1989 Ford Orion 1.6i turbo from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Big performance for little money and effort

Faults:

Driver's side window motor fault, fixed with a new motor.

The boot gets damp, cannot fix it.

Near side wheel bearings shattered.

Turbo went south at 90000 miles.

Gear gator went about the same time as the turbo.

General Comments:

This car, having a RS turbo heart, goes like a bat out or hell and handles like a dream thanks to 60mm lowering shocks and springs. The heart donor (Escort Turbo) was very loose on the back end.

Inside will get a full reworking with Sparco seats and new door cards because it looks too bland for the car.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 17th June, 2002

1989 Ford Orion Ghia Fi 1.6i from UK and Ireland

Summary:

A very sound bargain

Faults:

Wouldn't start fault with coil (£100ish)

Very dodgy central locking.

Expensive recent MOT:- break servo leaking, needed welding amongst some of the things.

New rear arches because of rust.

Can't remember anything else, but there has been other small problems!

General Comments:

Very sound car and I will miss it!

Its not slow, but also not that quick.

Nice looking in black and very clean looking. looks great with clear indicators and side repeaters.

Bought for £625, money well spent.

Useless computer, don't take any notice of it!

When one looked as good as mine did it is an easy target for thieves as I found out.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 14th May, 2002

1989 Ford Orion LX 1.4 from UK and Ireland

Summary:

A classic car that has yet to be out-dated

Faults:

The main problem I have had is a water leak which gathers on the rear drivers side floor. I still cannot find where this is coming from. My boot also has a leak in it.

I had a major problem with the car jerking, then cutting out, but would start again as if nothing was wrong. The carburettor was replaced, but the fault continued. A second carburettor was installed and it has not happened since.

The engine fails to warm up quickly.

General Comments:

The car is 13 years old, but doesn't look out-dated. Having looked at newer Escorts and Orion's, I feel that my Orion looks better inside and out.

The car when warm can be quite fast off the mark and can handle the pace at faster speeds.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 6th February, 2002

6th May 2002, 15:21

As I am the person who wrote the original review, I am commenting on it to say that I have found the place (s) it is leaking from:-

Rear Screen - reason for water on passenger side floor,

Rear Light Clusters - reason for water in boot, and,

Bung from Bumper Light going into Boot - wasn't fitted correctly, reason for water in boot.

The Ford Orion is notorious for leaking as I remember my Dads 1.6i Ghia being exactly the same.

I have found that the reason that the engine breather pipes become blocked is because the engine oil requires to be changed quite often. Regular oil changes also prevents cam wear.

I have also found that rust gathers in wheel arches because of mud, etc, gathering under them. I have just run a flat-head screwdriver around them to remove this dirt.

9th Feb 2003, 07:35

Thank god you answered your leak problem.

I have an orion 1.3 and have the same leaks, it appears as though it is coming from the rear window and running down the back of the seats to the passenger foot well. (i put a rag where I thought the leak was running too and it became saturated)

Also I have another leak in the boot which must be coming from the lights.

Anyone know how to fix an oil leak from crank shaft pulley even thought the seal has been replaced numerous times?

9th Feb 2004, 12:21

With regards to the car cutting out, I wrote the review on the 1987 Biscayne, It is the carburettor jets clogging up, take the air cleaner out and look down the center of the twin air intakes. In the center there should be 4 screw type things, unscrew them and clean them out one at a time, then put them back in the same place that they were screwed into, should solve it.