RESTORING OUR WRECKED 150,000 MILE MK2 FOCUS RS (PART 15)

Summary

The video follows a car enthusiast as he continues modifying his Ford Focus RS. After spending a fortune on upgrades, it still has some issues, but viewers have been supportive. He receives a free boost solenoid part to fix the boost problem. He shows how to install it, although struggles at first. He takes the car to the track with a friend to test it out. The boost issue persists, so he realizes he installed the solenoid incorrectly before fixing it. He then gets the dirty exterior of the car professionally detailed. With the car running well, he decides to take it on a track day in the rain to have some fun driving it.

Takeaways

• 😀 The video focuses on modifying and enjoying a Ford Focus RS.
• 🚗 Many upgrades and repairs have been done to the Focus RS.
• 🔧 The boost solenoid was replaced to try to fix a boost issue.
• 👨‍🔧 The brakes were upgraded and work very well.
• 🚘 The Focus RS is fun but unpredictable to drive.
• 🌧️ Wet weather makes the Focus RS oversteer more.
• 🏎️ The Focus RS goes on a track day at Alton Park.
• 💵 A Porsche GT3 also attends the track day.
• 🏁 Track conditions are tricky due to rain.
• 😀 The instructor enjoys driving the modified Focus RS.

Q & A

What modifications and repairs has the owner done to the Ford Focus RS?

The owner has spent an 'absolute fortune' modifying the Focus RS including fixing the suspension and bushes, upgrading the turbo on the Yaris, fixing the RS4's oil leak, and more. He's replaced the boost solenoid to try to fix a boost issue.

Where did the owner take the Focus RS on a recent road trip?

The owner took the Focus RS on a 1500 mile road trip to Germany where it developed a weird fault with the boost.

What parts has the owner received for free for the Focus RS?

The owner received a replacement boost solenoid for free from Lee Kemp to fix the boost issue the car developed in Germany.

What professional detailer did the owner bring in to clean the Focus RS?

The owner brought in professional detailer James from Valet Magic to thoroughly clean the dirty Focus RS.

What discount code did the detailer James offer?

James offered a 100% off discount code 'evilgt10' for Valet Magic products.

Where did the owner take the Focus RS for a track day?

The owner took the Focus RS to Javelin at MSV's Oulton Park circuit for a £109 track day.

Why wasn't the owner's friend able to take his Porsche GT3 on the track?

The friend wasn't able to take his £200,000 Porsche GT3 on the wet track because the cup tires weren't suitable for the rainy conditions.

How did the Focus RS perform on the track?

The owner said the front-wheel drive Focus RS performed well, with predictable oversteer and rotation due to its power.

What improvements is the owner considering for the Focus RS?

The owner is considering blue pinstripe seatbelt webbing to match the interior accents and upgrading the headlights at EM Tuning.

Who helped instruct the owner on the track?

Circuit instructor St from Oulton Park helped instruct the owner on the track in the Focus RS.

Outlines

00:00

🛠 Fixing the Focus RS boost issue and upgrading tools

Paragraph 1 discusses fixing an intermittent boost issue on the Focus RS after installing a new boost solenoid. Also shows upgrading tools like ratchets and wrenches for working on the car.

05:01

🏎 Driving the unpredictable but fun Focus RS

Paragraph 2 describes driving the Focus RS after fixing the boost issue. The car is fun to drive but unpredictable with lots of oversteer.

10:01

🏁 Lee's Porsche GT3 on a wet track day vs the Focus RS

Paragraph 3 is about a track day in wet conditions with Lee's Porsche GT3 and the Focus RS. The GT3 performs well despite the weather but has to be driven carefully.

Keywords

💡Focus RS

The Focus RS is a high-performance version of the Ford Focus compact car, known for its powerful engine, advanced handling capabilities, and sporty design. In the video script, significant investments and modifications have been made to the Focus RS, highlighting its central role. The narrator discusses the extensive work and costs involved in enhancing the car's performance and appearance, illustrating the dedication to maximizing its capabilities.

