Due for service and MOT, I remember it being suggested here that new
plugs and ignition leads were recommended at this mileage.
Might as well have it done at the same time?
Ok thanks, I think it was either Mr C or yourself who mentioned it.
The dealer (aka call centre) offered a 75,000 mile service at £244
"because I hadn't kept to the service schedule". With a broken
ankle 15 months ago and two cataract ops in the winter my mileage was
very low anyway, so I postponed the service until the MOT was due.
When I turned that down it was £99 'value service', plus plugs and
leads...
"Chris Whelan" wrote in message
On Fri, 05 Oct 2012 16:00:43 +0100, Gordon H wrote:
100% yes; it may well save you the cost of a coil in the future...
Chris
Sorry to butt in, I'm in a similar boat and wondering if the HT leads from
somewhere like eurocarparts will do as they are a bit cheaper than genuine
ones just wondering if fords are fussy with parts like this ?
On Tue, 16 Oct 2012 19:41:10 +0100, Matthews wrote:
[...]
No problem!
Absolutely not in the case of Zetec engines. Only use genuine plugs and
leads from a dealer.
The change interval is only every 40k miles, so most owners will only do
them once.
Chris
"Chris Whelan" wrote in message
On Tue, 16 Oct 2012 19:41:10 +0100, Matthews wrote:
[...]
No problem!
Absolutely not in the case of Zetec engines. Only use genuine plugs and
leads from a dealer.
The change interval is only every 40k miles, so most owners will only do
them once.
Chris
Ah ha I have the black top zetec engine I believe. I did just do its 50k
service all genuine parts used. But I did not do the leads.
From the sound of it I better had get a new set from ford and change them to
protect the expensive coil. I had a bit of a miss start or non start a few
times new plugs sorted that.
Only had the car a short while, I've been getting on with it well, despite a
few minor niggles which I have sorted on the drive way. A few common fault
one was the thermostat housing and now the vehicle speed sensor which I will
get at as soon as I can before it becomes an issue, although in reality I
will get the part and new pin and wait for it to give a few of the signs you
mentioned in you post above, thanks for that info btw very handy sadly the
thread has gone walkies. A failed water pump took a few hours to do that a
bit fiddly. Rear brakes. Other than that its good, just the usual wear and
tear items so I can't grumble. Drinks a bit much juice I get about 370 miles
out of a tank although that was till petrol light pinged on I filled up till
full and it read 44 litres I believe these have a 55 litre tank so I guess I
had another 11 litres to guzzle away.
To add to that list it did get an advisorie for the rear control arm bushes,
these don;t look very friendly to come out. The mot tester was kind enough
to show me whilst it was on a ramp. He said they drop the sub frame and
replace the while control arm as getting a new bush intact it more time
consuming and tricky. I'm not rushing to get it done and will wait till it
fails and MOT, not a dangerous part so I'm not too concerned.
There is no official 40k change interval on the leads, its just
something advocated by some posters here. Personally, I've had two black
top zetecs and I changed the leads at 70k on the first one and after 80k
ownership on the second (don't know how old they were when I bought it).
It all depends how cautious you want to be but I think that 40k is too
cautious unless you are getting the first signs of a misfire.
On Wed, 17 Oct 2012 18:48:57 +0100, Paul Giverin wrote:
[...]
The change interval I referred to is for the plugs. There was a TSB to
dealers for the Focus that said the leads needed to be changed with the
plugs, so sort of semi-official.
I've certainly seen more than one Zetec coil destroyed by old leads in
less than 80k, so it's a case of 'do you feel lucky' ;-)
Chris
Sorry, I thought you were referring to the leads too.
Not really..... it was more that the plugs should be changed if the
leads failed because the old plugs could bugger the new leads. So you
would have to fit new plugs with new leads but not new leads with new
plugs IYSWIM.
There seemed to be a "bad batch" of coils fitted to zetecs on the Focus
and Fiesta around 2000-2002. Earlier Focus and Mondeos were fine
particularly when the spark plug gap was reduced.
But if old plugs could bugger new leads, said plugs could also bugger
old leads. Or do old plugs only bugger new leads if said old plugs have
been buggered by old leads? IYSWIM ;-).
But if old plugs could bugger new leads, said plugs could also bugger
old leads. Or do old plugs only bugger new leads if said old plugs have
been buggered by old leads? IYSWIM ;-).
Well I'm confused hehe.
"Chris Whelan" wrote in message
On Wed, 17 Oct 2012 18:48:57 +0100, Paul Giverin wrote:
[...]
The change interval I referred to is for the plugs. There was a TSB to
dealers for the Focus that said the leads needed to be changed with the
plugs, so sort of semi-official.
I've certainly seen more than one Zetec coil destroyed by old leads in
less than 80k, so it's a case of 'do you feel lucky' ;-)
Chris
This punk didn't feel lucky lol I ordered a set this morning. I had already
did the plugs about 5k ago so will put these on when I pick them up. Knowing
my lucky if I didn't the coil would not be so happy.
I had the Service and MOT done today at 42,000, including new plugs,
total main dealer price £154.14.
They actually talked me out of having the leads changed, both at the
service desk and in Parts.
"Chris Whelan" wrote in message
On Tue, 16 Oct 2012 19:41:10 +0100, Matthews wrote:
[...]
No problem!
Absolutely not in the case of Zetec engines. Only use genuine plugs and
leads from a dealer.
The change interval is only every 40k miles, so most owners will only do
them once.
Chris
Just did a quote with my local unfriendly ford dealer it's £66.41 + vat for
the leads! crickey sounds steep for 4 leads. A few quid cheaper at ford
parts uk but you pay delivery so not much in it.
You obviously didnt ask for any discount then!
I did they said they don't offer any discounts at all. Its a few quid
cheaper at ford parts UK but after delivery there's not much in it.
My local main dealer are not known for being nice nor friendly when asking
for anything even stuff you buy, seriously lacking people skills. I
absolutely hate dealing with them.
The leads are quite expensive when you look at a total set from eurocarparts
for less than £20 but non genuine and not worth the risk to the coil. That
said it will only likely be changed the once.
"Chris Whelan" wrote in message
On Wed, 17 Oct 2012 11:12:18 +0100, Tim.. wrote:
[...]
And if you get Bosch ones from Halfrauds, be prepared to pay more than
the genuine ones from a dealer...
Chris
I discovered that when I bought the genuine ones from ford. I looked at a
bosch set which I've put in every car I've owned with no issue and it would
have cost more, I stuck to the original as I was told fords don't like
anything else and could cause coil failure which is costly I believe.
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