Looking for info on 2.0 zetec focuses

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Mar 15, 2013
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Long story short my sister in laws roommate has a Ford focus with a new transmission new tires other work done as well. Pretty clean looking car with high miles 271,000. Engine sounds good car seems to run ok but the thermostat housing pours coolant out. A shop did the water pump timing belt and then told him the head gasket was bad. When I looked at the car the oil was clean, coolant was clean engine ran smooth. No obvious head gasket symptoms. There was some steam and water dripping from the exhaust but I it had been sitting and it was a humid night. Do these engines typically have any head gasket issues? I have the chance to buy it for a few hundred bucks. I don't really need it but I could either fix it and flip or tinker with it or maybe even let my some wrench on it as a hobby. He could use a hobby anyhow! My reasoning for buying it would be it's a clean little car and even if it needed an engine it could be done and be a solid car. Obviously would rather not have to do that though. If the head gasket was blown would it be likely to have no major symptoms such as coolant and oil mixing. Maybe the exhaust was a symptom but it didn't seem to excessive. Is there a decent way to be sure? The guy doesn't want the car regardless. Worth the gamble?
 
The thermostat housing failure is very common on those cars. The wiring in the third brake light also likes to break, and will melt the housing, too. Dorman makes a good replacement, and you will also need the wiring set from Vemo. The 4F27E actually isn't one of their bad transmissions, but Ford doesn't supply a drain plug (but you can get a Mazda pan that has one).

The OE catalytic converter is worth a lot of money, but the Focus isn't a big cat theft target because the cat is under the hood and harder to access from underneath, so it's possible to get a good price for the car as scrap.

I know you said the timing belt was replaced, but if you ever need to do it again, the Focus is one of the easier cars to do the TB on, and it's non-interference. Still glad I never had to replace it :D

Wix stopped making the XP for the Zetec. Part number was 51315XP (Napa 41315), but existing stock should still be available. The regular Fram and Wix are still made. The filter is mounted sideways and will spill oil all over the axles when replacing it!

Head gaskets aren't a common issue, though a head gasket can go on any engine that overheats. Even if you need a head gasket, it's easier than a Subaru, and there is only one rather than two.

They didn't come with a cabin filter from the factory, though the slot is there (under the hood).

The transmission, tires, and possible head gasket, along with the miles, may suggest it's not really worth buying, especially if you don't need a car right now.
 
For $200, why not.

My mom had one when I was a kid. Totaled it with like 52k miles. That car vibrated and buzzed so bad, it was like it had a 500 pound bumble bee under the hood for an engine. It was absolute insanity.
 
For $200, why not.

My mom had one when I was a kid. Totaled it with like 52k miles. That car vibrated and buzzed so bad, it was like it had a 500 pound bumble bee under the hood for an engine. It was absolute insanity.
Yeah, when I got my first Focus it had a bad engine mount at 30k miles! Its a bit of a weak point on all of them to 2012 but none of them are hard to change. In 2000 though the zetec ZX3 with a manual trans was kind of a fun car. With good mounts the duratec only gets loud at above 5k or so, and if I recall the zetec was similar.
 
A Focus with almost 300K? It should be free. Tell him you'll do him a favor and take it off his hands.
In this car market if it starts and rolls it's worth more than free. 🤣🤣🤣 My buddy has an 07 with the 2.3 manual trans 280,000 miles and it runs perfect he drives it everywhere without a second thought. Miles doesn't scare me much.
 
In this car market if it starts and rolls it's worth more than free. 🤣🤣🤣 My buddy has an 07 with the 2.3 manual trans 280,000 miles and it runs perfect he drives it everywhere without a second thought. Miles doesn't scare me much.
Yeah you do have a point👍
 
Get this car, you need a hobby/ project. Look at your thread about the caravan. You're getting antsy, money burning a hole in your pocket, etc. This will be cheap admission to what you need.
 
I have a 2006 2.0 with 252K that I drive about 100 mile roundtrip to work everyday. I have put 1 set of brakes, water pump, 2 sets of spark plugs, engine mount, and a thermostat in it. I think this has a different engine though because mine has a timing chain. Oil is still at the full mark when I change it at 10K.
 
Get this car, you need a hobby/ project. Look at your thread about the caravan. You're getting antsy, money burning a hole in your pocket, etc. This will be cheap admission to what you need.
I do enjoy a good project that being said I'm happy keeping the grand caravan it's the wife that wants something new. Our friend just bought a new telluride, that means we can't go visit for a while because my wife will be super jealous and want one.🤣
 
A used, nearly 300k mile Ford probably wouldn't be my first choice if I were in need of dependable transportation that I had to count on every day but as a little side project I could see it being fun. As long as the $$ part of it makes sense, I see no reason not to partake. I'd say don't spend more than you are willing to lose, and enjoy it.
 
I had an Escort Zx2 with the same 2.0 Zetec, great little engines. I sold mine at 200k running and driving great still. Only repairs were the AC relay and the same plastic thermostat housing that you have leaking. Also brakes, ball joints and timing belt but I’m considering those maintenance.

One nice thing on mine was that the transmission had a drain plug. I was able to drain and refill 1 quart of atf at each oil change. I would assume that Focus will have the same transmission.
 
That car was so terrible I told my wife then fiancé to scrap it and just GAVE her my mustang to drive.
 
I have my 1996 5 sp, 2.0L Zetec Contour I bought new. It has about 130,000 miles on it. It's been a great car mechanically that still looks real good appearance wise and it's still is a blast to drive, my "poor man's BMW". I find that certain parts are no longer available and others are difficult to obtain. I recently purchased a bunch of specific coolant/heater hoses on close out from Rock Auto for $65 as you cannot buy them new anymore. All my heater/coolant hoses are still original so I want to be prepared and not be stuck not being able to get a replacement.
 
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