Purchased a Focus

[eXtremist]

Hey guys,
I recently purchased a 2006 Ford Focus LS LX with 1,760kms from a friend who got into an accident with it which looks like it went rallying into a muddy ditch, half of the front bumper is non-existent,the radiator support is bent, the radiator is cracked, and the condenser is cracked, and the automatic oil cooler is fine.

The thing that I am ****ed off about is the air bags, they have deployed and the chassis was not hit. Does anyone know where the air bag sensors are?

Do you think the car will still have warranty on it, even if the the dealer finds out that the car was in an accident?

Does anyone know any wreckers that sell cheap ford parts.

I'm also wondering if anyone knows where I can get an online workshop manual.

[Marshy79]

Well...

The car is under new car warranty even though its been in an accident as long as the repairs were repaired properly.

Unless of course the insurance company has deemed it a write off? That would make a difference I am sure.

When you buy a secondhand "new" car you transfer the warranty to the next person... there should be a form in your owners manual to do so.

Sounds like one expensive project though!

[eXtremist]

Yea, its going to be expensive, the air bag ripped a hole in the dash because its integrated, so I'll need the top half of the dash.

I might buy a half cut and sell everything I don't need.

How do I know if its been through the insurance?

Insurance companies give the car a statutory write-off if the airbags go off, regardless of exterior damage... Meaning its cheaper to replace the car than it is to replace the airbags.

Airbag sensors I thought was a G-force meter in the ECU.

[b2tf]

Originally Posted by BlackLS

Insurance companies give the car a statutory write-off if the airbags go off, regardless of exterior damage... Meaning its cheaper to replace the car than it is to replace the airbags.

Not always true.

Re warranty, check your warranty book but from memory if the car is deemed a write off, your warranty is gone. If not, it should still be there but you'll face an uphill battle wth any claim - can almost guarantee theyll blame it on the hit.

Originally Posted by b2tf

Not always true.

True, not with every car, but it seem most LSs with airbags gone off but with minimal other damage(ie front bar ripped off, bonnet creased) seem to end up at salvage auctions.

Your best bet is to get a Focus with rear end structual write off, that has a perfect front end including airbags. Have a look at Pickles and Fowles auctions (they have websites)

Just swap everything over (and donate the engine to me to work it for NA powah)

Seriously, if your in Sydney I would come help you with this.

No workshop manuals except from Ford. And they charge a pretty penny.

[eXtremist]

Originally Posted by BlackLS

Airbag sensors I thought was a G-force meter in the ECU.

What about if you had sticky tyres and a really good braking system?

I'd love your help, but you ain't getting the engine if I do get a focus with a damaged rear

Originally Posted by BlackLS

No workshop manuals except from Ford. And they charge a pretty penny.

This pretty penny you talk about sounds expensive!

Originally Posted by eXtremist

What about if you had sticky tyres and a really good braking system?

I'd love your help, but you ain't getting the engine if I do get a focus with a damaged rear



This pretty penny you talk about sounds expensive!

If it could get 0-50g's in a fraction of a second then yeah... space shuttle pilots are subdue to about 4g's during lift off.

[Zetec20]

eXtremist i can get the manuals cheap PM me if u need one

[eXtremist]

Zetec20, please clear some messages in your inbox, it says its full.

[Zetec20]

Originally Posted by eXtremist

Zetec20, please clear some messages in your inbox, it says its full.

my bad, all done

[photn]

lol Manuals from ford....Bahahahahah thats a contradicting statement....but yer anyway....for a Fez one from ford which includes part numbers and what not its 550 or sumthing rather....so should be around the same price range ish i thnk

[twistedfirey]

eXtremist...you will find the airbag sensors were in the front bumber that got ripped off... the airbags will be about $2000 each to replace not including a new dash and the rest of the damage... I wouldn't expect a dealer to warranty anything after an accident and write off...Good luck with it, sounds like a lot of work and dollars to get back to normal...I hope your chassis isn't bent either.

[eXtremist]

Originally Posted by twistedfirey

eXtremist...you will find the airbag sensors were in the front bumber that got ripped off... the airbags will be about $2000 each to replace not including a new dash and the rest of the damage... I wouldn't expect a dealer to warranty anything after an accident and write off...Good luck with it, sounds like a lot of work and dollars to get back to normal...I hope your chassis isn't bent either.

The only wiring that went to the front bumper are the ones for the fog lights.

[Piotr]

Airbags have several sensors which are accelerometers so it depends what you hit and where that determines if the airbags go off. If you get T-Bones front airbags won't go off, if you get rear ended they won't go off. Only if front accidents to a max of around 30degrees do the front airbags go off. Rollover will not deploy the frontal airbag.

If you hit some shrubs at high speed chances are the airbag won't go off becuase the acceleration will be slow while a concrete wall at the low speed may set them off because acceleration will be much faster.

[zetec]

Why the hell wasn't it covered by insurance in the first place? Must have been a write off because if it had been insured, no matter who's fault, it should have been covered...

Warranty I would say is only valid if the car wasn't written off and if it is repaired under qualified hands using new genuine ford factory parts.

[Marshy79]

Dont like the chances of finding a write off due to a rear end accident either...

I had the same issue with I hit a taxi head on with my fireblade motorbike. Who normally drives around backwards :oP

A rear end accident is normally fairly minimal. But good luck with it anyways!

[eXtremist]

I found something behind the reinforcement bar, its really really small, and it ain't touched, unless its the outside temperature sensor??

[mitch_lx]

Sorry mate. i dont understand. you BOUGHT this car in this condition from a friend?

i seriously dont understand?

[eXtremist]

He only had third party, and it was his fault, hence he wasn't covered.

He was quoted something like $6000 for the airbags, so he decided to sell it because it wasn't worth fixing.

What's so hard to understand?

[zetec]

What's so hard to understand... is what kind of utter damn foool buys a $25,000 car and doesn't have insurance. I'm sorry, but that's the stupidest thing I EVER heard, it's begging for trouble, not just asking for it.

A $3,000 car I understand, but for crying out loud, a $25,000 car!!!!!

[mitch_lx]

But you bought it and now you're stuck having to repair it?

He better have given it to you for like 10 grand or something.

[eXtremist]

I wish he did.

I've found the parts for cheap, so this car should be on the road soon enough!

[More revs]

Leave the airbags out and build a dash outa sheet aluminium. Weld in a cage, tidy up the bodywork and register it under rally reago and you will have a fun little rally car for club events...

They go hard enuf standard for this purpose.

[eXtremist]

There is no way in hell I am making an automatic 2006 model car with 2,000kms a rally car!

[pertuan]

I'm wondering how much this project will cost you all up.

[eXtremist]

I wont be disclosing prices, but I am 150% sure it wont exceed $20,000.

EDIT: A word of advice, never let your dad touch your car, my dad thought it was smart to remove the radiator fan and clean it with water, but what is behind that?

The radiator fan module, and now that's dead.

Good one! :

[Marshy79]

Umm.... 20grand? I guess thats "tops"... but hell!

How much would a brand spanker cost people?

Cause I know I'd be turning down a car thats been in a decent accident but repaired... selling around the 20grand mark when you could just buy a brand new one, never had a stone chip for 24g's.

Buuuuuuuuut.... there is always fun to be had with projects.

[eXtremist]

Originally Posted by Marshy79

Umm.... 20grand? I guess thats "tops"

Meh.. No one wins with cars.