Dumped my diesel & it's YOUR fault...
06-08-2008, 10:14 PM
#17
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The fact that you bought a focus won't avoid untimely repairs. If that was what you were looking for, you should have bought a Toyota or a Honda. Even then Toy's and Honda's need Timing belts every 90k and on some motors if you wait you toast the whole motor. Timing belt job is $1000 and is required every 90k yet alot of people here on the forum complain when their VP-44 goes out at twice that mileage.
I'm new to deisels but I'm camparing the IP to the timingbelt in other 300k -400k motors and thinking it's a wash.
I'm new to deisels but I'm camparing the IP to the timingbelt in other 300k -400k motors and thinking it's a wash.
06-09-2008, 01:32 AM
#19
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These forums can scare you. But im sure any other vehicle, including Ford Focus Forums, would be the same way with problems mentioned and possible remedies.
Not to many people start a thread and say....."Well my truck is running great,,,,just thought I'd start a thread and say so."
...
Not to many people start a thread and say....."Well my truck is running great,,,,just thought I'd start a thread and say so."
...
06-09-2008, 02:36 AM
#20
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I too am scared of VP44's, lift pumps, and sensors. Hence, why I bought a 12v. So I understand the original poster's feelings. Also, a Focus is a lot cheaper to fix than a diesel truck, if anything goes wrong.
06-09-2008, 04:50 AM
#21
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OK, here's the deal. After reading these forums about all the bad, expensive things that can happen to our diesel trucks, I finally traded mine off and got a little economy Ford Focus. I was too worried about KDP, VP44s, Trackbars, steering boxes, APP sensors and ball joints. Every day I would come to the forums and read about someone else having a problem. It got so I worried constantly that those things were about to happen to my truck. Now I can breathe a bit easier. 
The only major expenses I have in my truck were the transmission and 3 sets of tires since 1999.
Preventative maintence goes a long way in my book, with a little knowledge and a decent set of tools you can keep these running for a long long time and have fun doing it.
Reliability? As old as mine is I feel confident enough to get into it at a minuets notice and drive cross-country if need be.
And every time I see an accident and someone is killed in his or her little Death Box it reminds me of why I bought my Big truck.
From your signature it looks like you were headed in the right direction.
But you do what you got to do, good luck
Jim
06-09-2008, 08:23 AM
#22
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If you do it your self yes. However the skill required to do a timing belt on a Toy or Honda is much greater than the skill required to replace a VP-44. Most people could do their own IP replacement, however most couldn't do their own timing belt. (especially on a twin cam engine)
My original point still stands, if you want to avoid repair bills, don't buy a Focus. Furthermore buy something that doesn't depreciate like a Focus.
My original point still stands, if you want to avoid repair bills, don't buy a Focus. Furthermore buy something that doesn't depreciate like a Focus.
06-09-2008, 02:12 PM
#23
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(For some reason this forum has actually done the opposite with my truck- validated the purchase decision.)
06-09-2008, 03:15 PM
#24
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There are much better vehicles out there if you just need a commuter car or basic transportation.
IMHO there's really no need to have one of these trucks unless you're gonna use it to tow or haul heavy stuff.
06-09-2008, 03:53 PM
#26
I traded in my '02 Focus ZX3 plus an '01 Tahoe on my truck last fall. Should have kept the Focus, in retrospect, to continue its commute duties. The Tahoe's 5.3 liter was worn out with 153K miles after grenading the transmission at 125K. The Focus was TROUBLE FREE over the 99K miles I put on it, but was due for a heater core, tires, timing belt, AC charge, brakes, and soon a clutch, as would be expected. It never burned a drop of oil. A couple of thousand in maintenance, and it'd been good as new at 30MPG.
My truck now needs front axle U-joints at 85K. Dealer want $800 to do it, less 15 percent using a coupon I got in the mail yesterday. They must be embarrassed about it, I suppose.
My truck now needs front axle U-joints at 85K. Dealer want $800 to do it, less 15 percent using a coupon I got in the mail yesterday. They must be embarrassed about it, I suppose.
06-09-2008, 06:49 PM
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If you do it your self yes. However the skill required to do a timing belt on a Toy or Honda is much greater than the skill required to replace a VP-44. Most people could do their own IP replacement, however most couldn't do their own timing belt. (especially on a twin cam engine)
My original point still stands, if you want to avoid repair bills, don't buy a Focus. Furthermore buy something that doesn't depreciate like a Focus.
My original point still stands, if you want to avoid repair bills, don't buy a Focus. Furthermore buy something that doesn't depreciate like a Focus.
F, D and B series engines are SIMPLE
