Hi -
Not quite sure if this belongs in Technical Matters but I\'m sure it will get moved if it does.
As you may have guessed from the apt title, I need to get rid of some rust. It\'s a tiny tiny amount and apparently a common problem on the rear of Focuses (Foci?). Anyway - what\'s the best thing to do to get rid of it - like I said, it\'s a tiny amount but there is a silver effect bar on the boot making sanding difficult. It would be great if I could post the picture on the MSN groups site but apparently I need to be okayed first.
Can someone get back to me please?
Thanks very much
Adam
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My method
Take one cotton bud. Cut one very small square of fine wet and dry paper.. finer the better.
Glue to end of cotton bud with Evostick or simialr.
Tape all untouched metal surrounding rust patch with masking tape. Gently abrade rust with wet and dry on bud.
Apply Jenolite according to instructions - minimal quantity (another cotton bud is good for fine applications)
When dry, apply primer, undercoat and topcoat. Rub very gently between coats.
remove making tape when finished.
Patience and time on a warm day help...
madf
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In your place, I would use an artist brush loaded with Loctite Rust Remedy, give it 3-4hrs to dry on a warm day, apply another coat, followed with the usual touch-in paint the next day/week and regular methods of disguising the work.
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Adski, how old is the Focus? Is it not covered under paintwork warranty?
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Hi all and thanks for your replies.
I haven\'t got the car yet but it\'s a 2000. THe rust is tiny but I want to catch it now to stop it spreading. It\'s only nagging me because I know it\'s there! According to the Car by Car breakdown this is a relatively common problem.
I\'m hoping to get it on Saturday but we shall see.
I\'ll let you know what happens,
Cheers
Adam
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I presume you are buying from dealer.on that age would say get rid of rust or I wont buy.it may be common but not what I would expect from 4 year old.I did want a car from dealer found stonechips on bonnet asked if the bonnet would be sorted and they said yes.it was rectified when I picked it up.if buying private thats different you have to sort it
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Hi Mech,
I'm buying it privately. Ordinarily I'd agree but everything else about the car is perfect. It's the right colour, shape and spec and the rust is absolutely tiny. Plus, as Charles mentioned, it seems to be a well documented problem on this type. (Thanks for that by the way Charles!) I think I will get it sorted professionally to prevent it occuring elsewhere. Like I say though, the car is in pristine condition throughout and I think sorting the rust out should be relatively easy as it's about the size of a ....very small tic tac!
Thanks for all your help and I'll let you know how I get on,
Cheers
Adam
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This is the gospel according to Ford:
TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN No.18/2002
Car and Light/Medium Commercial 14.03.2002
Section: 501-08
Model: Focus Ghia
Markets: All
Subject: Corrosion where chromed liftgate handle touches the body panel
Summary
Corrosion where the chromed liftgate handle touches the body panel may be caused by contact between the sometimes sharp outer edges of the chrome plate of the liftgate handle and the body panel or by entry of dirt between the liftgate handle seal and the body panel, together with vehicle vibrations.
Should a customer express concern, the liftgate handle should be removed, the paint damage and corrosion repaired and an additional, two-sided protective film be installed under the liftgate handle.
Parts Required
Description Finis Code
Protective film, liftgate 1 147 712
handle, wagon
Protective film, liftgate 1 147 711
handle, 3/5-door
Protective film, liftgate 1 147 713
handle, 4-door
Seal, liftgate handle, wagon 1 139 362
(vehicles built from 05.2000)
Seal, liftgate handle, 3/5 1 139 361
-door (vehicles built from
05.2000)
Seal, liftgate handle, 4-door 1 139 369
(vehicles built from 05.2000)
Liftgate handle, wagon 1 139 356
(vehicles built up to 04.2000)
Liftgate handle, 3/5-door 1 136 259
(vehicles built up to 04.2000)
Liftgate handle, 4-door 1 136 262
(vehicles built up to 04.2000)
Spray bottle Locally procured
Isopropanol Locally procured
Production Action
A revised liftgate handle has been installed in production since 01.05.2000 (build code YC).
Service Instructions
See Summary.
All Focus with chromed liftgate handle
1. Remove the liftgate trim panel (wagon shown).
2. Detach the liftgate handle (3/5-door shown).
? Disconnect the number plate lamp electrical connectors and remove the number plate lamps.
? For vehicles built up to 04.2000 (build code YG): discard the liftgate handle.
? For vehicles built from 05.2000 (build code YC): detach the seal from the liftgate handle and keep the liftgate handle for re-installation.
3. Repair the corrosion and paint damage on the body panel.
Note: Do NOT detach the protective film from the adhesive surface of the liftgate handle at this point.
4. Provisionally install the liftgate handle using two retaining nuts.
3/5-door and wagon only
5. Mask the areas above and to the side of the liftgate handle using adhesive tape.
? Remove the liftgate handle and thoroughly clean the application area.
6. Spray the area below the masked off area with mixed liquid consisting of 70% water and 30% isopropanol.
7. Remove the protective film (see Parts Required) from the carrier film.
Note: The film can be correctly aligned after it has been placed on the body panel, as long as the application area remains wet.
8. Apply the protective film below the masked off area.
? Press the left-hand and right-hand parts into place and ensure that the edges of the film adhere properly (left-hand part shown).
9. Carefully remove any air bubbles and remaining liquid under the protective film by applying gentle pressure.
Wagon only
10. Remove the perforated area of the protective film for the lock cylinder.
4-door only
11. Mask the areas above, below and to the side of the liftgate handle using adhesive tape. Remove the liftgate handle and thoroughly clean the application area.
