever meaning it parked wherever or wanted, online search suggests a new relay - drop glovebox, release fusebox and replace - amazingly it worked!
2. Next, in the box of bits that came with the car was the stereo column stalk, this left a big hole in the steering column. So ordered an adaptor and clipped it all together, lots of wires but again it all works! Also the fm aerial wasnt attached so that got plugged in too.
![](http://thumbsnap.com/sc/9ZoHv9Ir.jpg[/img]</a> <a href="http://thumbsnap.com/nzwRNz5n" Target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[img]http://thumbsnap.com/sc/nzwRNz5n.jpg)
A few hundred spent at Ford and another £90 in Aldi and we are off home, so its quick and practical...!
A spare hour after lunch to get some niggles sorted :
1 - flick wipe stopped on release of lever meaning it parked wherever or wanted, online search suggests a new relay - drop glovebox, release fusebox and replace - amazingly it worked!
2. Next, in the box of bits that came with the car was the stereo column stalk, this left a big hole in the steering column. So ordered an adaptor and clipped it all together, lots of wires but again it all works! Also the fm aerial wasnt attached so that got plugged in too.
Another day off and another niggle sorted - i could hear the washer pump running but nothing came out, filled up the tank and it all poured out the bottom.
So jack it up, couldnt fit the jack under, get some wood, reverse car, jack up, prop, wheel off, liner off and tank out.
Filled tank with hose pipe and all good, so cleaned all seals and washers and put back together and all works!
Horn next.
So jack it up, couldnt fit the jack under, get some wood, reverse car, jack up, prop, wheel off, liner off and tank out.
Filled tank with hose pipe and all good, so cleaned all seals and washers and put back together and all works!
Horn next.
Very nice, well done with keeping on with the little jobs. I have fond memories of putting many miles on these back when they were new. Much quicker than they had any right to be with 'only' 212 bhp, cruised very well at speed and held the road like nothing else that I have ever driven. Astonishing brakes for standard fitment too.
The only bugbears were the lack of temp gauge,ridiculously fiddley Ford alarm and if I'm being really picky, the steering could have had a bit more weight.
All in all, an outstanding car that's amazingly capable. Enjoy.
The only bugbears were the lack of temp gauge,ridiculously fiddley Ford alarm and if I'm being really picky, the steering could have had a bit more weight.
All in all, an outstanding car that's amazingly capable. Enjoy.
Finished work on time for once, walked the puppy home and thought i would look at the horn.
Wheel off - a yellow block with a fuse, guessed this was to turn off the air bag light. Two wires taped up - gingerly pressed these together and a pathetic beep - at least it works!
Snip off ford connectors leaving some tails for when i put the original wheel back on (want it retrimming first as its disgusting), new bigger spades, plenty of electrical tape and screw it back together.
Wheel off - a yellow block with a fuse, guessed this was to turn off the air bag light. Two wires taped up - gingerly pressed these together and a pathetic beep - at least it works!
Snip off ford connectors leaving some tails for when i put the original wheel back on (want it retrimming first as its disgusting), new bigger spades, plenty of electrical tape and screw it back together.
Podie said:
Nice to see he car getting some TLC
What's the plan? Return it to stndard?
Urm, no real long term plans - im kind of fussy with cars, in that if it had it or should have it it should work - and things must be as clean as possible.What's the plan? Return it to stndard?
So im getting the niggles sorted and getting it mechanically as good as can be, sadly the bodywork isnt as great as it looks in the pics.
There are a lot of stone chips on the fronts and 3/4's.
Saying that i want to drive it and get some track days in, if it was bodily perfect then i wouldnt. At least this way i wont be overly precious.
If i hang on to it long enough then maybe a respray.
But a play in a mk2 rs has got me working on the man maths...
Frustrating day on Friday, borrowed a ramp at a friends garage.
Got all 4 discs and pads changed - 4 rusted in sliders, 1 broken bleed nipple. Had an abs light on so checked on the laptop and it said passenger front, changed sensor but it's still on so needs a new bearing :-(
Changed the rear trailing arm bushes/joint things - big rust hole in swing arm, so all welded up.
Amazingly solid and straight underneath.
Was told whe purchased that it had had a service and cam belt done recently, there is even a receipt for purchasing the kit. But it hasn't been serviced for ages and the belts are knackered.
I flushed the oil out and replaced, dropped the coolant and flushed and fitted new header rank, swapped plugs (had odd ones in it!?)
My friend who has the garage is going to do the belts and bearing for me in the next few weeks hopefully.
Under the bonnet is still a big mess, lots of flapping wires and pipes, did connect up a small air hose which has got the aftermarket boost gauge working!
Frustrating it has started sporadically cutting out again, it did it when I got it so I swapped out the air flow meter which seemed to cure it. Can't see it being the same thing again?
Seems to happen when engine is warm and you slow to a stop, it's just not idling high enough.
Also when the fan kicks it the revs drop too much and it stalls.
Maybe a battery issue could fix both?
Got all 4 discs and pads changed - 4 rusted in sliders, 1 broken bleed nipple. Had an abs light on so checked on the laptop and it said passenger front, changed sensor but it's still on so needs a new bearing :-(
Changed the rear trailing arm bushes/joint things - big rust hole in swing arm, so all welded up.
Amazingly solid and straight underneath.
Was told whe purchased that it had had a service and cam belt done recently, there is even a receipt for purchasing the kit. But it hasn't been serviced for ages and the belts are knackered.
I flushed the oil out and replaced, dropped the coolant and flushed and fitted new header rank, swapped plugs (had odd ones in it!?)
My friend who has the garage is going to do the belts and bearing for me in the next few weeks hopefully.
Under the bonnet is still a big mess, lots of flapping wires and pipes, did connect up a small air hose which has got the aftermarket boost gauge working!
Frustrating it has started sporadically cutting out again, it did it when I got it so I swapped out the air flow meter which seemed to cure it. Can't see it being the same thing again?
Seems to happen when engine is warm and you slow to a stop, it's just not idling high enough.
Also when the fan kicks it the revs drop too much and it stalls.
Maybe a battery issue could fix both?
Not much has changed, been using the car as it is - new brakes are squealing which is annoying, and it is still occasionally cutting out.
Checked all the boost pipes and nothing is ruptured, all other pipes intact and battery seems fine.
Thinking it might now be an issue with the dulp valve?!
Cambelt and wheel bearing booked in for next week.
I have also just booked it into Sabre for a good check over, some changes and a live map - this will hopefully cure the issue, it also has a slight flatspot around 4.5k which should also go.
Only problem is they are an 8hr round trip, soni am having it transported down and then i can get the train down to collect
Checked all the boost pipes and nothing is ruptured, all other pipes intact and battery seems fine.
Thinking it might now be an issue with the dulp valve?!
Cambelt and wheel bearing booked in for next week.
I have also just booked it into Sabre for a good check over, some changes and a live map - this will hopefully cure the issue, it also has a slight flatspot around 4.5k which should also go.
Only problem is they are an 8hr round trip, soni am having it transported down and then i can get the train down to collect
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