Everything wrong with my £250 Ford Focus mk1!

I saved this family-owned 2003 Ford Focus from going to scrap. Was this a good idea, or should this one have been left to die?!
We have rust issues, a knackered clutch, electrical niggles and many other problems. Let's explore!!
Collection video here: • Car Collection Caper f...

[@usuallyfixingtinkering]

Lovely to see a fellow KZbinr save a MK1 Focus! This looks like a typical MK1 Focus, battered, worn, very well-used and rusty... but still going! I would number 1 look carefully at the rust areas, it doesn't look that bad compared to most I've seen which is a good start. I'll try and help by giving a quick thought on the problems, that suspension turret - it looks pretty nasty but once you've removed the shock out of the way a good grind back and treatment should slow down any future corrosion. The arches are just run of the mil welding patches. The cause is mostly the arch liners which do nothing but cause rust and reduce the wheel noise, best remove either completely or put back knowing getting them off will be a regular occurrence to prevent build up. A rough gear change can be down to the cables and gearbox oil being low or in need of a change! The tailgate release switch - remove it and split it into two, use rubbing alcohol on the rubber 'button' on the inside and re-assemble. It'll work then! The seat squabs are really bad for long-distance trips but another tip grab a passenger seat swab off a breaker, chances are it'll be far less worn and will have less wear on both bolsters! It's only 4 bolts and no heated seat means no other connections to swap over! The radio I'm afraid needs replacing, when the seek function packs up and just cycles it's a replacement job, I'm sure they can be repaired from someone who knows about car radios but just easier to grab a 2nd hand 6000CD unit. Push the handbrake gaiter right down, it does come up sometimes on mine. It may be a failed passenger window regulator and try moving the passenger mirror glass, the electric mirrors get stuck and need to be unseized from the same position after many years of standing in this case. Then it may work! The passenger carpet being peeled back... I would be thinking it's had some scuttle seal leaks on that side, probably the no.1 most common problem on a MK1, poor design and may have let in tonnes of water at some point hence why someone went investigating any damage to the floor! Low idle speed - try a basic service and as you mentioned clean the throttle body & the Idle air control valve directly sitting on the throttle body, they get gummed and cause all manner of erratic idle issues. The rear suspension looks pretty good, probably less rusty than the majority out there! The ECU in these cars is pretty basic and will only give a code when something is really bust like a sensor! Even then there are plenty of running issues these can have usually relating to the sensors that can cause no codes whatsoever, so don;t rely on a code. MK1 Focuses encourage old-fashioned diagnosis :) I hope this helps and what a lovely video Sion!

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Andrew, thank you so so much for this reply. I was hoping you would see this video! I’ve watched a lot of your Focus videos over the past few weeks to get me clued up on what the common issues are. I’m excited to get going with it: I’ve already repaired the boot release yesterday afternoon as a simple win! The passenger window switch is getting power and is sending it away again when you press up or down, so is it just the regulator you suggest I try replacing and not the motor?

[@albertbekassy2709]

I'm glad you intend to save a car that is too modern to be a "classic " for most people, and to old to be modern. This was the case with my 73 Taunus in the 90's. Most of them were scrapped. But now it's a classic that draws attention. People honk and wave.

[@AJ-tj7jm]

This is one of the few relatively modern car that will be a classic. There were thousands of them even upto 5 year ago, but now vanishing fast. Like the Escort the Mk1 was so iconic of an era a good one will become very sought after within the next few years.

[@user-np2dc2oc9w]

I love these mk1 Ford focus it’s futuristic yet dated in a nice way 25 years later

[@enchantress7940]

Northern Island plates as well

[@shawardara]

Jim is from NI

[@enchantress7940]

@@shawardara Belfast plates to be precise

[@AsherPiesman]

I’d love to see a comparison vid between the Focus and its predecessor the Escort (if you still have that white one).

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Oh you bet I will be doing that!

[@Daz_Stap]

It has all the hallmarks of a great project series. I very much look forward to watching you turn this around.

