Ford Focus 2006 1.8 TDCI issue and water pump change pricing?

TallGlass

Hi guys,

So over the course of the last two weeks, strange things around the cooling system in my car have been happening no hot air, low coolant in the system all signs I should have seen and acted on quicker than I did.

Anyway, today I took action and looked at the coolant level as I was looking into the no hot heat inside the car issue (someone said it might be electrical also a reason I put it off so long, but decided to start with the basics), hardly any coolant or basically none. It swallowed up 1 liter, no issues with car driving so decent against my better judgement (should have used my dads car)to go get more coolant.

Long story short on way back car over heated on main road was at 120c so pulled into a small estate 3mins driving at 120c and turned off engine and let the fans cool the engine down to 70/90c and walked home. Topped up coolant level took nearly 4L and drove it home with no issues or over heating etc. Before pulling off I did notice a small spray of droplets of water coming from behind the top part of the aux belt. Cars outside the house, what looks like coolant under it as in a small puddle and it is now refusing to start.

My father thinks the pump the shot and causing the issues, I am pretty good with cars and never crossed my mind for one second the pump been an issue, if I did I wouldn't have drove when it started acting up with the cold air.

Just hoping I done no serious damage to the engine. It failing to start has me very worried, hope I haven't seized the engine up. Any ideas on the issue and what price am I looking at for a water pump to be fitted?

martinr5232

Water pumps do give trouble on that engine but it shouldnd cause the car not to start though. How long were you driving ??

TallGlass

martinr5232 wrote: »

Water pumps do give trouble on that engine but it shouldnd cause the car not to start though. How long were you driving ??

All in all about 3 mins at 120c and then to get it home about 2 mins at normal temp 60c rising to 70/75c with inside fan on.

Gauge had been always around the 90c mark or hoovering around 60/70c, unsure where the thermostat is in the car so unsure if that was engine temp, both of the engine coolant hoses where cold to touch. So not sure if it was maybe overheating for total driving time of about 20/25 mins.

I have tried cracking it over and it sounds like it wants to start but the battery hasn't got the power to do it, but dash is lighting up fine.

martinr5232

sounds like the water pump has collapsed and thrown off the alternator belt.

TallGlass

martinr5232 wrote: »

sounds like the water pump has collapsed and thrown off the alternator belt.

Might try give it a jump start to see if it starts.

It's cranking over then defaults to the starter motor ticking noise.

Nightmare.

Is the water-pump connected to the timing belt or just the aux belt?

martinr5232

just the aux belt but it goes in behind the top timing belt but there is no need to remove the belt to replace the pump.

TallGlass

martinr5232 wrote: »

just the aux belt but it goes in behind the top timing belt but there is no need to remove the belt to replace the pump.

Just jump started the car there so engine is fine.

Is it a job I could do or would it be best dropping it down to Ford.

martinr5232

Depends how handy you are really. What part of the country are you in ??

Alanstrainor

Whatever you do, stop starting/driving it. You are not helping things in it's current condition. This is a job for a mechanic, not necessarily a Ford dealer however. If you're not already someone who does a lot of DIY, and is good with this kind of thing, I would say forget it and just pay for it to be fixed by a pro.

TallGlass

martinr5232 wrote: »

Depends how handy you are really. What part of the country are you in ??

Dublin. Have changed engines and stuff before.

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Whatever you do, stop starting/driving it. You are not helping things in it's current condition. This is a job for a mechanic, not necessarily a Ford dealer however. If you're not already someone who does a lot of DIY, and is good with this kind of thing, I would say forget it and just pay for it to be fixed by a pro.

Have changed engines before with cars. What I don't want is a messy job that would cause me so much stress I would be better off just paying the money for a professional to do it.

Car won't be started again. Which brings me to my next problem, how do I get it to the garage? Tow truck?

Think I get a price for work from Ford and one from an indy, then see if it's worth trying it myself.

Alanstrainor

Didn't mean to be preachy, just wasn't sure of your knowledge so aired on the side of caution!

I would talk to a few mechanics/indies and see what they say. Some might be able to facilitate a pick up if needs be.

TallGlass

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Didn't mean to be preachy, just wasn't sure of your knowledge so aired on the side of caution!

I would talk to a few mechanics/indies and see what they say. Some might be able to facilitate a pick up if needs be.

No problem. Will still price around first I ordered a Haynes Manual from Amazon(excuse to buy one) so will price around and wait for that to arrive so I have an idea of what the job is like.

Could anyone explain why the battery is gone flat/not charging? Is the alternator damaged or just the belt slipped off? It's fairly hard to see anything around the engine it's all very compact.

George Dalton

Could be the belt has fallen off, that should be easy enough to spot if you shine a light down the side of the engine.

Could also be the alternator, they are quite troublesome on them.