💡Boost solenoid

A boost solenoid is a part of a car's turbocharging system that controls the flow of air pressure to the turbo, influencing its speed and consequently the engine's boost level. In the video, the Focus RS develops a fault related to the boost, suspected to be caused by a faulty boost solenoid. The part is replaced free of charge by a supporter, which signifies the community support and troubleshooting aspects of car modification culture.

💡Road trip to Germany

The road trip to Germany mentioned in the video illustrates an adventure where the Focus RS was tested over a long distance, covering 1500 miles. This journey not only served as a practical test of the car's performance and reliability but also led to the discovery of the boost issue. It reflects the real-world experiences and challenges enthusiasts face when pushing their vehicles to the limit.

💡Winter refresh

The term 'winter refresh' refers to the process of updating or modifying vehicles during the winter season, often when they are less frequently used. In the script, it is mentioned in the context of working on other projects alongside the Focus RS, like the Carlton and the Yaris, indicating a broader interest in automotive modifications and the continuous effort to enhance vehicle performance and aesthetics.

💡Track day

A track day is an event where car enthusiasts can bring their vehicles to a race track to drive at high speeds in a controlled environment. The script mentions organizing a track day to test the Focus RS's performance enhancements, emphasizing the desire to validate the car's improvements in a competitive and challenging setting. This highlights the community and experiential aspects of car culture.

💡Stubby ratchets

Stubby ratchets are short-handled ratcheting tools that allow for tightening or loosening bolts in confined spaces. In the video, the narrator discusses finding a good deal on these tools, underscoring the importance of having the right equipment for car maintenance and modifications, and the satisfaction derived from finding quality tools at reasonable prices.

💡Ceramic detailer

Ceramic detailer refers to a type of car care product that provides a protective, glossy coating to the vehicle's exterior. In the script, it is mentioned as part of a comprehensive cleaning and maintenance routine, demonstrating the attention to detail and care invested in keeping the Focus RS not only performing well but also looking great.

💡GT3

The GT3 is mentioned in the context of picking up another vehicle from the dealership, indicating the narrator's involvement with high-performance sports cars beyond the Focus RS. This reference helps to establish the narrator's broad interest in and experience with performance vehicles, contributing to their credibility and the depth of their automotive passion.

💡Boost issue

The boost issue refers to a problem with the Focus RS's turbocharging system, where it was not functioning correctly, affecting the car's performance. This problem serves as a central narrative challenge that the narrator seeks to diagnose and solve, illustrating the troubleshooting and mechanical skills involved in car modifications.

💡Seat belts webbing

Seat belts webbing with a blue pinstripe is discussed as a potential upgrade for the Focus RS, aimed at matching the car's interior aesthetic and enhancing its sporty appearance. This detail highlights the comprehensive approach to vehicle customization, where even minor elements are considered for improvement in pursuit of a cohesive and customized look.