[@adamjow8405]

Found your channel from the Focus mk1 preservation club. I also watch Andrew from Usually Fixing and Tinkering which influenced me in getting my own mk1 focus a couplr of tears ago, a 2005 1.6 lx. Really love them. Great to see you've picked up a mk1 and treating it to some TLC as they deserve now as a modern classic. Looking forward to how this goes 😁👍

[@charliecoco2115]

Mini mountain to climb there!

[@benjilafouine]

The antenna is shut, the holding screw is broken. The whole assembly has to be replaced, this means removing part of the interior roof.

[@enchantress7940]

Bin the carpet liners and pull the foam blocks out of the front wings as they are sponges

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Oh yes, I need to get the front wings off and do that

[@enchantress7940]

@@MorselsAndMotors just remove the plastic liner. You can reach in and take it out. I know one wing is shagged, but the other will just pull off from inside.

[@MonkeyHunch1]

Low idle speed could be the coil pack. Cheap to buy. and easy to fit just to try. Mine started with low idle then an eventual misfire under load.

[@wacman]

I believe the poor idle was a common problem with a vac pipe splitting, cheap to fix.

[@jeffmee763]

Try turning on the ignition then press the boot button.

[@danielrussell446]

Hi Sion lovely to see a mk1 focus they have got so rare now haven't they That one is looking good in vision metallic and love the history as well and why it should be saved it seems to have most common focus issues and looks a lot of work but it perfectly saveable Although more a Vauxhall fan I appreciated how the focus shook up the hatchback market at the time and it's grown on me over the years having owned a mk2 and 3 and found them great cars all the best DANIEL

[@minibus9]

awesome video

[@davidlang3625]

Wow it looked really good at first until you pointed out all the faults! The 1.6 in Zetec trim and this colour was a good spec back in the day and still looks really nice. At £250 its worth that in scrap but it would be really good content to see if you can get it fixed up. Good luck with getting it sorted🤞

[@HA05GER]

Id say the boot button will be the wiring to the boot. Likely a damaged wire in the rubber flexi boot between the car and the boot. Pull it back should be abke to see my smax had this issue. The button on the boot wouldn't work but the key did and was that part if the loom damaged. All the time boots opened and closed over time the wires break.

[@istvanbally2817]

Just "finished" removing rust from my MK1. Lots of it. It was a royal pain in the gluteus maximus. Now it's repainted, and though the clear coat did run (can't be bothered), it looks ten times better than before. Still, I'm absolutely sure the just like in the Marvel movies, Captain Rust will return.

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Eek, I'm super excited to start dealing with that myself...not!

[@istvanbally2817]

@@MorselsAndMotors Did everything by hand, by the way. Pro tip: don’t.

[@rudecomb2006]

I had a 2002 mk1 model some had different lights in the bumper instead of headlights. Great cars they were. Heater resistor replaced and pollen filter in bonnet right pain to do

[@user-yv5qr7qu4p]

It is rough tbf but I suppose that's what you get for 250 quid I personally wouldn't bother myself but saying that thet we're know for having one of the best handling chassis around at the time. And the money you spend on it you will never recup.

[@Caseyfunnell]

I’m looking forward to see the saving of this car I have one myself and it is a great car and with the money spend on it your have it up and running in no time

[@lucythemoggy1970]

Sion the passenger window will be a duff switch on the drivers door, or a break in the wire within the rubber boot between body and door.

[@MorselsAndMotors]

I did some testing this afternoon, and there is power to the switch on the passenger door, and then power from it to the motor when I press up or down. So it might be the motor or regulator

[@bigjohno242]

You’ll save it Sion !!

[@hhgttg69]

mismatched tyres are a major no no for me. once fixed you'll notice a big improvement.

[@mikes747]

Not too rotten for a mk1! I had one that was absolutely horrifying when i had a proper look! Unfortunately it was beyond saving!

[@DullBoringCars]

It's got some Belfast battlescars thatthing! 🤣🤣

[@enchantress7940]

Miss mine.

