[cpistili2]

i recently was given a 2000 focus lx with 63k miles. one of my costomers was liquidating his winter property down here in florida and moveing back north to care for family. he was about to donate the car to good will but asked me if i wanted it. i would like my wife to use this car mainly for day to day driveing but was hopeing we could take it on vacations to N.C. from time to time. we have never had a car with under 150k on it, a/c, role up windows " actually preferd because with no a/c, and dead window motors, driving any wear in south fl is tourcher. the previous owner only drove the car while he was down for season, and it would sit in a car port the rest of the year. the old guy really took care of it. paint and interior are ,again, better than any thing ive ever owned. we are exited:banana:, but i want to make sure the car is safe and dependable for log trips. of course i have been reading up on the focus for the last weak now and found mostly negative stuff, in fact i have already run into the ignition cylinder issue. i removed the tumblers and think this will probably be more reliable in the long run. don't want the wife and 3 daughters getting stuck. the tiers need to be replaced due to some drying and cracking and i would appreciate any recommendations as to a good long lasting tier for my sub tropic climate. i have read stories about uneven wear and tiers not lasting long. i was wondering why this is and what i should do to combat it. im sure every thing on this car is stock and i would like to buy tiers this weekend if possible but don't know whats best for this car. recommendations would be great.
i also heard of some fuel pump issues. my pops called ford with the vin number and they said there were no recalls for that vin but that there was an extended warranty on the fuel pump and springs. i am not having problems with the fuel pump now, but if the one i have is defective or if the new ones are revised , i would like to know which pump to get to replace it with.
i also hear a tone coming from the back of the car when driving at about 50 mph. took it to the machanic and mentioned possible wheel bearing issues with this car. he said it was probably the tiers, wich do need to go, and shook the wheel on the lift to prove his point. maybe im paranoid, but i would like to bring this vehicle up to it best operating potential so the wife and kids can finally have a car that can take them to the keys, Disney, and out of state to visit family. ive been reading the threads here, and they have been a great help. any recommendations would be great, and im probably taking the car to tire kingdom next week. if there is a particular type or brand that would serve me best please tell me ....thank you

 

[cpistili2]

never mind about the tires i just found a thread for that.....sorry. but im still wondering about the fuel pump for this car. again..not haveing a problem with it yet but might repace it just to be safe. should i cut an access panel for it. has any one posted instructions for doing some thing like that. and wich pump should i buy to replace it. sorry if i am beening to vage this is the first car ive owned that has enough potenta for me to invest time and money into. im an hvac service tech by trade so im not compleetly green but i dont have verry much automotive exsperiance. i was kind of hopeing this car would give me the opertunity to learn.

 

[Tourtured Muse]

Congrats on the new addition, I had a 02 ZX3 with about 180,000 miles on it and never once had a problem with the fuel pump even with many mods. I even changed lower block out and didn't do a thing to the fuel pump itself. I think you picked up a great car for trips mine wnt from Michigan to Florida a couple times and performed very well... Good luck and Welcome!

 

[GapBoyPCS]

Welcome to FocalJet. Let's see if we can help out.

of course i have been reading up on the focus for the last weak now and found mostly negative stuff, in fact i have already run into the ignition cylinder issue. i removed the tumblers and think this will probably be more reliable in the long run. don't want the wife and 3 daughters getting stuck.

The "negative" stuff can really depend on what you're reading. The 2000 and 2001 model years had quite a lot of problems. As long as you take care of them, you should be fine for reliable motoring.

I don't recall people removing the tumblers to get around it. Most of the time people do pay to have the updated part and have it installed.

the tiers need to be replaced due to some drying and cracking and i would appreciate any recommendations as to a good long lasting tier for my sub tropic climate. i have read stories about uneven wear and tiers not lasting long. i was wondering why this is and what i should do to combat it. im sure every thing on this car is stock and i would like to buy tiers this weekend if possible but don't know whats best for this car. recommendations would be great.

If you ask anyone about tires, first you need to set an idea how much you're willing to spend. Then, you need to figure out what kind of tires you want (all-seasons, summer only, winters, etc.). I usually recommend people visit our sponsor at www.tirerack.com, select their vehicle, and use their Tire Selection Guide tool.