Highlights

A lot of money has been spent modifying the Ford Focus RS

The car developed a boost issue on a recent long road trip

A viewer kindly sent a replacement boost solenoid for free

Other projects like the Carlton, Yaris, and RS4 are progressing

New tools were bought from Tu to work on the car

The boost solenoid was installed incorrectly at first

The brakes were upgraded and perform very well

A track day is organized to further test the capabilities of the car

The car's dirty exterior is cleaned and detailed extensively

Custom seat belt webbing and new headlights are considered

A Porsche GT3 is brought to the track day but deemed too wet to drive

Driving the Focus RS in the rain leads to fun, predictable oversteer

A heavily modified Fiesta takes some exhibition laps

The Porsche driver is eventually peer pressured into taking some laps

The instructor enjoys driving the Focus and drifting it on corner exits

Transcripts

an absolute Fortune has been spent on

the Focus RS it would take me way too

long to list everything that we've done

to this car so if you haven't already

I'll stick the playlist up in the corner

go and check it out but I do think that

you guys at home have been sympathizing

about the amount that's been spent on

this car because actually I've received

a part for free in the last video I took

this over to Germany on a road trip 1500

Mi and it was absolutely epic but it

developed a bit of a weird fault with

the Boost and a lot of you guys said

it's definitely the boost solenoid which

is this Badger here very kindly sent to

us by Lee Kemp very much appreciated

mate he didn't want any money for the

part or for postage I can't explain to

you how much things like this help so

thank you very much for that mate we're

going to get it fitted on the focus now

and hopefully sort that issue out

although I do have to say that since we

have been back from Germany this hasn't

done the Boost issue thing once but then

we've not been doing 400 m a day in it

either so it definitely needs changing

meanwhile the winter refresh is coming

along nicely for the Carlton the turbo

conversion is coming along nicely for

the Yaris and the RS4 is fixed minus the

oil leak which when I looked under it

yesterday is definitely getting

worse I'd be very surprised if I can

film any of the removal and

reinstallation of the new part here

because I can barely get me hands to it

so I'm just going to change this see in

two hours hey have you ever needed some

tools right and you thought I really

really could do without a specific tool

but I am absolutely not paying the

prices of some of the big boys and

that's because some of them prices can

lead into the hundreds and hundreds of

pounds and I've been after some stubby

ratchets for ages right and I found

these little badges on teu if you

haven't heard of teu before they offer

some really high quality items at some

very reasonable prices and just one of

these little things can be upwards of

like 60 70 80 but I got the full set for

£ 3250 but at that price I thought it

can't be any good surely that product

must be rubbish ever had a bolt that's

just too big for one socket and just too

small for another another I'm going to

team my new stubby ratchet up with this

this is a 7 to9 mil socket and it'll

literally fit anything in between teamed

up with my new stubby ratchet this

should be a

dole look at

that not only that I got some proper

heavy duty players but the best bit has

got to be this ever since I broke the

battery ratch here Ash has been winging

saying that he needed another one so I

got one and In fairness that last

battery ratch it didn't really have much

grunt anyway it was handy but it weren't

great this one on the other hand though

is a beast and at just over £77 with all

that saving it's an absolute bargain as

well now this isn't really designed to

do this kind of thing but I a buy it so

if I break it it doesn't really

matter wow and if you download the app

the shopping experience is brilliant and

there's some absolutely amazing deals to

be add on there too and if you use my

link and my code I'll put it in the

description there's even more Bargains

to be add so what on Earth are you

waiting for make sure you check out the

link in the description box below and

use the co- provider to get yourself

some absolute high quality Bargains this

stuff's going to come in handy for that

boo solenoid too out with the old and in

with the new I definitely wouldn't have

been able to show you that not that you

can see it but rooted up there is the

boo solenoid and everyday is a school

day what I actually did was put the

solenoid in position and then tried to

get the pipes on which was really

awkward what I should have done was put

the pipes

on you right there mate oh what I told

you to

do no you didn't did you they can't hear

you anyway you're muted I just turned it

on have you what you've turned it on I

turned it on and I was the on who come

and sorted it and I did take it back off

what Ash was there he was he's he treats

his garage as a spectator sport he was

there watching me struggle uh but what

actually happened was I should have put

the pipes on first and then fitted it on

the little bracket thing that it's on

hopefully now my dodgy boost issue is

sorted whe back on I want to organize a

track day both me and Asher put a lot of

hard work into this car and what better

way to confirm how good it is is to ask

a mate so what we saying mate are you

asking them I'm ask I'm asking you Yun

all right you want me to oh it's just

cuz you said mate well the thing is you

are qualified to tell us because you had

one of these new yeah and it was always

broken yeah it was always in the garage

but this one's no different because you

said you were fixing that boost thing

which I thought I had and it's still

broke because you put your foot

[Music]