12. Spray the area within the masked off area with mixed liquid consisting of 70% water and 30% isopropanol.
13. Remove the protective film (see Parts Required) from the carrier film.
Note: The film can be correctly aligned after it has been placed on the body panel, as long as the application area remains wet.
14. Apply the protective film within the masked off area. Press the left-hand, right-hand, lower and middle parts into place and ensure that the edges of the film adhere properly.
15. Carefully remove any air bubbles and remaining liquid under the protective film by applying gentle pressure.
All vehicles
16. Remove the adhesive tape and allow the protective film to dry for about 30 minutes.
Note: Make sure that the protective film is properly affixed at the corner areas.
17. Carefully remove the upper detachable film (milky coloured film) from the protective film.
18. Install the liftgate handle.
? On vehicles built up to 04.2000 (build code YG), install a new liftgate handle (see Parts Required).
? On vehicles built from 05.2000 (build code YC), re-install the liftgate handle removed earlier, using a new liftgate handle seal (see Parts Required).
19. Install the tailgate trim panel.
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Could you be a bit more specific next time please Charles.
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I just love the way that Ford downgrade any sort of complaint into "customer expressing concern". There should be a law against this!
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If Focuses of this vintage are prone to rust on the tailgate, aren't you going to end up with a car that looks as though it has had a bad attack of acne - no matter how careful you are, the rust will reappear?
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Well the way I see it, if I get the tailgate sorted, it will only be about 4 years before it happens again - if it does at all. From what I gather from the Ford Bulletin that Charles posted, they seem to have a way of stopping it from happening by putting film on or something . It should be noted, it isn't the Tailgate in general, it just happens on the Ghia's with the chrome handle.
My next question is, let's say I have a bout of mental illness and decide to take it to Ford. They're going to know what I'm on about as soon as I mention tailgate, chrome and Focus. How much do you reckon, ballpark figure, that it will cost for them to apply their 'fix'?
Cheers
Adam
Incidentally, no-one is going to talk me out of this car!
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I was trying to say.if the car/body has been checked for any problems.ie during service and has been noted on service book as having a body prob
it should be covered under warranty.if the checks have not been recorded then it wont apply.but then that wont be your fault.
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Sort of an UPDATE.
I finally took it in to Ford today. I mentioned the service bulletin (but as it was a spur of the moment thing I never checked the exact number). They looked at me as though I'd found out a trade secret or something like that.
"Noooo. Never heard of that one"
Yeah - sure
Anyway, the long and short of it is, I'm going in on Tuesday to the "Body Parts Specialist". I can't believe I'm going to Ford but after a cursory glance in Halfords and finding every gold other than mine, I think I have to. Champagne gold, moondust gold, gold gold, orangy gold, blue gold but not harvest gold.
Fantastic.
I'll let you know how I get on.
Cheers
Adam
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Agreed, rust on a 4 year old car that is supposed to have a 12 year anti rust policy is not on, have a zero tolerance approach to this and don't buy, after all, its a buyers market for focuses, theres plenty to choose from!!
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>>that is supposed to have a 12 year anti rust policy>>
Ford warranty policy is:
In addition to the normal warranty, the bodyshell of your Ford is covered against rust-through from the inside for 6 years (New Fiesta, Mondeo and Focus - 12 years) from the date you take delivery.
Within this period the full cost of any repair will be met by Ford. Annual body and paint checks must be carried out in accordance with Ford repair standards on your vehicle in order to maintain the Perforation Warranty. Surface rusting or contamination due to any external factor, such as stone chips or bird droppings, is not included.
In other words, exterior rust is not covered.
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>>that is supposed to have a 12 year anti rust policy>> Ford warranty policy is: In addition to the normal warranty, the bodyshell of your Ford is covered against rust-through from the inside for 6 years (New Fiesta, Mondeo and Focus - 12 years) from the date you take delivery. Within this period the full cost of any repair will be met by Ford. Annual body and paint checks must be carried out in accordance with Ford repair standards on your vehicle in order to maintain the Perforation Warranty. Surface rusting or contamination due to any external factor, such as stone chips or bird droppings, is not included. In other words, exterior rust is not covered.
It is not due to any external factor though, it is caused by a feature of the bodywork. Without this feature, it would not occur.
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"Noooo. Never heard of that one"
Yeah - sure
Perhaps there is another explanation?
Of the dealers I have seen, I can't imagine any one of them has the procedures or management in place to ensure that everyone who should see the technical bulletins has an opportunity to do so. In all too many garages, the service 'manager' will simply file them away neatly when they arrive. In fact, I have seen some 'managers' who prefer to keep them, so that they 'know' more than the staff they 'manage'.
It is also the rare mechanic who will take the time (and lose potential bonus) to seek the bulletins out.
number_cruncher
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Yes N_C. You are right; I suppose I jumped the gun a little.
Being fair, one of the many people I spoke to said he wouldn't know as he doesn't deal with it. It was the attitude of one of the men I spoke to about it as though "why the hell should you know about TSB's)
It may interest you to read a post about a very unpleasant experience I had with central locking, Ford and a credit card and you'll understand my inherent distrust of Henry's company.
Adam
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"I can't believe I'm going to Ford but after a cursory glance in Halfords and finding every gold other than mine, I think I have to. Champagne gold, moondust gold, gold gold, orangy gold, blue gold but not harvest gold."
Did you look under "beige" ??????!!!!!
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