Ask the Car People.SM


Ford Focus Sedan

2013 messages,  Last post on Jan 23, 2012 at 7:12 PM

You are in the Ford Focus Forum.

What is this discussion about? Ford Focus, Sedan

Messages Page 201 of 202

#1994 of 2013 2006 Ford Focus by jweir

Jun 25, 2009 (3:58 pm)

Does anyone know how to change a valve cover in a 2006 Ford focus Zx4...
Can't even find a chilton's or a aynes manual for it in a parts store...also I need a diagram of the engine compartment, so I can figure out how hard it will be to replace it...
 
Trying to sell it and I found out that the valve cover has a small hole in it..

#1995 of 2013 Re: 2007 Ford Focus SES sedan [robfla] by robfla

Jun 26, 2009 (8:00 am)

Replying to: robfla (Jan 02, 2008 7:10 pm)
Update on my Focus.Still enjoy driving the car, but im extremely disappointed with the problems that have occured. I will list the dealer stated repairs and you judge for yourself. In addition to the problems stated in the previous post, this is what has happend. The grunting/squeaking noise is the normal result of a parking brake engaged when entering or exiting the car, loading groceries,etc. Dealer says this is normal and it persist to this day.At 3900 miles, the turn signals and hazard lights stopped working. Dealer replaced bulbs and shorted fuse. Dealer replaces bumper and rear brackets at 4000 miles. Rear lug cap falls off and is replaced at 5500 miles. Replaced right side cowl panel,discolored at 8000 miles.All dashboard guages and lights quit working,wiring assembly replaced at 9300 miles.Dealer replaced all valve stems under warranty recall at 10000 miles,one month after i had a flat tire due to a cracked valve stem. Squealing noise begins in engine at idle or driving at 10400 miles, dealer replaces tensioner assembly,drive belt. The car currently has under 11000 miles on it. Buyer beware, unless you enjoy visiting the ford repair shops and taking courtesy shuttles alot. Gas mileage improved dramaticaly after 5000 miles. I now average about 28 mpg in town. Will never buy another Ford again.

#1996 of 2013 Where do I plug in my mp3? by swindle

Jul 31, 2009 (8:28 am)

I have a 2005 Focus ZX4 SE. Where do I plug in my mp3? There is an AUX button on the CD/mp3 player, but I can't find where to plug the mp3 player in. Help would be appreciated.

#1997 of 2013 Re: Where do I plug in my mp3? [swindle] by yogitech1

Aug 02, 2009 (6:57 pm)

Replying to: swindle (Jul 31, 2009 8:28 am)
If you have a removable number pad like my 2000 it may be under that if not then it would be on the rear of the radio.
Michael

#1998 of 2013 2005 Ford Focus by lhoagland

Jul 12, 2010 (8:47 am)

Has anyone ever heard of a problem with the Focus completely dying while driving? This has happened several times. The alternator has been replaced and all connections to the battery and starter have been cleaned. I don't want to throw good money after bad chasing this. Help ! ! !

#1999 of 2013 Update (again) by markus5

Aug 09, 2010 (7:40 pm)

Hello friends,
I check into this blog with decreasing frequency as the years go by. The 04 ZTS I purchased in Nov. '03, is actually running more incident free at 89k than in any other 2 year period. I have mentioned before cthe bean counters at Ford had their hand in some of the decisions about accessorizing this model. There are also the quirky noises from the brakes which remind me that this is an economy car.
  
But every time I get behind the wheel, I am reminded of the important thing is it works so well and has better moves than most cars purporting to be high end sporty cars. Although it has seen very little in the way of fine care or polish theree is nothing here that would indicate that the Focus has seen 6 upstate NY winters never garaged.
 
