Cyprus-Forum.com

[Mikros]

Cool, I used to have the 1996 model diesel van 1.8 as a company car in the old days. They are the most reliable vans you can find around... no a/c though, but since they were also sold in the UK, it will be easier to get rid of it. see






What's Good
Same size as before with new front. Zippy 74bhp 1.25 and 89bhp 1.4 Zetec 'S' engines. Nice power steering. Vastly improved chassis offering excellent ride, handling and roadholding. Good fun to drive. Came out well in NCAP crash tests. Favourable insurance ratings due to reduced damageability and improved repairability. BMW, Toyota and Ford jointly suffered the fewest breakdowns attended by German ADAC during 2001. Ford had 7th lowest average warranty repair costs in 2003 Warranty Direct Reliability index (index 65.51 v/s lowest 31.93) Rated average for problems and faults and fewest breakdowns in 2003 Which survey. Ford 4th top top of Reliability Index for 2004 combining very low average cost of repair of £207.58 with average 32.16 failures per 100 Warranty Direct policies. Link:- www.reliabilityindex.co.uk

Fiesta (1995 to 1999)
What's Bad
1.3 'Endura' pushrod engines starting to show their age. Cabin lower and not as roomy as Punto, Ibiza, Polo. Water ingress via ventilation system can sjhort out ECU. Starting to get reports of piston ring failures on 1.4 Zetec 'S' engines. The oil burned as a result may also wreck the catalytic converter. On Endura 1.3 pushrod engines Spark plugs may either have corroded into the head or been over tightened (taper fit) which means head removal to drill them out. Report with photographic evidence of cam follower wear on 1.3 pushrod engine. The pins which hold the foot pedals in place may fall out, leaving the driver unable to brake or declutch. Tend to get through front discs and pads very rapidly. Either replace front pads at 18,000 - 20,000 miles or expect to have to replace discs every 25,000 miles. May simply need calliper pins cleaning and lubricating. Reports of alloy wheels of Ghia model cracking at 6 years old in 2002. Can be problems with doorlocks. Zetec S 1.25, 1.4 and 1.6 engines may have been filled with wrong oil (MUST be 5W-30). Wrong oil leads to sticking valves, blocked arteries and oil starvation problems. Lack of use can lead to failure of coil springs.
What to Watch Out For
Have been a number of recalls. Double recall over front brake pipes because original recall failed to remedy the problem. Make sure these have been carried out. A wet carpet may mean failure of the bulkhead sealant (fairly easily re-sealed). Check for high oil consumption, smokey exhaust on 1.4/1.6 Zetec S from wrong oil having been used. Check front discs if you can and budget for replacement. If 1300 pushrod engine is tappety it probably needs a new set of cam followers, which isn't a quick and easy job on a pushrod engine. Since 95MY handling improvements, front suspension bushes have been prone to wear so if the front suspension clonks this is probably why. Tips from Madff in The Backroom: Do several reverses/forwards on full lock both ways to check driveshafts/bushes. Drive over rough roads to see suspension has no clonks. Accelerate hard in 2 and 3 to 6,000 rpm.(when engine warm) Engine should be very smooth and responsive. ANY misfire - walk away as could be plugs/ leads or valves etc. Rust round rear wheel arch/petrol cap (bad!) and especially passenger side 'B' post in front of rear door. Rust behind rubber seals on front door apertures: on top and going down windscreen side. Rust in door seams. Peer underneath with a torch - many can be very rusty due to neglect/salt. Spare wheel tray can and does rust.. examine carefully plus spare wheel. Check for exhaust rust and recent MOT to see emissions ok (read report). A new cat is £££.
Leaking suspension struts and clonks on rough roads due to rubber bushes wearing. Check antifreeze is clean and red - no oil. Check radiator for leaks or oozing antifreeze. Engine must be cold when testing it. If it is warm, leave for at least 30 minutes for all oil to drain away and then start it up with bonnet open. Any rattles means wear- walk away. If oil is very black/thick and no service history - likely bearing/cam damage.. = new engine. If serviced by non-Ford garage person, try to find what type of oil used. Ford use 5/30 - a 20/50 is NOT suitable and will lead to cam wear at start/sticking valves or both. DO NOT buy if wrong oils have been used. Some clutch noise (release bearing) at idle is common. Should go when in gear. Any noises when on move from gearbox? Run away. Water leaks in passenger side due to faulty door seals or from incorrectly sealed bulkhead (bulkhead can be re-sealed). Check rear wiper and heated rear window work as cables can snag. Watch for kerbed wheels or alloys. Check for failed rear damper top mounts as they seem to fail regularly after 6 - 7 years.



