Minnesota Focus Owners Club

My fiancé and I are looking at a 2004 focus 5 door. My question is does it really have a 2.3 like advertised? There are no engine pics so I have no other way of telling until we go look at the car. Also is there anything we need to watch out for with these cars? I used to own a zx2 and I do most of my own work so i am familer with cars just not these. Any other thoughts would be great.

thanks all
Jon

Hey Jon

A 2.3 Duratec in a 2004 zx5 is a very rare combination. The only way to really tell is to pop the hood. The duratec is a more reliable engine then the zetec that was probably in you escort. Good luck with the purchase!

Jon

I am not familer with the duratec, More so the zetec. Anything special I should look out for(i.e. on the zx2 you always look at pcv elbows and timing belts.)

I think the timing belt is an important thing universally for the focus, especially the SVT. I'm a zetec guy so I dont know too much about the duratecs, I dont know they respond well to bolt on mods. Much more so then the zetec, but I don't think you plan on modding this car amiright?

Depends on what the wife to be says lol. I am thinking cosmetic stuff to start but see what money allows. Right off the bat no mods.

I thought the 2.3 was only in the zx3 in 03 and 04?

We are going to look at the car tomorrow. If we get the car I will post pics.

lox222 wrote:I thought the 2.3 was only in the zx3 in 03 and 04?

Thats why I was asking????

Nope, they put it in a very few amount of zx5s

i always thought 00-04 was zetec only and 05-07 was duratec.. o well

awesome well that makes me more excited to go look at the car then. Thanks guys!

Don't be afraid of the ZETEC. It's a solid engine. My kids got 210,000 mi. on his. Uses a half of quart at 5000mi oil change intervals. Still running the original clutch. The only major work done to the car was between 180k and 200k we replaced both half shafts struts and shocks. The Focus is an amazing platform compared to anything else in it's price class.

The 2.3 was first offered in the 2003 ZX3 and then expanded to other models after that, the Duratec has a timing chain, not a belt.

good to know. Anyway to check that? I am not afraid of the zetec just the past two I have owned have blown head gaskets at around 100k. It will be nice to have a car with some aftermarket support compared to a zx2.

For me I have played around with the zetec, svt zetec and I now own a duratec I do like the duratec. If done right it can be a very fun car to drive with some simple mods and a little tune.