And the Focus does it again...

[Bailes1992]

Turned the key in the ignition break time today to get some heat in the car, NOTHING!

Bloody ECU locked me out again and wouldn't remove the immob.
Another trip on the back of an AA truck

Ah well, looks like I have to drive the T5 tommorow, poor me

[lozz]

Typical ford
its most probs a faulty relay,

Driving a T5 whats wrong with that ?
You couid actualy feel sorry for yourself if you had to pay the insurance on it,

[Bailes1992]

1 new ECU, £370 +vat.

And apparently they put the most updated software on the ECU. It has a horrible map!
No low down power WHAT SO EVER!

[waue1978]

You really don't have much luck with cars do you Sam? Never mind, according to the Sun today, the new Focus will be getting built in your part of the country - reckon you should do a late night trip to the compound!

[Bailes1992]

Took it in to have the suspension looked at as it's driving a little wollowy again.
My rear wheels have 12mm setback, my N/S Rear bearing has play (replaced >6 months ago?) and I have a buckled front wheel again.

[steve_earwig]

My rear wheels have 12mm setback

What does that actually mean? It sounds like all the bushes etc. have so much play the wheels are almost half an inch back from where they're meant to be - is this correct?

Are the wheels made out of cheese or something?

[Bailes1992]

Yeh the rear wheels are in different positions.
Although this isn't a major issue as there's no camber, toe etc.
The garage couldn't find play anywhere other than the bearing, so maybe thats at fault.

[DaiRees]

Sounds like it's had a knock Sam, half an inch is a lot! I'd like to chuckle and blame crappy ford build quality, but surely even they aren't that bad?

[406loon]

I had my volvo tracked once and the guy tracking it found the car was a 30mm gap bewteen the front and rear wheels on the pass side of the car compared to the drivers side. After looking underneath the car found out the rear axel was bent like a banana and the car had had a new front subframe fitted and track control arm. The handling was very interesting to say the least when driving the T5 on its limit and finding out the backend spent more time trying to meet the front end than actually gripping the road. The reason I had the car tracked was that it kept eating the rear tyres on the inside. Had a nasty blow out on the M6 and after the spare was put on it lasted 500 miles before it was down to the wire wall on the tyre.

So, from my experience get it checked out underneath. You dont know what could be under there.

[steve_earwig]

Apparently Glofs are rather good at bending rear subframes, it seems like a regular procedure at my mate's garage.

I came across this on the Toy Otter forums http://www.toyotaownersclub.com/forums/ ... try1118931 (I posted it before but it might have got lost in all the waffle ) Just read the first page, the rest is a bit handbaggy...

[jasper5]

My rear wheels have 12mm setback

What does that actually mean? It sounds like all the bushes etc. have so much play the wheels are almost half an inch back from where they're meant to be - is this correct?

Are the wheels made out of cheese or something?

The Focus are notorious for needing new rear trailing arm bushes, they wear out very fast.

Changing the bushes is almost impossible as the bolts holding the trailing arms on sieze inside the bushes and have to be cut out.....

I ALWAYS fit new trailing arms complete.

[STALLED]

Sure the car hasn't been bent at some stage?

[waue1978]

Sure the car hasn't been bent at some stage?

Pretty sure Sam's mum had it from new.

[Bailes1992]

The focus wheels are made of cheese, you're right! As this wheel was buckled and then straightend I think it's a little weak and the slightest of knock has buckled it again.
It's only a slight buckle so going to stick a cheapy non directional tyre on it and use it as a full size spare and get an alloy off ebay tgo replace it.

Drove the car today (instead of my usual 100 mile commute I chose the 30mile commute to get the van to take me into work) and the car was feeling abit snakey in the bends, so I got a lift for tommorow and the mechanics picking it up first thing Wednesday Morning.

As said, my Mums owned the car since day one. It's never had a bad knock, all the bushes are in good shape too. I think the stepup is due to the bearing.

Bailes.

[STALLED]

Sure the car hasn't been bent at some stage?

Pretty sure Sam's mum had it from new.

Probably drove it like a WRC car! I don't know how so many problems can emanate from such a low mileage vehicle!