My Focus ST broken :(

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Just driving back from my mate's house and heard a "psshhh" as I was accelerating away normally and now lost all boost. Whenever I pull away now I get a hissing noise and very little power. No EML and drives fine other than that with no other noises of any concern. My non-expert opinion makes me thing my turbo pipe has split or come off rather than the turbo itself gone. Can't get it looked at til next week but wondering if any other mk3 ST owners have had this happen?

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Hub said:

Oh dear. Does sound like a hose - still under warranty though if the worst comes to the worst?

Hasn't changed your mind about coughing up for Focustoc membership?

Never!

Just rung round the local Ford dealers here in Leeds to see if they can do it (Benfield x2, Ringways). "Ah well sir, what we'd need to do is book it in for a full IDS(?) diagnostic program and perform a software update then we'd need to order parts and rebook it in for the work to be done, so you'll be looking at the middle of August at the earliest as we're fully booked up". Said to them I reckon all it needs is the pipe re-attaching but nope, needs full diagnostics.

I'm meant to be going to Wales in a bit for a family do. Luckily Stuart at Blue Oval garage at Gildersome has said he'll sort it for me so am on my way there now.

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Got it fixed! Was indeed the pipe from the engine to the intercooler under the block that had slipped off. 2 min fix once all the covers removed. He often adjusted my bonnet gap and offered to top up the engine with a bit of 5w30 too. All completely free of charge. Top service. Bunged him a 20 for his time as it's only right isn't it.

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But wondering if something else is brewing now. Just got back from a long trip and noticed on idling that the engine is sounding rattly which I've never noticed before.

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Justin S said:

Glad you gave him £20 rather than waste it on STOC. You'll only get replies for lambo doors and decats innit !!

I caved in and bought a membership there recently. I can confirm that the site is a complete waste of time. All the membership gets you is endless threads on driving holes in your airbox, Mountune remapping, removing your cat and fitting dump valves. Absolutely nothing of use if you have a genuine problem as it's full of clueless kids rather than anyone with any kind of mechanical knowledge/experience.

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Funk said:

Was never like that when I was in charge. Sounds like it's gone downhill sadly.

Still, most people saved much more than the membership cost on the deals we put together for members, I assume some of the benefits still remain?

No benefits, just access to tech forums and some worthless %age discount with forum sponsors which works out at about 5p off.

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Fermit The Krog said:

gus607 said:

Garages like that deserve to stay in business.

Very true, and well done for the tip.

Reminds me of a situation selling a house some years ago. A bath tap was loose, one nut to tighten but a tiny gap to get to under the bath and I hadn't got the correct tool. I called a plumber up who's van I'd seen regularly around the corner, an offer made of £20 for a two minute job to pop in one eve on his way home. His response, which he didn't budge from, was 'my call out is £85'.

A matter of weeks a mates boiler died and needed replacement, guess who I told him NOT to use.

Exactly. I don't think traders realise what damage they do to their reputation and business by acting like that. Sure, they're in business to make money but helping out with quick fixes like popping my turbo pipe back on (10 min job) and not even asking for anything for it often translates into free adveritising for them when that person recommends them to others. And I'm more than happy to recommend him too - his name is Stuart and he runs Gildersome Autos (what used to be Blue Oval Garage) http://gildersomeautos.co.uk/.