Special Circumstances

Took 1L + 4L ? Uh oh..

dr.fuzzenstein

The alternator should be on the bottom left in the engine bay, you might be able to see it from the wheel well, otherwise you will have to take off the under tray and wheel arch liner to get a good look at it, forget going in from the top.
Where is the leak exactly? Do you have pics?

TallGlass

George Dalton wrote: »

Could be the belt has fallen off, that should be easy enough to spot if you shine a light down the side of the engine.

Could also be the alternator, they are quite troublesome on them.

Think the belt has fallen off, I can't see a belt connected too it.

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

The alternator should be on the bottom left in the engine bay, you might be able to see it from the wheel well, otherwise you will have to take off the under tray and wheel arch liner to get a good look at it, forget going in from the top.
Where is the leak exactly? Do you have pics?

Have not got a great look at it at all but it appears to be a leak from the area where the water pump is located.

I rang up Finglas Ford today. Water Pump, Coolant and the aux belt (not timing belt) 170€ if I wanted them fitted 630€

George Dalton

An independent garage should be able to do that job for €250 or so.

TallGlass

George Dalton wrote: »

An independent garage should be able to do that job for €250 or so.

Was thinking the same even about €300/350, any recommendations around the Dublin 17/5/9/3 area?

TallGlass

So manual came.

Seems okay something I could do. Some new terms for me, TDC or top dead center. Strikes me as important, but why? Is it okay to go old school and mark the timing up with some Tipex before the belt comes off?

These special tools are they expensive from Ford?

martinr5232

you dont need to take the belt off to replace the water pump.

dr.fuzzenstein

martinr5232 wrote: »

you dont need to take the belt off to replace the water pump.

And I wouldn't recommend to do so anyway, since the markings are not exactly clear or even visible.
There is a chain at the bottom half of the engine from the crank, driving the fuel pump and then there's a belt driven by that chain guiding the cams.
It's a complete clusterfcuk of a design and I would not dare to go near it in a million years.

TallGlass

dr.fuzzenstein wrote: »

And I wouldn't recommend to do so anyway, since the markings are not exactly clear or even visible.
There is a chain at the bottom half of the engine from the crank, driving the fuel pump and then there's a belt driven by that chain guiding the cams.
It's a complete clusterfcuk of a design and I would not dare to go near it in a million years.

From reading and looking at the diagrams it dose not look like there connected. Belt is just on it is own and the water pump the same.

Ordered from GSF on like Tuesday and still nothing.

George Dalton

Did you order online?

TallGlass

George Dalton wrote: »

Did you order online?

Yeah, I take it there closed last few days. Drove by the North Dublin shop and it was closed today.

Wouldn't mind was gonna order from the English site and said I keep it local and it be quicker for the extra few euros got an e-mail reply about ordering parts quicker than a delivery/placed order from Dublin. Not exactly in a rush, but would like to get started, type of person that gets motivated when I see parts!

Ordered a new thermostat might as-well do that while I am down there.

Will try post pictures if anyone is interested otherwise I will just leave it be.

George Dalton

Any decent motor factor would have a pump in stock. Sometimes the old fashioned bricks and mortar approach is best

As for the thermostat I wouldn't touch it if I were you unless you suspect there is a problem with it. First of all it is on the front of the engine nowhere near the water pump so there is no advantage to doing it at the same time as the pump. Additionally the thermostat housing is prone to leaking on these engines. There is a strong possibility that if you (needlessly) disturb the housing to replace the thermostat that it will leak afterwards.

TallGlass

George Dalton wrote: »

Any decent motor factor would have a pump in stock. Sometimes the old fashioned bricks and mortar approach is best

As for the thermostat I wouldn't touch it if I were you unless you suspect there is a problem with it. First of all it is on the front of the engine nowhere near the water pump so there is no advantage to doing it at the same time as the pump. Additionally the thermostat housing is prone to leaking on these engines. There is a strong possibility that if you (needlessly) disturb the housing to replace the thermostat that it will leak afterwards.

Mr Dalton, should have taken on board your advise and that of my friend today. But I had the thermostat there today as ordered it with parts. Honestly didn't think it would have just completely failed but it did. Sprung a leak, then tinkering around with it trying to find out why it was leaking and then the brass holder that receives the bolt starts coming out complete and utterly wrecked. Will never understand why Ford decided to make these units from plastic, any car I have worked on these have been aluminum. Regardless I say old stat was due to fail soon didn't look the best at all.

So word of warning to anyone else. Mr Dalton is correct, keep away from this unit. If you need to change the termostat then don't buy a termostat buy the termostat with the housing fitted.

Water pump was a bit fiddly medium hardness to fit. Pump had failed, came out in two halves, again the wheel was made from plastic. Didn't do the timing belt but again would be easy to do if needed.

So some more waiting around now for this housing to come !