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regards hud :)
The incentives are needed, however, since you are paying almost the same exact price for much less features (ex, anti-theft, remote keyless entry, power locks, power windows, etc). I walked out of the Ford dealership with 11,500 to pay. Not too bad for a much better automobile.
All GM did was change grilles and taillight panels on the 2003 J cars. No "new body styles" at all!
I'm glad the ZX2 is around at least one more year.
Also surprised at the near perfect level of fit and finish as well. The factory at Lordstown finally got their act together. Perfect paint, panel fit and interior plus NO squeeks, rattles or leaks (yet). The pix of the re-skinned 2003 Sunfire are VERY nice. Too bad it will only be built for a year before they start all over again in 2004 with the euro platform thing.
by the way my son had a ZX2 (1999) he loved the thing, put 88K on it, no probs. Fell in love with a Mazda Proto5. Nice car as well but pricy.
regards HUD :)
I've seen the pics of the 2003 as well, and they are MUCH easier on the eye than previous models. You mention the ZX2's engine being rough at idle, but I don't notice anything too unusal, probably because my old Honda Accord's idle was extremely high (you almost wanted to put on the emergency break at a stop light just to make sure the car wouldn't take off...it had a mind of its own).
Not slamming the Sunfires, as they have come a long way, but I just feel they have a longer way to go. ZX2's aren't perfect either, well...for me they are. I love the damn things. LOL
The only other drawback I found in the ZX2 was the gearing. It really needs a taller 5th gear or better yet a six speed. 95% of my personal driving is interstate and that 'lil 2.0 winding away at way over 3k rpm @70 mph on the other side of the firewall gets a little tiresome. It really needs a higher gear to slow it down.
enjoy your car you'll love it.
hud :)
Ford Start
very trouble free, but I'm having a problem.
I get in, turn the key to start the car and
I hear a click and that's it. I turned the
key a few more time and samething.
I open up the hood and look around, leave
for about 10 min. Come back and it starts.
This happened 2 times in the last month.
Any guesses on what the problem could be?
Not sure, considering I don't know much about the ZX2 engine or ignition components, but it sounds like the early stages of a problem with an electronic ignition module, or your ignition module ignitor (same thing, as it goes my tons of names). I had one go out on my older car, and I needed a small fortune to fix it (when you're in college, everything is a small fortune if you need to buy something).
Hope it's something less expensive!
There will be a 2003 ZX2 and maybe a 2004. The front face is changed to a real grille. 15" wheels are standard, along with a CD player.
Edmunds has pricing information already.
65000 miles and no trouble except for rough idle which seems to be a common problem. Can anyone tell me the torque on the 2 bolts on the brake calipers that i removed to change the pads?
thanks.
http://community.webshots.com/album/51644644CenePh
1. Replace the pads diligently. Otherwise, you're looking at about $700 to do the front calipers and rotors. The way the calipers are designed, if the pads go down too far, then the caliper piston comes out too far and the caliper is toast.
2. Replace the timing belt before 100k miles. You might want to consider replacing the water pump too as it has to be removed to do the timing belt and it will save you labor costs.
3. When you replace the timing belt, I highly highly highly (see a pattern?) suggest you replace the VCT sensor as well. I just had my timing belt done two months ago for $700 (including the water pump). Well on Friday I had the VCT sensor go out and the timing belt has to be taken off to get the VCT sensor swapped out. So that's another $830 ...
Feel free to email me at dcar85@aol.com with any questions. I infrequently check this board.
2002 with the $3000 back incentive for the same car as the 2003 with a different face is such an awesome deal. Too bad I bought my 2002 in June! Damn me!
I had my timing belt replaced at 100k miles. All went well for two months after that. Last Friday, the 11th, I was driving along and the car started hesitating and then cut out. Fortunately I was able to make it to a service station.
The car would not idle and would cut out when put in gear, no matter how much the accelerator was pushed down. So I called a tow truck and brought it in.
Upon diagnosis, here's what they found:
1. The timing belt guide pullies had melted due to one or both pully bearings seizing up.
2. The Timing belt tensioner was replaced because the tension on the belt was not correct (apparently).
3. The two-month old belt was replaced.
4. The oil control solenoid was bad. You can't see it on the big diagram I made, but I included it here:
Total charges with towing and labor: $1173. When you get your timing belt changed, I'd highly recommend that they replace the pullies at the same time so that this doesn't happen to you. Most of the charge was the labor costs.
I'm getting a good friend that's a mechanic to do a post-mortem for me and see if what I was told is legit. I will keep everyone up-to-date.
Big bucks for a "econobox" belt job.
HUD :)
Thanks for the information ... I'm going back to the original dealer tomorrow to find out what is going on with these pullies. I'm not too happy about the whole thing.
The Ford dealer offers an extended warranty called ExtraCare that basically covers the works, I think, including most electrical components. (For a cost of $1350, this will take me to 5 years, 100,000 miles, which I estimate I will have reached by the end of my fifth year of ownership.)
Ford Motor's BaseCare is also available for a few hundred dollars less, I think, but that mode of coverage doesn't include the "High Tech" electrical components such as power doors and windows, keyless entry, and speed control.
Actually, I ought to point out that these are not really extended WARRANTIES, and instead are actually entitled Extended Purchase Plans, because there is a $50.00 deductible per service/ incident which must be paid.
Edmunds doesn't mention much about "Extended Warranties" outside of a brief paragraph above a referral to one of its partners, so I don't know whether "extended warranties" are typically worth it, if they're likely to be worth it in the case of the ZX2 particularly, or if this seems like a good price for the protection it's offering to afford me. And is having the plan backed by Ford directly worth whatever premium I might be paying by purchasing from Ford directly, rather than by buying an extended "warranty" from an outside company?
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks!
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Where can I find a copy of this bulletin. My daughter has a 99 zx2 with 62000 miles. It runs great but I hate the way it idles when its in gear.
thanks kevin
believer
Thanks
Kris
It's considerably snazzier than the 4 drs too (one reminded me of a "grandma car"). The 6 CD changer is a nice feature and other than the engine vibrations which are well documented in this forum I have no gripes (I have not owned a 4 cyl FWD car since an 87 cutlass ciera so how I forget those 4 bangers shake!).
I was able to spot the oil filter behind the alternator as a bit of a challenge, but other than that most service has been done. The former owner did not change the timing belt so I am assuming that along with water pump and while at it new antifreeze would be a good summer 100Kmi project. Any other thoughts from readers on things to watch for?
Ideally we'd like this one to get the kid through 4 years of college up to 140K miles.