I've just sold a 2.0 litre Mondeo and purchased a 2.0 litre Focus which I expected to be every bit as lively (or perhaps even more so). My wife has an Escort 1.8L and this is also quick. However, I am disappointed. I have had a new clutch and major service and, although the car runs sweetly, it still only seems to have the power I would expect from a 1.4 litre car. On long motorway inclines it is a struggle to maintain 70+mph. Accelerating full-throttle from rest, there is no kick and the engine struggles past 5000rpm.
My garage mechanic has suggested that a new exhaust might fix it but this would cost around 600 pounds and I would be loathed to pay this if there was still a chance that the problem was not resolved. Any ideas?
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A new exhaust shouldn't cost as much as that !
I got a whole new exhaust (flexi-pipe, centre silencer and back-box) for my 1.8i for £170 at ATS not too long ago.
I can't say for certain that a new exhaust will help though, I'm afraid. My 1.8i doesn't suffer from any of the symptoms you mention, incidently.
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Before spending that kind of money I would try the vehicle on a tank full of higher octane fuel such as a 99 Ron and also add a strong injector cleaner. I have had a sluggish Zetec Mondeo that had issues like this and it was a clogged injector that the above seemed to clear.
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I returned the car to the garage following the service and they checked and cleaned the fuel system and tried new plugs but there was no improvement. I can believe that it could be a problem with the exhaust system since I have experienced a similar power loss issue with a previous car that was resolved when the catalytic converter was replaced. This had collapsed internally and you could hear it rattling at low speeds. I can't hear any rattling this time.
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Has it had the cam-belt replaced - badly?
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As far as I know, the cam belt hasn't been replaced yet.
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I have had a ... major service and although the car runs sweetly it still only seems to have the power I would expect from a 1.4 litre car.
I bet you didn't have it serviced at Ford dealer. I have every confidence that a Ford dealer would sort it out, no probs.
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You're right - it wasn't a Ford dealer. I'm sure that you're correct and that they'd sort it out - but at what cost? In my personal experience, they would keep on replacing bits till it was fixed. So I would probably have new injectors, new sensors, new exhaust etc. - all at main dealer prices. I can't afford a fix at any price.
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I had a similar problem with my '99 1.8 Mondeo a while ago and it turned out to be a clogged up cat. It gradually got worse until it became very lumpy at idle.
A new cat from ford will set you back quite a few quid, but there are plenty of after market ones that can be had for a couple of hundred.
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you do not state the miles that the car has covered. If very high it' s worn out.
If not then something is wrong, a 2l petrol in a Mondy is quite good so should be very good in a smaller car.
The only way to find a problem in a new car is to interrogate the ECU or of course replace each part until an improvement come about, which is expensive.
Coil packs?, plugs?, injectors, cat? ( not the exhaust , it is not a steam engine).
Sensors can even be holding engine back. Full of electronics to go wrong, as any new car. Usually for £70 a Ford garage will check ECU, best to get modern cars looked at by propr dealer.
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I finally got it sorted - it was the catalytic convertor. When this was removed, you could see that it had partially collapsed. Perhaps it had not rattled because, on the Focus, it is monted vertically right under the exhaust manifold so any broken bits drop down and may be held in place by the exhaust pressure. Interestingly, no fault was registered within the ECU despite there being an exhaust pressure sensor on either side of the cat.
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