I have recently test drove a few brand new cars ranging from a Versa to a Suzuki Kiaschi and to indulge myself, a new V-6 Mustang Covertable. The versa was clearly an appliance type of vehicle, even if it had more power it could not get out of its own way
a real snooze. ( they paid me $25 to take the test drive and that is why I was there) The New Suzuki claims to have 185 HP. , But it to was a CVT transmission, which I can not quite get used to.
Ford had a promotion recently which I took part in . $50 to test drive a new car, the Fiesta which they said they would have for me was not there, and that is how I got paid for the spin in the new convertable Mustang, He did not even go along for the ride, Yes it would be wonderful I could rationalize about the 31 mpg and 300+ hp.
Well, I got back into my Focus and drove it fast had fun and realized that this kind of freedom probably could not be had in a Mustang because the Police would be all over me.

#2000 of 2013 2005 Focus ST Update by basiliskst

Sep 23, 2010 (6:01 pm)

Our 2005 Focus ST racked up 110,00 miles before suffering an ignoble end in a car accident. It did its job and sacrificed itself to protect my daughter who was driving at the time. Hate to see it go as it was a truly superior and fun car.
 
We really had almost no maintenance other than oil, tires, brake pads and regularly scheduled maintenance. At the end there where three "wear issues." The buttons on the radio had worn off some of the numbers. The center console arm rest was lose and floppy (I think it got leaned on too hard sometime late in life). And the little bin by the driver's left knee had the latch broken. (That one was my fault. In the dark I pulled up on it thinking I had a hold of the hood latch. I wasn't low enough.) Our all in fuel economy was approximately 30 mpg. We tried to find another ST to replace it, but the ST was scarce and the ST with traction control and heated leather seats, scarcer still. I guess I'll have to wait for the new World Focus and the promised new ST version.
 
Favorite things remain:
Great steering wheel. Perfect size and shape with the thick cross section and bulges at 2 and 10.
Precise steering and supple, controlled handling. Way more fun than the typical small car. Independent rear suspension makes a huge difference.
Great torque from the 2.3 liter motor.
Short throw, direct feel manual gear shift.
Chair height seats that provided good thigh and lower back support, wrapping the kidneys for grip. The heated seats were great.
4-wheel disk brakes with ABS and Traction Control -- not offered on many small cars, especially at the time.
Complex hinge on the trunk rather than a goose neck so closing trunk didn't intrude on cargo.
Great safety for the size of car with high ratings and great real world performance. There was no intrusion into the passenger compartment in it's final front end collision. (Hit a much heavier SUV in the side with the Focus' nose in an intersection.)
Great reliability with exceptionally low cost of ownership, with acquisition cost, maintenance, insurance, and fuel economy much better than average.
 
Cons:
Dashboard could be more luxurious and interior more durable, but for the price point, I'll take that trade-off.
I'd like a 6-speed manual with a taller cruising gear for improved fuel economy and less noise.
I'd like more sound deadening and isolation, but again for a compact economy car, I can't complain too much.
The new World Focus reportedly has all of these improvements in a new body with new EcoBoost engines.
 
All in all, the Focus ST was probably my favorite car I've ever owned, not because it was the most expensive. It was one of the least expensive cars I've ever bought. It was intended to be a third car. It was so much fun to drive it saw a lot of use. And it was still a bargain. But it was a favorite in the end even more because when push came to shove (literally), the safety was there to protect our daughter. Cars can be replaced.
 
I would definitely buy a Ford again (and have -- we bought a 2008 Mercury Milan for our "big" sedan). I'm hoping to buy a new 2012 Focus ST when they become available. Our ownership experience was exceptionally good.

#2001 of 2013 Focus III? [basiliskst] by creakid1

Sep 25, 2010 (2:15 am)

Replying to: basiliskst (Sep 23, 2010 6:01 pm)
I've sat in the new Focus III sedan in Ford's focus group almost a year ago. It's an one-size-fit-all design:
 
1) The inside door handles are now located more Japanese/Lexus-like (read for short arms)
 
2) The front seat cushions are tiny -- for short thighs.
 
& I don't like its rear outward visibility -- the lower right corner being cut off.
 
The exterior is bulky, as the platform is a shortened Volvo S80/Mondeo (also driven by James Bond in "Casino Royale"). But then, its rear leg room is also not as cramped as in the new Mazda3.
 
