2000 Ford Focus SE

Learned ladies and gentlemen,

Please offer up the good, the bad, and the ugly on this little sedan. It drives nice, is really pretty clean (couple dings here and there), and most importantly, we own it now - or should I say, my 16yr old son owns it. Grandparents bought the boy a car while he was out vacationing with them in SoCal.

Because I'm like a crack addict when it comes to neat wheels, exhaust, and spring kits (but not coilovers - on this anyway) to make a "cool ride", open to suggestions there too...

Thanks!

www.focaljet.com

Is it a Zetec (16V) or a SPI (8v)? Zetecs get a RSB, SPIs do not.

There is a ton of aftermarket, especially on the Zetec cars...though the suspensions interchange between each. The Zetec cars had a 21mm FSB and a 20mm RSB, the SPI cars had a 18mm FSB. The SVT suspension is a cheap upgrade and makes for a very nice driver that can even hold its own in autocross and track days. It also gives you a 21mm RSB. Wheels are 4x108 and have an offset around 50 on a 6" wide rim. Contour wheels are a direct fit--the Contour SVT wheels are a nice 16" upgrade...and can be found cheaply on craigslist and ebay pretty often.

99% certain it's a Zetec (is it stamped/labeled on the valvecover? I want to say it is...).

Pray tell, what's an RSB? - ah, Rear Sway Bar...

Worst case scenario: http://www.rallyanarchy.com/phorum/read.php?5,45563

RSB is rear swaybar...and yes The valvecover will tell you...

Is it a Zetec? If nothing else you can tell by the Vin#....in a Focus's vin there is a sequence of 6, 7, and 8th numbers that goes 3_4....the 8th digit is a 4 (if I remeber correctly) in SE sedans and a 5 in SE wagons. It's a "Escort-engined" SPI if the 8th digit is a "P".

The two engines look nothing alike: SPI:

and a Zetec:

Should be as easy as reading 'Zetec' or not!

RossD wrote: Zetec: Should be as easy as reading 'Zetec' or not!

I feel so good that my memory is not fading as quickly as I thought. Definitely Zetec. They say as we age, the mind is the second thing to go. Can't remember the first....

From a brief run through FocalJet, looks like the SVT springs are a good way to go for a mild suspension upgrade, most seem pretty happy with the look & performance.

I didn't see a "common problems" section - I imagine there's one there - but what say the GRM folk?

Being a 2000 I would think most of the common problems (recalls) have already been done to the car. There were ones for the battery cable and rear wheel bearings.

If the car is close to 100K miles you should get the timing belt replaced and while you are in there you may as well do the water pump.

The SVT suspension is a good kit that is reasonably priced and works very well.

If you want to really get into modifications, check out my Focus in the Readers Rides section.

+2 on timing belt/water pump service*, and the complete SVT kit suspension. I did the suspension on my '00 ZX3 and it transformed the car. An almost perfect compromise between sport and comfort.

(For the record, the non-SVT Zetec is non-interference, while the SVT Zetec is* interference.)

Car has 110K on it, looks like I better dig in to the timing belt.

Thanks for the heads up on that (especially that it's a non-interferance, such that if it does let go, no serious harm will be done... in theory...).

Thanks.

Don't forget to replace thermostat housing.