Recalls
1995 (VIN SE): Brake lights may not work. 1995 diesel (VIN SY, SS, ST): Brake vacuum pump may not create enough vacuum for servo. 1996 (Fiesta and Courier van, 1996 model year; 47,500 cars): Check for faulty piston seal in hydraulic clutch master cylinder. Check for contamination of brake fluid and incorrect front brake hose routing. 1997 (5-door models built Oct '95-May '96): may have faulty rear door latches. Also TSB 107 concerning complaints about noisy alternator drive-belt of diesel model causing battery discharge. Modified parts to be fitted (was not always done). 1998 (July 1995-June 1996 build-67,000 cars): Possibility of brake failure due to front brake pipe chafing on bracket. Modified pipe and bracket to be fitted to both front brakes. (Repeat brake pipe recall announced on radio 12/2/98). Fiestas with ABS (Mar '98-Sep '98): Brake master cylinder may fail. Fiestas with passenger airbags built Aug '96-Feb '97: passenger airbag may go off while car is stationary. 12-8-2002: Airbag warning light may fail to indicate fault with impact triggers. Airbag ECU to be replaced. 11,360 Fiestas affected.

and 2000- 2002
New face to old favourite. 104 bhp Zetec S 1.6 is fun and makes this a good substitute for the old Peugeot 205GTi. Drives as well as the previous version, with really sharp handling. 74bhp turbodiesel from Ovtober 2000. Reasonable Three-Star rating in Euro NCAP crash tests. BMW, Toyota and Ford jointly suffered the fewest breakdowns attended by German ADAC during 2001. Ford had 7th lowest average warranty repair costs in 2003 Warranty Direct Reliability index (index 65.51 v/s lowest 31.93) Rated average for breakdowns and fewest problems and faults in 2003 Which survey. Ford 4th top top of Reliability Index for 2004 combining very low average cost of repair of £207.58 with average 32.16 failures per 100 Warranty Direct policies. Link:- www.reliabilityindex.co.uk
What's Bad
An old favourite, as basic bodyshell dates back to 1989, and was replaced by new model in 2002. Not much more than a '2+2'. De-motivated workforce, all facing redundancy at Dagenham plant for final year's production 2000-2002. (New Fiesta to built at Cologne.)The pins which hold the foot pedals in place may fall out, leaving the driver unable to brake or declutch. Several reports that the 1.25 engine has become much coarser in this latest version, apparently due to changes to meet the latest emissions regulations. On Endura 1.3 pushrod engines Spark plugs may either have corroded into the head or been over tightened (taper fit) which means head removal to drill them out. Further brake failures have occurred and front discs don't seem to last for long. Rated one of the most expensive superminis to run in 2003 Which survey. Possible heater problem with 1.25 Flights.
What to Watch Out For
See 1995-1999 Fiesta. Since 1995 handling improvements, front suspension bushes have been prone to wear so if the front suspension clonks this is probably why. Look for corrosion behind weatherstrip over drip rail on the A pillar inside the front door aperture.
Recalls
See Fiesta 1995 - 1999. 12-8-2002: Airbag warning light may fail to indicate fault with impact triggers. Airbag ECU to be replaced. 11,360 Fiestas affected.

[Leyland]

The main problem was not customs, it was the dock authoritises. I could not get my car on the ferry until I had paid C£5 at a desk on the ramp! The loading was so fast that I had to get out of my car through the sunroof! It turns out that the chit I got from the ramp was needed to hand to customs at Pireaus. I could not get out of the docks without getting a stamp from them, to hand to the gate. (Bit of a con I think, I reckon a fast buck was being made somewhere).

The car was no problems at all until I got to Dover. I had to declare the car at Eastern Docks, and I came in at Western Docks. It seemed stupid to drive through Dover to do this but off I went.

When I spoke to customs they said that all this should have been done in Pireaus, (port of entry into the EEC). You would probably not need to do this now but check.

Fill up with petrol/Diesel before you get on the ferry, it is expensive in Italy. Try to get to France without putting too much fuel in the car. When you are France get your fuel from the supermarkets you find just outside the larger towns, (Mammoths etc). These tend to be in trading estates.

If you are heading to Calais park up outside the terminals and check the prices, they vary quite a lot.

There was a travel agency in Erimi or Episkopi village, (can't remember which one), between Episkopi and Kolosi, that used to arrange all of the trips for you. It may be there.

[*DeathStar*]

The main problem was not customs, it was the dock authoritises. I could not get my car on the ferry until I had paid C£5 at a desk on the ramp! The loading was so fast that I had to get out of my car through the sunroof! It turns out that the chit I got from the ramp was needed to hand to customs at Pireaus. I could not get out of the docks without getting a stamp from them, to hand to the gate. (Bit of a con I think, I reckon a fast buck was being made somewhere).

The car was no problems at all until I got to Dover. I had to declare the car at Eastern Docks, and I came in at Western Docks. It seemed stupid to drive through Dover to do this but off I went.

When I spoke to customs they said that all this should have been done in Pireaus, (port of entry into the EEC). You would probably not need to do this now but check.

Fill up with petrol/Diesel before you get on the ferry, it is expensive in Italy. Try to get to France without putting too much fuel in the car. When you are France get your fuel from the supermarkets you find just outside the larger towns, (Mammoths etc). These tend to be in trading estates.

If you are heading to Calais park up outside the terminals and check the prices, they vary quite a lot.

There was a travel agency in Erimi or Episkopi village, (can't remember which one), between Episkopi and Kolosi, that used to arrange all of the trips for you. It may be there.

Once again. Excellent advice.

however. im having REAL issues getting a boat out of cyprus


i belive there not running till june ?