Uneven tire wear is usually due to a few things, but the biggest culprits are: bad alignment, infrequent tire rotations, worn suspension components, and improper tire pressure. It's no different if it's a Focus or a BMW or Rolls Royce.

i also heard of some fuel pump issues. my pops called ford with the vin number and they said there were no recalls for that vin but that there was an extended warranty on the fuel pump and springs. i am not having problems with the fuel pump now, but if the one i have is defective or if the new ones are revised , i would like to know which pump to get to replace it with.

If you call into any Ford dealer to get a replacement part, they should be giving you the updated part anyhow. Their parts catalog do make a note of the parts you should be using based on your VIN.

i also hear a tone coming from the back of the car when driving at about 50 mph. took it to the machanic and mentioned possible wheel bearing issues with this car. he said it was probably the tiers, wich do need to go, and shook the wheel on the lift to prove his point.

If your mechanic is telling you it's the tires, then I'd have to say it's your tires unless you have a reason to second guess him/her.

never mind about the tires i just found a thread for that.....sorry. but im still wondering about the fuel pump for this car. again..not haveing a problem with it yet but might repace it just to be safe. should i cut an access panel for it. has any one posted instructions for doing some thing like that. and wich pump should i buy to replace it. sorry if i am beening to vage this is the first car ive owned that has enough potenta for me to invest time and money into. im an hvac service tech by trade so im not compleetly green but i dont have verry much automotive exsperiance. i was kind of hopeing this car would give me the opertunity to learn.

I honestly wouldn't be needing to cut access panels. It sounds a bit that you're maybe a bit over-cautious and expecting a failure based on all that you've read. That's great to be prepared, but if you're used to owning higher mileage (and older) cars, you've run into situations where parts fail simply because of age or be unexpected.

If you're willing to invest the time and money, the best things you can do are:

1. Buy a good DIY manual like Chilton or Haynes.
2. Ask a lot of questions here on FJ.
3. Use the proper tools in your repairs.
4. Use high quality parts in any repairs or maintenance (like Ford Motorcraft or OEM parts).
5. Take advantage of special pricing and offers from our forum sponsors that can save you money and sweat.
6. Routine maintenance, like oil, fluid and filter changes.

 

[cpistili2]

yes......your right of course i am beeing paranoid. i think im still operating under the "if its to good to be true it probably isnt". thanks for trying to put me at ease and pointing me in the right direction. you see...the wife and i were hopeing to buy a car this year after paying 1000 bucks to rent one on our last vacation to viset family, but a week ago my wife developed some tooth pain and thats going to cost us a few grand. when i got the quote from the dentist i knew the car thing was not going to happen......next day....some guy gives me a car. i guse im just alittle weirded out by it still.
as for the tumblers they were getting stuck and the key wouldnt turn. i had just got the tag and was about to bring it home. after some banging i got it to move. i had read that peope have replaced this part more than once some more than 3 times. i dont want the family getting stuck, and i usualy dont have the extra cash during the weak for tow trucks and lock smiths. of course any key will turn the cylinder but only the one with the chip does anything. the tumblers were so small, they looked like glitter. i can see how they might stick or get bent. thank you verry much for the info.

 

[cpistili2]

the bart simpson in the smells like teen spirit cover , has to be the coolest thing Ive seen in a while......

 

[cpistili2]

so far ive seen the ignition switch fail....the whiper cowl leak....witch took out the blower resister switch "before I bought it, could see the water trail"....and theres a wierd noise coming from the rear pasenger side of the car at 50 mph and above. i will do the tires first befor condeming any thing, but so far ....... the reseaerch has done me good .....it led me hear. and helped me alleviate some problems that might seem more seveer if i hadent researched them first. now that i am frequenting the site more regularly i see that potentially many of my answers are out there. this car is old, and its problems are probably long forgotten. i repair things for a living, and know that, there's a difference between a lemon and a compilation of parts, that originally caused owners nightmares. these nightmares can be exaggerated if they end in being stranded.......i swear to god i don't have ocd......not that theirs any thing wrong with that.

 

[2006TZX4]

Welcome to fj.