Ford Laser problems?

[ToyotaCorolla]

I'm looking to buy a 2000 green Ford Laser from the neighbours, probably done 250km
Is there any classic problems to look out for?

[PG2]

I had one up until recently that I bought for the daughter to learn to drive in.

It had 270k when we sold it.

Is it auto or manual? If the hold light on the dash won't go out then it may have some serious transmission issues. The one we ended up buying did not have the issue but another one we did drive had the issue.

The coil pack(s) on them can go a little brittle and will short out. This can occur overnight. If you are mechanically minded, a very easy fix. These went on our Laser - it took me about an hour to change all four of them (I think I changed the spark plugs at the same time).

Ours was very reliable. I know who I sold mine to (it is now a farm ute - literally) and he has had nil issues with it driving it around the paddock(s).

[Franco Cozzo]

Mine got stolen on the back of a tray truck, that was the only problem I had with mine

Seriously though they share components with the same era Mazda 323 - engines are very reliable, we had a Mazda 323 we put 427,000km on it until it spat it clutch that we abused the hell out of, at one point it went 150,000km without an oil change.

It survived me learning to drive in it and later bashing the crap out of it on dirt roads across the mountains until the clutch going finally put it out of its misery.

[Crazy Dazz]

Coworker had one, decent low km example, always properly serviced. Had multiple issues with the dash, gauges randomly not working, no speedo, etc, etc. Ford stealerhsip could not find the fault. Replaced the BEM and the Display, still had the problem.

Niece had one (passed down from her Mum) good example, well looked after, highway kms owing to them living in Karratha. Would just randomly stop working and refuse to restart. Never figured it out.

[ToyotaCorolla]

Originally Posted by PG2

I had one up until recently that I bought for the daughter to learn to drive in.

It had 270k when we sold it.

Is it auto or manual? If the hold light on the dash won't go out then it may have some serious transmission issues. The one we ended up buying did not have the issue but another one we did drive had the issue.

The coil pack(s) on them can go a little brittle and will short out. This can occur overnight. If you are mechanically minded, a very easy fix. These went on our Laser - it took me about an hour to change all four of them (I think I changed the spark plugs at the same time).

Ours was very reliable. I know who I sold mine to (it is now a farm ute - literally) and he has had nil issues with it driving it around the paddock(s).

The car is auto, makes a big winding noise on start up, after you drive it for like 30secs, the noise go away. Kind of weird... I think it's probably the idle pulley.

I keep a look out for the "hold" light, when i test drive it...

I did the spark plugs on my AU falcon, that's was a pain in the bum!

[matty88]

Overall a good car, the intake pipes after the MAF are known to split. And the coils as above

[290v]

great little car we have had ours since new KN its done now 130,000 kms and we have changed only the usual service parts

[Lopili]

KQ Laser 1.6L manual with 240k on the clock. Owned since new ... been absolutely bullet proof though getting rattly from the dirt road driving. Nil major issues.