down can you hear that I can hear that

glad the brakes work yeah me too you you

did the brakes though I did why do no

one ever got any confidence in the work

that I do I've got to admit yeah I did

change the boost solenoid and it's still

not working there is something very very

peculiar going on with the Boost and as

for the brakes to the brakes work well

yeah they they work absolutely amazing

because I put my foot down and didn't

realize there was a car in front so I

had to stop real quick they do work now

you did upgrade the brakes right uh no

these are just Factory brakes but

they're brand new brand spank yeah so

obviously yeah it's going to

stop bloody hell and it tram lines it's

TS there on this is ridiculous but it's

a that exciting car to drive because you

just don't know what it's going to do

put your foot

down two two hands on the wheel because

if you have one hand on the wheel you're

going in the ditch and he's got what 42

H something like that just under 418

breake yeah and it feels it it's really

good

obviously it's dry today so it's a good

fun in the rain Maybe not maybe you're

just going to be spinning on the spot

but yeah I really like it brings back

memories because when we bought this car

well is it 12 months ago now it wasn't

as good as this this looks miles better

it drives way better and there's not as

many knocks and bangs so it does put you

off a car when you can hear things

knocking in the back and the suspension

and bushes were worn out and all kinds

of things were worn out super Ash

mechanic fixed it all what you mean just

super ash oh and you as well yeah

Charming although I've got to be honest

I would never have been able to get this

car to this point still broken without

Ash anyway enough about this absolutely

brilliant Ford Focus where we going I'm

on my way to pick up the GT3 because

it's been in the dealership for probably

3 or 4 months there's a bit of a story

to it but rather than ruin your your

video on the focus r because you know

this is about the Focus RS it is I'll

tell you about it in another video but

it is a

story interesting one or not I don't

know probably not well you guys seem to

enjoy the last GT3 video so make sure

you keep your eyes peeled and if you

haven't already subscribe to the channel

hit the notifications yeah yeah

subscribe and all that forget that a

minute but just subscribe we've got the

lights this is this is a drag look it's

it's begging it's begging to be

dragged

even though the Boost is like all over

the place it is it's still dead fun to

drive it really is little bit of wheel

spin doesn't get off the line too well

because he's just you know front wheeel

drive 400 horsepower it's never going to

work is it so it looks like once I've

drop Le off at Porsche I need to get

back to the unit and fix that boost

solenoid again now of course the Boost

issue is obviously going to be my fault

wasn't it so previously the boost

solenoid was completely broken this time

round I'd put the replacement boost

solenoid on the wrong way around and

that's why wasn't boosting properly so

now I've changed it around I've just

been for a spin it's sorted now as I

mentioned earlier in the video this car

is an absolute disgrace and I needed to

do something about it and when I say I

needed to sort it out I mean that I've

got a draft in the professionals James

mate help me out usual have you ever

seen a car that bad yeah good will you

be able to sort this out easy then I

reckon your citrus alone will box this

off on it yeah take off a good 90 95% of

dirt and then we'll use the rest of the

products and we'll get it back to normal

I have got to say right there's one

bucket two two buckets three buckets

you're at least 13 short now cuz I know

what these Lads from Manchester are like

where there's a blame there's a claim

and this no joke is like an ice rink so

I put some salt down to make sure that I

don't get that off it gives you an idea

as to how cold it is I don't know if you

can see already it's iced over and we're

still going soldiering on aren't you and

now the bodyy van's here look at the

smile on his face the difference with

that already that looks absolutely

incredible compared to before although I

actually did like it with a bit of dirt

up the side because I thought it was

giving sort of rally car Vibes is there

anything in particular product wise or

process wise that you want to share with

the audience the other thing we've not

put on this is the ceramic detailer so

that's Ben's job tomorrow my job that's

your job you use that so that just

sprays on and wipes you leave about 30

seconds and then wipe it off wipe it on

buff it off are you going to have a

