Ford Fiesta Diesel 1.4TDCI 02-07

MPB

Just looking for some feedback on this car as to what problems if any they have and how they are as a motor. Have a mate looking at one and he asked me about them but to be honest I dont know anything on them so just said I'p put it out on boards and see what kind of feedback I get on them. Is it a good diesel engine or are they problematic motors that should be avoided at all cost? How does it stack up on the economics front? Does it give good MPG? My mate is not a hard driver at all. To be honest I dont think he's ever hit 60mph and if he has its a rare occasion. So folks give me all the stories on this motor good or bad. He's looking at years between 2002 - 2007.

bazz26

It's a co-designed engine with Peugeot/Citroen. It is also found in the Mazda 3, Citroen C3/C4 and Peugeot 206/307. Only has 75bhp so probably does suit your friend. I think there are known problems with turbos on this engine but don't have any first hand expeirence of them.

Drummerboy08

Injectors give problems, and if it's 07 or older, they'll need to be replaced if they haven't already have. When you drive it, if there is any smell of diesel fumes in the cabin it will either be the injectors, or injector seals.

Coolant system also gives problems, there's a little clip that holds a pipe in place at the back of the engine that breaks, causing the pipe to come loose, which means you lose your coolant, and your engine won't like that.

Unless he is doing mega mileage, I'd look at a 1.25 or a 1.4 petrol instead.

shamwari

My father has been driving one now for nearly three years. The injector seals were replaced before he bought it. When they go, you can hear a distinct "chuffing" sound from the engine.

The only gremlin we had with the car has been the alternator which threw off its clutch pulley and then broke a bearing inside it a few weeks later, necessitating a complete replacement.

These do need their oil and filters changed on schedule using the correct oil. If you don't have firm evidence that the car has been minded properly then I'd avoid it.

Performance wise, these cars are not grand prix material but are otherwise ok with excellent fuel consumption. The fuel consumption of the petrol versions will not come near the TDCI, and the petrols are prone to gremlins of their own too, so it's a much-of-a-muchness on the reliability score.

MPB

OK think I'll be recommending he avoid the Fiesta diesel then. Any suggestions for alternatives?

RandomAccess

The 1.4 tdci does suffer from injector seal problems, but it might be the case that once these have been seen to they may not re-occur. There are a number of forums which might have more specific advice. And of course these issues are probably going to be common to all the cars which use that engine, which I believe would be small Peugeots and Citroens. hopefully It may not be the showstopper it appears.

The 1.25 petrol is a great engine, very lively to drive but that is partly because the gearing is not very long so it is best suited as an urban run-around with occassional intercity running.

I don't know anything about the 1.4


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What are the requirements, what type of driving. City, intercity, between towns, mostly motorways. That will point us in the right direction..

Henry Ford III

RandomAccess wrote: »

The 1.25 petrol is a great engine, very lively to drive but that is partly because the gearing is not very long so it is best suited as an urban run-around with occassional intercity running.

The latest 82bhp variant is well able to long haul, and is refined, light on fuel, and has low motor tax.

I can't understand the need for a 1.4 petrol. Ford don't sell one here currently.



p.s. I've driven a few of the earlier 1.25 75bhp cars too. They are fine on longer journeys too.

the culture of deference

We have the 1.4 diesel fom new in a C3, always gives 60 up to 85 mpg,

Injectors seals were done for NCT, the seals are about 12 euro, 4 hours labour does the job, you have to strip out a huge amount of your engine to get at it.

150,000 miles timing belt interval (we bought ours new in UK in 02) for some reason the IRish sold ones has a much smaller interval.

I couldn't recommend this engine high enough

shamwari

MPB wrote: »

OK think I'll be recommending he avoid the Fiesta diesel then. Any suggestions for alternatives?

I know I gave a detailed account of this car based on semi-personal experience (I service it for the old man!!) and it might seem to imply that these cars are no good. Perhaps I should have included the question I asked my Dad about what he'd like to replace it with, and his reply was he doesn't want to change, but if he had to, he'd get another Fiesta TDCi. I suppose that speaks for itself.

bazz26

Henry Ford III wrote: »

The latest 82bhp variant is well able to long haul, and is refined, light on fuel, and has low motor tax.

I can't understand the need for a 1.4 petrol. Ford don't sell one here currently.



p.s. I've driven a few of the earlier 1.25 75bhp cars too. They are fine on longer journeys too.

1.25 litre Fiesta has been detuned to 60bhp since late last year. 82bhp version is still available but costs extra. Sister has a 08 old shape 1.25 litre, I've driven it a few times and it never really felt lacking for the size of car. I'd imagine 60bhp in the heavier new Fiesta might be a challenge though. 1.4 litre petrol Fiesta is only available in auto these days. Manual is a bit redundant in this country as most people opted for the bigger Focus which cost the same to tax at the time.

OP, unless you are doing alot of commuting then there is no big advantage to buying the diesel model. Around town it will be no more economical than the 1.25 but has more complex technology to go wrong.

Drummerboy08

RandomAccess wrote: »

The 1.4 tdci does suffer from injector seal problems, but it might be the case that once these have been seen to they may not re-occur. There are a number of forums which might have more specific advice. And of course these issues are probably going to be common to all the cars which use that engine, which I believe would be small Peugeots and Citroens. hopefully It may not be the showstopper it appears.

Not really, I've seen 2006 Fiesta's that have had injector seals replaced 3 times. All the work was also carried out in a Ford dealer.

The problem is the quality of the parts used. Wherever Ford source the seals, they need to stop.

If you can replace them with seals from a different manufacturer, then maybe it won't happen again. If you use the Ford recommended parts, then it will only keep happening.

Henry Ford III

bazz26 wrote: »

1.25 litre Fiesta has been detuned to 60bhp since late last year. 82bhp version is still available but costs extra. Sister has a 08 old shape 1.25 litre, I've driven it a few times and it never really felt lacking for the size of car. I'd imagine 60bhp in the heavier new Fiesta might be a challenge though. 1.4 litre petrol Fiesta is only available in auto these days. Manual is a bit redundant in this country as most people opted for the bigger Focus which cost the same to tax at the time.

Yep. 82bhp engine is an option on the Titanium model only.

p.s. Current model Fiesta s actually lighter than it's predecessor.