2002 Ford Focus engine and engine cooling problems

“CYLINDER HEAD VALVE SEAT FAILURE. APPROX 1/2 OF THE VALVE SEAT FELL INTO COMBUSTION CHAMER (BETWEEN PISTON AND HEAD).. THIS CAUSED PISTON TO BREAK AND ROD TO GO THROUGH CYLINDER WALL BUT NOT THROUGH BLOCK OUTER WALL AND CAUSING COOLANT TO GET INTO OIL. BEING A FORD TECH, I HAVE SEEN DAMAGE CAUSED BY VALVE SEATS IN CYLINDERS 1,2,&4. IT'S ALWAYS A INTAKE VALVE SEAT. ALSO ALWAYS AND ONLY ON SOHC MOTOR. HAVE SEEN THIS HAPPEN AND AS EARLY AS 60K MILES. *TT”

“WHILE IDLING, MY CAR IS TURNING OFF. IT ALSO DOES SO WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE AFTER SHIFTING THE CAR FROM P TO D. INITIALLY THE GAS CAP LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD SIGNALED. I REPLACED THE CAP, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AFTERWARDS. NOW, THE CAR IS TURNING OFF COMPLETELY WHILE IDLING AND ONLY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS LIT. *TR”

“WITHOUT WARNING THE ENGINE BLEW! I SERVICE MY AUTO LIKE I'M SUPPOSE TO AND THIS HAPPENS. BY LOOKING ONLINE I SEE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE. TRY FINDING A ENGINE FOR THIS CAR IS SO EXPENSIVE THAT IT'S RIDICULOUS! THAT LET ME KNOW I'M NOT ALONE! I CAN'T BELIEVE THE GOING RATE FOR THIS CAR'S ENGINE IS $1700! SO NOW I'M STUCK WITH A PIECE OF JUNK COSTING ME $3500 TO GET IT FIXED ONLY TO WAIT UNTIL THE NEXT SHOE FALLS!! *TR”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THE VEHICLE WITH A FAILED TIMING BELT. THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING REPAIRS. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO NOTIFY THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE SINCE THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 110,000.”

“VEHICLE FAILED TO START AFTER COMPLETING A 30 MINUTE DRIVE AND BEING TURNED OFF FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES. CLICKING NOISES LIKE STARTER FAILING TO ENGAGE OR LOW BATTERY ENSUED. WHEN HOOD WAS LIFTED AND BATTERY COVER REMOVED AND CABLES AND CONNECTIONS WERE INSPECTED, IT WAS OBSERVED THAT THE POSITIVE CABLE OFF THE BACK OF THE POSITIVE BATTERY HARNESS WAS EXPOSED, THE INSULATION BEING ALMOST COMPLETELY MELTED. THE EXPOSED WIRES SHOWED SIGNS OF FRAYING AND BURNING. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO JUMP START THE VEHICLE ABOUT 3 TIMES AND WAITING ABOUT 20 MINUTES, THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ABOUT 20 MILES TO A SERVICE STATION AND INSPECTED BY THEIR MECHANICS. IT WAS DECIDED FOR SAFETY REASONS(FIRE HAZARD) TO LEAVE VEHICLE. IN 45 YEARS I HAVE NEVER KNOWN A BATTERY CABLE TO MELT EVEN THOUGH I HAVE HAD BAD CONNECTIONS, CORRODED TERMINALS AND HARNESS TO THE BATTERY AND EVEN BAD STARTERS. ALL OF THE ABOVE REASONS WERE THE ONLY SOLUTIONS OFFERED TO ME.”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD FOCUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHENEVER SHE WOULD DOWNSHIFT OR BRAKE TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE FUEL FILTER, ENGINE COIL PACK AND SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE FAILURE AT LEAST THREE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO THE LOCAL DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.”