[@toy838]

I don't know where u stored them all focus shape so modern

[@marcuskirby9299]

Not knocking you at all mate but I think that is a MK 1 facelift as I had a MK1 on a V plate I think? Indicators were in the bumper but yours are built into the headlights. Looking forward to see how this goes👍

[@fhwolthuis]

First sort out the rust, and if that has proved feasible, then start replacing clutch and other parts 😅

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Yes that’s my plan, but doing everything that’s not the rust is a much more fun prospect 🤣

[@BelfastMurf]

You mentioned BDX, that’s from quite near where the car came from, as I’m sure you know! Where do you plan to get the rear number plate from? Is there somewhere that recreates defunct dealer plates?

[@Guguzzz]

Well,in a couple of years you could do the same to a '05 (or is it a '07 and beyond,the mk2,i mean),probably already people started scrapping them

[@brendanhurley8780]

Further Classic like the mk.1 escorts

[@benjilafouine]

You didn’t remove the carper in the back to have a good look. This will not be a pretty sight.

[@daveyorkvh]

We have a mk2 focus and the rust issue is still the same 😢

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Oh really? I didn't realise they had the same issues

[@lanehogger1532]

I had a mk1 focus 04 plate from 2005-09. Took it from 12-120k miles. No problems whatsoever.

[@MorselsAndMotors]

I've heard that they are very reliable cars

[@lanehogger1532]

@@MorselsAndMotors yes indeed. Only sold it because it was a 3dr and we were starting a family.

[@mrcogginsgarage7062]

Sion, morning, all in all not so bad for what is one of the best driving cars of that age,however first thing you must do is take care of the bonnet release mechanism,get your BDX out and flood the locking unit and then work it well in ,these never in my experience get the correct amount of lube and get stiff and fail without warning,it's a dreadful piece of design by Ford as all the SMR comes up of the road and makes its way into the lock ! Once you've got it flooded and it's nice and free give it a coating of Vaseline or similar to prevent further ingress. And as more than likely you going to be in and out of the engine bay a lot over the coming months best do it sooner rather than later as they are a right bugger of a job to get into if they fail Good luck with it hope all goes well.R.

[@JasonLong4875]

I would keep it and do it up, its in too good a shape to scrap, I have been after one of them MK1 Focus's for years, I have a 2011 1.6 TDCi Focus which I have had for 18 months and have done over 20000 miles in it, taking it to 186600 miles. Its so cheap on parts and repairs, that I intend to keep it for as long as I can

[@darrenwilson8042]

So my comment ref gravel and rust flakes de-bunked in moments. I suppose gravel doesn't hide rust that falls off but makes it harder to sweep up?

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Much harder to sweet up 🤣

[@ST-ur7oh]

This car was purchased in Carryduff at a long standing but now closed Ford dealer #northernireland

[@davidyoung9561]

Don't scrap it.The mk1 Focus is going up in value.

[@enchantress7940]

It’s worth the money, but you will have to put money in to make good

[@michaeldebrou8767]

It'd be good content to watch you iron out it's many faults if you can stomach that!

[@stuartduncan1664]

Did you sell your fiesta mk1?

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Yes

[@Vandal-Vlogs]

Scrap it!

[@fhwolthuis]

Shouldn't the engine run to read the codes,

[@MorselsAndMotors]

Oh perhaps. I’ve done it on some cars and position 2 is enough. But I will try again with the engine running just to be sure. Thank you

[@rossgarykelly84]

A lot of car for the money

[@benjilafouine]

This is going to be money pit, unless you’re a welder. Honestly, I see thousands of Pounds (or USD dollars) to fix, like 6,000 or more. I there are electric problems as well, it is not salvageable. And the Zetec is only a 1.6, not a 2.0.

[@christopherheritage5651]

Scrap it and get a much better mk1 or get another mk1 and use it as a donor.

[@benjilafouine]

To make a long story short: you’ve been had…

[@CreRay]

I like the Mk1 Focus but this one seems is financially really a write off. For me it would be a waste to see money going onto this car that could be spent on the Cavalier. Not to mention the time....

[@rogerparsons]

Fix it for that money

[@benc8386]

A bit of a dog! But nothing that can't be fixed.

[@roberttucker805]

With that amount of rust plus a worn out clutch I would run it over the weighbridge. You'll be forever chasing faults and it will end up being a money pit. But if you think it's salvageable then good luck.