& it does look like a down-sized current Mondeo.
 
Do you think the bulkier current Mondeo is as fun as the old one? I doubt it.
 
You know, the previous Mondeo ST220 is what the '05-07 Focus ST 2.3 sedan's styling trys to emulate -- more compact, sleek, less bulky (especially being 2 cylinders lighter under the hood, but w/ the most macho cylinder size of all Focus')...
 
I am still excited about doing project on my '07 Focus ST sedan (w/ no optional side-airbags for easier seat change!), after I traded in my '05. The traction control was no longer std for '07, so that's the only option on my stripped (but special ordered) '07 ST. & it's way less intrusive than the one in the '05!
 
The main noise is actually the ST exhaust, which interferes w/ human conversation. So I plan to tune the sound to a lower frequency, possibly by changing the resonator.
 
I've added the Quaife (Torsen-type) differential.
 
Being 5'11", I am replacing the front seats to fit me better. I've looked at the Volvo S40/V50's supportive manual cloth driver seat with multiple adjustements, but the bottom cushion seems to be too shallow to absorb road bumps. & forget about aftermarket seats like Recaro, Corbeau, Flo-fit, or even Monaco. They simply give you a bumpier ride. So after traveling to other countries, I've decided to adopt these stylish & supportive blue sport front seats from the Focus II S (Sport) in Taiwan (I believe the Focus II ST's front seats are hard-riding Recaro designs, although I've only had a brief ride in a Focus II ST taxi there). They're shaped even more S40/V50-ish, but the cushions are extremely thick & firm -- good enough for off roading. LOL Unlike when riding on the original seats, road vibration (which could not be felt through these blue sport seats in the Focus II w/ more sub-frame isolation) in my car is actually being transmitted on to my butt through these thicker-firmer-cushion new seats! But I believe their much deeper cushions will still provide more overall long-distance comfort.
 
Not being able to stand the short seat cushions (especially the front passenger seat), I will give the ST sedan's original cloth interior a new face!
 
This is the type of blue front sport seats being transplanted into my car from the Focus (II) Sport
 
I didn't bother with the orange/black cloth sport seats
 
Focus (I) SVT/ST170's std sport seats (red)
 
Focus (I) SVT/ST170's std sport seats
 
Focus (I) ST170's optional Recaro seats
 
Focus (I) SVT/ST170's optional Recaro (leather) seats:
 
Focus (II) ST's std Recaro seats
 
Focus (II) RS's std racing seats

#2002 of 2013 Focus III ST [basiliskst] by creakid1

Sep 25, 2010 (12:26 pm)

Replying to: basiliskst (Sep 23, 2010 6:01 pm)
Focus III ST
 
The ST version has longer seat cushion for thigh support.
 
But will there be a sedan version for the U.S.?
 
Will the suspension be lowered uncomfortably?
 
The beauty of the '05-07 ST 2.3 sedan is having firmer sportier suspension w/o being lowered like in the SVT/ST170. Compare to the '05, the '06-07 has an even comfier/softer set up still, & (per Consumer Reports 2006) trumped all competitors from GTI, etc. in ride comfort.
 
But I am not sastisfied, b/c the rebound motion is still too quick for comfort. I plan to put Gabriel shocks in my '07 ST sedan.
 
By the way, VW can no longer afford to continue with the (already cost-effective) mutli-links engineered by the Focus engineer.

#2003 of 2013 Re: Focus III ST [creakid1] by creakid1

Sep 27, 2010 (9:29 pm)

Replying to: creakid1 (Sep 25, 2010 12:26 pm)
Actually, VW can no longer afford to continue with the (already cost-effective) mutli-links engineered by the Focus engineer on the Golf/Jetta unless it's the expensive GTI/GLI, which has uncomfortable lowered hard suspension.
 
So then the new Golf/Jetta will be Fiesta-like w/ simple rear suspension, but I am pretty sure the new Jetta w/ over 104" wheelbase will excel even the new Focus III's rear leg room.

Messages Page 201 of 202

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement