[DanielB_ZX3]

Took it to the dealer this morning (very slowly, in 2-cylinder shitbox mode).
The CEL came on (for the first time) when I started it up.

Described my symptoms and they said they could do a code-scan first ($90) instead of doing the fuel pump - I said no, go ahead & do the fuel pump first then if that doesn't fix it let's go from there.

Got a call from the dealer - they replaced the fuel-pump and the problem was still there. They did the code scan -- something showed up to do with an improper spark, I presume - as it lead them to the coilpack, and the connecting wires, which they said were terribly corroded.

Anyhow, they all the corrosion was likley due to an improperly done engine shampoo. Improper in that the residue wasn't cleaned off properly. Which is BS as I've *NEVER* done an engine shampoo. My car does sit outside unfortunately, but it's only got 45,000km on it and I don't do lots of winter driving in it.

Anyhow they said I need
- a new coil pack
- new spark plug wires (2 are 'bad')
- recommend new spark plugs
- recommend an 'induction service' for the fuel system (which I had done .. 15,000 ago?)
- final code scan & reset

Total??: over $800 .(inc taxes)
The thread here: http://www.focuscanada.net/forum/index.p...opic=10141
discusses Focus stalling out & hesitation problems -- and there is a link to a FocalJet thread about (prematurely) corroded coil pack harnesses. That is BINGO.. my problem.

Hopefully the harness solution they offer up will do the trick for me.. I have to find out how bad the coilpack damage is when I get to the dealer - I might need the pack & harness regardless. Knowing my luck the coil pack itself is toast. I don't have $800 to spend right now - the next thing I was planning to spend money on was new rubber (tires are getting close to the wear bars).

I was already pissed off with my Focus a long time ago, but with the recent discover of the paint flaking off in large sections - and now this - it's really too much.
Seriously my life would be TOTALLY DIFFERENT had I not bought a Focus. My airbags would not have needlessly deploy when I tapped a van from behind in a traffic jam, I wouldn't have got charged with careless (yes I was at fault, but had it not been for the airbags destroying the windowshield I would have just exchanged insurance info and phone #s). My insurance wouldn't have gone up as much (and then come down to a 'reasonable' $400/month), and I woudn't have had to change jobs to something local, which was good for a while, but in retrospect they treated me like s**t and I've now wasted 4 years of my life 'surviving' when I should have been enjoying myself.

I still owe over $4000 on the POS to Ford Credit. What a bad mistake it was. Shoulda leased or not gone near a Ford.

My best friend bought a Honda Civic DX 3 or 4 months before I bought my ZX3 in 2000. It was a shitty car with no options. He paid $15,500 for it, then wrote it off in accident (his fault). He didn't get charged, and his insurance company gave him a cheque for $13,500 (car was 2 years old at the time). Nobody was injured in his crash and he had insurance 1st-time claim protection so he was laughing all the way to the bank. A $8,000 down payment on a better (different make) sports car meant his monthly car payments remained about the same for twice the car! Goddam I hate Ford.