discount code or not every time I come

here we have to do a discount Cod so I'm

I think we might have to might we yeah

evil gt10 evil GT gt10 evil gt10 and

that gets 100% off yeah yeah okay as

usual whil I've been filming this video

I actually stumbled across a decent deal

on Javelin or was it msv FR park it was

on the 23rd of January and it's a track

date was 109 quid so I couldn't say no

really the focus is coming on a track

day now I want your opinion on these

this is webbing for seat belts and this

top one just here is a blue pinstripe

forward performance blue pinstripe

either side I think that would match the

stitching on the seats and it' match the

Stitch in the ricaro the blue I think

they would look really good what do you

guys think and not only that these

headlights are starting to look a little

bit sorry for themselves they're a bit

crazed inside they're going a little bit

sort of Misty Stone chipped they look a

bit of a mess we had our headlights done

on the RS4 at uh em tuning with troop

who did US evil GT and the lenses and

painted the inside and put new

projectors and bulbs and things in they

looked incredible so I reckon a trip to

em tuning is defin defitely on the cards

too enough about headlights and seat

belts I want to do a track date I've

checked the oil the oil's bang on I've

checked the cool and that sound I've

filled up the washer yet and uh I've

come to see this straggler here what's

the beetle you bought well this is the

Comfort spec GT3 that's actually going

to go on track I'll probably be as as

much as a disadvantage as you because

I've got front wheeel drive which ain't

great in the rain you've got rear wheel

drive which ain't great in the rain and

me is are amazing in the dry oh the cup

twos yeah not so much in the wet so I

know you're not really technically

supposed to be timing Laps on a track

day but yeah let's go breakfast

breakfast sausage body first it

unfortunately we won't be able to take

Le's car out is definitely too wet for a

200,000 car so he's going to take the

focus

instead that's two red flags literally

one after the other first time Lee

hadn't even gone out but this time Lee's

still not back in luckily it wasn't Lee

about to see it back in one piece mate

oh just if we do end up leaving the

track at any point if we go onto the

grass can you make sure we go onto the

grass straight and not sideways yeah

yeah yeah I don't want to tip it over

cuz we haven't got a

[Music]

cage come

on this here is a it started off lineing

is a fiesta diesel it's now a 2 L

something or other with 420 horsepower

four-wheel drive to probably put that on

the right way should I watch me like did

you say before these tires are like 10

years

old look mate see you later McDonald's

trays nice knowing you

yeah peer pressured Lee into taking his

GT3

out peer pressure gets us all eventually

[Music]

mate I've got to say he's quite

obviously driving that carefully because

at 200 Grand it being expensive AC would

it that was a lap and a half yeah but

it's been tires fault got two yeah go go

on that bit there professional tires

then mate no grit whatsoever second G

third G just sliding sideways that's you

like that don't you no not in a not in

200 Grand not not 200 Grand anyone not

180 Grand worth a car no thanks

surprised how it feel

I'm surprised how grippy it is had a few

moments where it's lost grip but right

there is that orange or yellow I'm Co

blind what the hell it's gone up now

it's a bit like your

helmet oh f f it out bar come me

then there's attraction this is where in

[Music]

Te great is that red yeah he that red he

really are color

blind yeah cuz you that could have been

orange I don't know enjoy that it really

is enjoyable on a weird kind of

oversteering front-wheel driving on the

steering car predictably unpredictable

it's probably the best way to describe

what a cracking day the focus has been

absolutely brilliant here at Alton Park

thanks very much to St he's a circuit

instructor here for anybody looking for

a bit of circuit instruction give uh

Steven your Anon a shout I don't know he

socials I'll find them out and stick

them in the description but he'll show

you the way around Al Park and take you

around fast if you want to go around

fast but he's really really enjoyed the

focus uh it's mad how for a front-wheel

drive car there's so much over St it

rotates and uh it gives you a little bit

it's great fun so yeah hopefully you

enjoy today's video thanks to Lee and St

and msv although I did pay for the track

there it was 109 quid for anybody

wondering but hopefully you've enjoyed

the video and I shall catch you on the

next

[Music]

one