Focus ST170 (My First Car)
Discussion
aaron_2000 said:
Got the interior lights, fitting them tomorrow. [...] Recently completed a 200mile round trip where I figured out I have a fuelling issue, 90 miles exactly on half a tank of petrol in normal driving. In the next couple of months I'll be booking it in with a specialist like Graham Goode to get all of that sorted out, including a new clutch/flywheel.
Glad they arrived, that should cover the front and rear main lights and the numberplates too if you want to do them. I was going to send the 501s as well to do the auxiliary lights however I purchased from China and by the time I'd weeded out the non-working ones I didn't have any spares!For what it's worth I actually like seating position. I'm only 5'8 so it's maybe a height thing... If I set it at mid height electrically it's very comfortable for me and my view of the road is great.
Your fuel consumption is basically the same as mine... I should probably have it looked at
Edited by drab1 on Saturday 13th January 09:52
Great first car OP. 
And given the family connection that makes it really special.
The first generation of Focus is by far the best looking, and they handle really well.
I know what you mean about the seats being too high - my mother had a string of Fiestas and my sister had an 02 plate Focus, and I couldn't get the seat as low as I wanted it in any of them.
I thought about looking at an ST170 back in 2003, but got the chance to buy an ex-company Seat Leon Cupra from my employer at a price I couldn't pass up!
Good luck with the spanner practice on the Ka.
And given the family connection that makes it really special.The first generation of Focus is by far the best looking, and they handle really well.
I know what you mean about the seats being too high - my mother had a string of Fiestas and my sister had an 02 plate Focus, and I couldn't get the seat as low as I wanted it in any of them.
I thought about looking at an ST170 back in 2003, but got the chance to buy an ex-company Seat Leon Cupra from my employer at a price I couldn't pass up!
Good luck with the spanner practice on the Ka.
aaron_2000 said:
being a pretty new driver
sorry but this made me smile.Ford Ka is great for learning the basics, simple mechanicals and easy to work on, corrosion will be the main issue, buy a mig welder and learn how to use it. Always fanced one of those yellow millenium ones as my runabout, oh and the Ka has probably the coolest looking timepiece ever fitted in a car imo.
Enjoying the thread!
Mr Tidy said:
Great first car OP. And given the family connection that makes it really special.
The first generation of Focus is by far the best looking, and they handle really well.
I know what you mean about the seats being too high - my mother had a string of Fiestas and my sister had an 02 plate Focus, and I couldn't get the seat as low as I wanted it in any of them.
I thought about looking at an ST170 back in 2003, but got the chance to buy an ex-company Seat Leon Cupra from my employer at a price I couldn't pass up!
Good luck with the spanner practice on the Ka.
Thanks, I was looking at 225 Leons, pretty much the same to insure, but they were too expensive and just a bit too much for a new driver. And given the family connection that makes it really special.The first generation of Focus is by far the best looking, and they handle really well.
I know what you mean about the seats being too high - my mother had a string of Fiestas and my sister had an 02 plate Focus, and I couldn't get the seat as low as I wanted it in any of them.
I thought about looking at an ST170 back in 2003, but got the chance to buy an ex-company Seat Leon Cupra from my employer at a price I couldn't pass up!
Good luck with the spanner practice on the Ka.
S.H.A.D.O. said:
sorry but this made me smile.
Ford Ka is great for learning the basics, simple mechanicals and easy to work on, corrosion will be the main issue, buy a mig welder and learn how to use it. Always fanced one of those yellow millenium ones as my runabout, oh and the Ka has probably the coolest looking timepiece ever fitted in a car imo.
Enjoying the thread!
Thanks, always quite liked the Ka, they're still dirt cheap so I figured why not?Ford Ka is great for learning the basics, simple mechanicals and easy to work on, corrosion will be the main issue, buy a mig welder and learn how to use it. Always fanced one of those yellow millenium ones as my runabout, oh and the Ka has probably the coolest looking timepiece ever fitted in a car imo.
Enjoying the thread!
itcaptainslow said:
Start simple first-could be the thermostat is stuck open (happened on mine). Then do a fault code check-they're also common for eating O2 sensors (yup).
Funny you say that... EML is on, had it checked as the O2 sensor, but I was told it didn't really affect it, guessing that's not the case?aaron_2000 said:
Funny you say that... EML is on, had it checked as the O2 sensor, but I was told it didn't really affect it, guessing that's not the case?
My dad's st170 had the light on for about 7 years and this threw up the code for the O2 sensor but it passed every mot with it and it still did 25-26 mpg so it obviously made no difference to his, though it may be worth changing anyway just to turn the light as personally I would have done. Poynter87 said:
My dad's st170 had the light on for about 7 years and this threw up the code for the O2 sensor but it passed every mot with it and it still did 25-26 mpg so it obviously made no difference to his, though it may be worth changing anyway just to turn the light as personally I would have done.
Been planning on it along with everything else towards spring time, pretty much because I hate seeing a light onWish i'd kept my old one. Full Recaro leather, xenon headlamps and factory fitted sub in the boot. Gave it away for £2k back in 2009. Cars of that spec don't come up very often.
Checking the history it hasn't been taxed or MOT'd in over a year, and with over 140k miles it's probably dead.
Checking the history it hasn't been taxed or MOT'd in over a year, and with over 140k miles it's probably dead.
IanCress said:
Wish i'd kept my old one. Full Recaro leather, xenon headlamps and factory fitted sub in the boot. Gave it away for £2k back in 2009. Cars of that spec don't come up very often.
Checking the history it hasn't been taxed or MOT'd in over a year, and with over 140k miles it's probably dead.
If I hadn't found mine, then i'd've wanted one in grey, suits it nicely. Alot of them seem to be getting broken for parts now, we were sure that's what happened to mine in 2016. Checking the history it hasn't been taxed or MOT'd in over a year, and with over 140k miles it's probably dead.
I had a ST170 for a while (another child meant i had to replace it with a ST220). The inlet runner manifold control until controls a valve in the inlet, which moves in line with throttle/engine load to improve response and power. it's located at the back of the engine and can be a pin to get to. i can fail in a couple of ways, one of the ways mine fell was the spring that pulls the cable in and out came off the actuator. It was a simple job to take it off and put back together, and cheaper the the £700 ford quote to repair it! it also had an appetite for lambda sensors.
My ST170 must have had an engine light on for about 70% of the time I had it, but despite that enjoyed it. It was good to drive, decently fast and well equipped. I still see it about (SK04 BTT), it's good to know it's still around.
My ST170 must have had an engine light on for about 70% of the time I had it, but despite that enjoyed it. It was good to drive, decently fast and well equipped. I still see it about (SK04 BTT), it's good to know it's still around.
aaron_2000 said:
itcaptainslow said:
Start simple first-could be the thermostat is stuck open (happened on mine). Then do a fault code check-they're also common for eating O2 sensors (yup).
Funny you say that... EML is on, had it checked as the O2 sensor, but I was told it didn't really affect it, guessing that's not the case?
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