2011 Fiesta SES 5 speed manual

990 Views 4 Replies 3 Participants Last post by Textilewhiz, May 4, 2022

Logan2067

Discussion Starter · Mar 31, 2022

So I bought this 2011 fiesta ses hatchback off marketplace early December of last year and I was really hoping to mod it a lot. I go to college and work so I'm constantly driving it, but I also want to have fun with it you know? Anyways, so far I've put in a subwoofer, a catback exhaust system, and did all of the general maintenance you would normally do with a new car(spark plugs, filters, oil, etc...). I even had it checked out after putting in the exhaust system and had to spend about $1600 for a new catalytic converter, a timing belt, and some other stuff just to make sure everything was working properly. Still have an annoying check engine light that apparently multiple different shops can't fix for some reason though lol.

I just bought a cold air intake(I know, I know, some real power gains right) and was planning on putting that on next, but I want to do some actual upgrades as well. I was looking at getting a possible tune up but am not really finding a place to do it. I was hoping to change some things like the throttle body, intake manifold, fuel injectors as well, but it really seems like there are barely any aftermarket parts out there for the non ST owners.

Anybody got any ideas or things that others have done in this situation that can give a little more power or make the car itself a little better perhaps? I'm open to pretty much anything. Also I'm new here so nice to meet ya.

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carbomb

· #2 · Mar 31, 2022

I have a 2012 and unfortunately you're going to have the same problems I have... you can't tune these. The ECU in these specific years are these Continental branded ones that have some anti-tamper mumbo jumbo. Yes, there are threads out there where people have got around them, but no, they're not in the USA (Argentina I believe) and the few USA vendors that apparently have tuned them long in the past when Spec-B was fresh for the years, well they don't do it anymore (I know, I've asked). It SUCKS. Literally the best tuning option in this case is an Apexi NEO AFC which I don't have a lot of info on.

What has helped the car a lot, in my opinion, has been the Ford Performance suspension kit. It's a barely perceptible drop, but the added stiffness has been nice with ZERO negatives to comfort. I've had and have my share of project cars and that line is usually BS, but here it's true because it's just not an aggressive kit, but it's cheap and more aggressive than stock, plus the stock stuff is old by now. I also have the DNA racing rear anti roll bar (it looked closest to the Steeda part).

I have the CARB legal K&N intake on mine and I don't think the car is faster, but man, that intake noise is worth it! You have a cat-back so you probably have some added noise already.

I wish I could justify putting a Quaife LSD into it (we have a BC/IB5 transmission I believe), but since I can't tune it for more power I'm going to suck it up, accept defeat and leave it where it is.

Apparently the body styles just after ours without the pointy tipped headlights can be tuned, but since I don't have that I haven't looked into it.

I wish I had better news. The biggest saving grace to me is that I want to take it to the track and drive it in anger and I'll probably learn something from that... and maybe blow it up and have to get something new that I can tune

It's a real bummer about the ECU being this PITA USA specific part. You can get some solid n/a gains from these things otherwise as I see them doing in the UK, EU, etc.

edit: do you know what codes you're getting, btw? I dealt with my share of them after I bought it and it wasn't obvious what the issues were. I still have 1 code coming up that is solved by a TSB I have to get around to doing.

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Logan2067

Discussion Starter · #3 · Mar 31, 2022

carbomb said:
I have a 2012 and unfortunately you're going to have the same problems I have... you can't tune these. The ECU in these specific years are these Continental branded ones that have some anti-tamper mumbo jumbo. Yes, there are threads out there where people have got around them, but no, they're not in the USA (Argentina I believe) and the few USA vendors that apparently have tuned them long in the past when Spec-B was fresh for the years, well they don't do it anymore (I know, I've asked). It SUCKS. Literally the best tuning option in this case is an Apexi NEO AFC which I don't have a lot of info on.

What has helped the car a lot, in my opinion, has been the Ford Performance suspension kit. It's a barely perceptible drop, but the added stiffness has been nice with ZERO negatives to comfort. I've had and have my share of project cars and that line is usually BS, but here it's true because it's just not an aggressive kit, but it's cheap and more aggressive than stock, plus the stock stuff is old by now. I also have the DNA racing rear anti roll bar (it looked closest to the Steeda part).

I have the CARB legal K&N intake on mine and I don't think the car is faster, but man, that intake noise is worth it! You have a cat-back so you probably have some added noise already.

I wish I could justify putting a Quaife LSD into it (we have a BC/IB5 transmission I believe), but since I can't tune it for more power I'm going to suck it up, accept defeat and leave it where it is.

Apparently the body styles just after ours without the pointy tipped headlights can be tuned, but since I don't have that I haven't looked into it.

I wish I had better news. The biggest saving grace to me is that I want to take it to the track and drive it in anger and I'll probably learn something from that... and maybe blow it up and have to get something new that I can tune It's a real bummer about the ECU being this PITA USA specific part. You can get some solid n/a gains from these things otherwise as I see them doing in the UK, EU, etc.

edit: do you know what codes you're getting, btw? I dealt with my share of them after I bought it and it wasn't obvious what the issues were. I still have 1 code coming up that is solved by a TSB I have to get around to doing.

Thanks for the info! That really sucks that you can't tune it though, because I was really looking forward to doing that. I wonder if there are any after market ecu's you could put into it? I doubt it.

But yeah I'll definitely have to look into that suspension kit because lemme tell ya, my car just loves to roll and shake and do whatever it wants half the time. I think I might come back here or make a whole new post maybe towards the end of the summer(that is if I don't crash it or sell it by then lol) of an update on how it looks and everything. I'm really hoping by then that it'll actually be somewhat decent.

Thanks again man, I really appreciate it!

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carbomb

· #4 · Mar 31, 2022

Yeah, no problem.

If for some reason feel like going crazy into an after market ECU this had my interest for a moment:

Ecumaster EMU black, Best value for money Engine management system - The UK site lists the Ford Fiesta CAN BUS system as supported as well as the Fiesta ST (important to see that difference made I think)
ECU Master EMU-CLASSIC - The Aussie site also lists the Ford Fiesta MK7 OEM CAN BUS system as supported as well

It would seem this ECUMaster system might just be able to handle it? I wonder if anyone works with these in the USA...

I also saw on Haltech's forum someone inquiring about the Fiesta's ignition and cam sensor systems and for the most part Haltech supports each individual sensor used on the Fiesta. But nothing plug and play, no tune pre-made, no harness, etc. is available, but plausibly if it can read everything then it can control them... you just, you know... have to wire all that yourself O__O

For ease of use the Apexi NEO AFC seems like the least obtrusive, most documented route, but that really only comes into play on WOT and you can't control e-throttle behavior which this damn thing really needs.

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Textilewhiz

· #5 · May 4, 2022

I have a 2018 Fiesta S five speed manual, well maintained, and stock. Scuffed and primed the stock wheel covers, then Dupicolor Oxford White. The Cooper CS5 Grand Touring tires really work with this car. Fortunately, I'm a stitcher by trade, I'll either (or both) run the bra for the rest of the summer, then tailor fit it better. The hood doesn't flow with the fender, that bugs me. Before I found the Fiesta, I was looking for a Karman Ghia. The Fiesta has pretty much the same spec as a Beetle or a Triumph Spitfire. Ready to do some low key Autocross!

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