02' Focus SOHC valve seat question

[skyactiv]

A co-worker has a 2002 Ford Focus with a SOHC engine for sale. He bought the car since new, just bought a new car and wants to sell the Focus. The Focus has 114K on it and is in very good shape for being an older car. It runs good but he says the cylinder head MUST be replaced with a revised one or the valve seat will drop ruining the engine. As such, he's willing to sell the car for $1000 firm. I'm a semi mechanic and would have no difficulty putting a new head on this car. BUT, what is the real world failure rate of these engines dropping a valve seat? One out of five, one in ten or do they all pretty much do it eventually?

 

[wander2039]

127k on ours and no issues. Go over to Focus fanatics and do some reading. Not all drop, most are due temp issues.. Overheating. I've replaced the temp sensor and bypassed the egr which our common causes. Just going to roll it till it happens. If the body is in good shape and everything is in good shape that's a good deal. I'd check the front springs also, they're known to have snapped springs.

 

[JamesBond]

I have a 97 escort with the 2.0 SPI 125k mi. So far so good on the original head. If the rest of the car is nice, it may be worth doing the head preemptively.

I've heard things like sea foam intake cleaning, running it hard before its warmed up and neglecting the cooling system can contribute to valve seat drop. Lots of info feoa.com.

 

[krismoriah72]

Here is a 2002 focus with a bad head, needs two pistons and the transmission was 'remanned' for $1500

http://www.ebay.com/itm/2002-Ford-Focus-SE-/222025818542?hash=item33b1c521ae:g:nZkAAOSwx-9Ww0Kn&vxp=mtr

$1K seems like a good deal.

 

[SwampSurvivor]

When is the timing belt due? I'd just bypass the EGR (if you can do so and pass inspection), keep it from overheating and just run this head until the timing belt change is due.

 

[skyactiv]

Originally Posted By: Miller88
When is the timing belt due? I'd just bypass the EGR (if you can do so and pass inspection), keep it from overheating and just run this head until the timing belt change is due.


He already changed the timing belt and water pump at 100K

 

[wander2039]

Originally Posted By: skyactiv
Originally Posted By: Miller88
When is the timing belt due? I'd just bypass the EGR (if you can do so and pass inspection), keep it from overheating and just run this head until the timing belt change is due.


He already changed the timing belt and water pump at 100K


Those 2 are worth 350-400 alone. My Focus passed with the egr bypass.