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Ford Focus Care & Maintenance

309 messages,  Last post on Oct 18, 2009 at 1:19 PM

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What is this discussion about? Ford Focus, Hatchback, Sedan, Wagon

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#11 of 309 Re: Service manual on CD-ROM by piglover Feb 26, 2001 (4:22 pm)
Silver bullet, can the dealer supply the service manual on CD-ROM? How much is it? Is it also available in paper copy?
#12 of 309 CD ROM Service Manual by silver_bullet Feb 26, 2001 (4:49 pm)
I doubt that Ford will sell you this CD, but I suppose it is possible. It is updated each month, so the older copies tend to find their way into the marketplace - like the one I got on eBay. Helm Publishing makes service manuals available in paper form and on CD ROM, but they are quite expensive (well over $100). Replies to this message: roryamos (Jul 27, 2008 5:16 pm)
#13 of 309 scratches in plastic bumper by cgsangel Mar 10, 2001 (6:56 am)
Hi,   This topic has probably been addressed somewhere among many of the messages previously posted in Edmund's Town Hall, but I will address it here, since the Focus Care and Maintenance topic hasn't been around that long.   I've gotten some scratches in my back bumper on the top surface where the hatch swings open. I was wondering if anyone has had the same problem (I'm sure it's happened alot if someone uses the hatch alot). I want to touch up the white appearing scratches because they really stand out against the autumn orange paint. I was thinking of applying some touch up paint and rubbing it into the scratch rather than just leave a ridge of paint along the scratch. Then I could let the paint set up good and then apply a good wax to the bumper surface.   Is there some kind of black plastic plate or something like I've seen on the back of some station wagons and vans that will act as a protection for the bumper surface that could be used for our cars? I'll bet some aftermarket company has one out there somewhere. I once got scuff plates for my van that were perfect (for the door sills). This would work in the same way, and make it look decent too. The black color would go along with the black trim that is already part of the zx3.   Mine happened from a build up of ice and salt and sand along the back this winter, and when I cleared it off I didn't realize the sand would cause the scratches that easily in the plastic.   I figure any cars with a paint color in great contrast to the undercoat or base color of the bumper will really stand out and look bad. Mine has a white base color so the dark paint stands out. I imagine anyone with black or a dark color is having or will have the same problem someday.   Charlie
#14 of 309 aftermarket floor mats ordered through Ford by cgsangel Mar 10, 2001 (7:06 am)
I had ordered the rubber front floor mats from Ford and they fit and look great! But one problem I have is the attachment for the driver's side mat. The hole in the new mat is far too small to fit the hold down pin in the carpet. It is obvious when they made the mat they didn't make it for the hold down. I was thinking of drilling out the hole in the grommet in the mat to a larger size to accomodate the hold down pin.   It looks like I will have to use at least a five-eighths inch drill to do this. Too bad I just can't push out the grommet and replace it with the one from my stock mat. I don't want to attempt removing the plastic insert and damaging the mat in the process.   Anyway, I was wondering anyone who ordered mats got some with the right size hole? Or have they all been made for another hold down pin? It is a very small issue since the weight of the rubber mat is heavier than the carpeted ones, and they do stay in place better than the carpets. Although occassionally I have to reach down and pull it back about an inch or so because there is some forward movement after some use. Just an aggravation, since there is a pin on the floor that would work if the hole was larger. For now I don't need to go to the trouble of buying a drill and drilling it out, or risking damage to a good looking floormat.   Charlie
#15 of 309 floor mats by rwgreenberg Mar 10, 2001 (3:57 pm)
Hi. I got the same mats and broke out the plactic insert with a hammer and striker type device. The plastic instert broke out and the rubber mat was not damaged, and the hole in the rubber is the right size to fit on the hook on the foor. I was a bit hesitant to do this, but it did work out fine in the end.
#16 of 309 Re:15 floor mats by rwgreenberg by cgsangel Mar 10, 2001 (4:56 pm)
Hi,   Thanks for the tip! I'll give it a try tomorrow.   It's odd how the box with the mats came with instructions for mats for a Ford truck. Which made no sense at all. Maybe they figure no one reads instructions anyway. Or maybe it was just a mistake. Installing mats shouldn't need any instructions.   At least they fit good... in fact they cover a little more area than the carpeted mats, and they're easy to clean right at the car wash.   Charlie
#17 of 309 re:fix on carpet hold down by cgsangel Mar 11, 2001 (8:17 am)
Hi,   Thanks, rwgreenberg! I removed the plastic insert like you said, and it fits perfectly! The rubber in the mat is thick and strong enough to hold up to use without the insert.   All it took was the peen end of the ball peen hammer and about 3 taps and it came right out. It broke all to pieces. But the mat fits in the car nice, just like it should and holds in place. I didn't realize the plastic would come out that easily. Had I tried to drill a larger hole in the plastic insert, it probably would have cracked and broke out anyway.   So a lot of work saved by your suggestion. Anyone else with these mats should do the same and they will fit fine. Thanks again!   Charlie
#18 of 309 re: fix on carpet hold down by rwgreenberg Mar 11, 2001 (8:41 am)
Great. I guess we improved upon their product with the tap of a hammer.
#19 of 309 critters by cgsangel Mar 24, 2001 (8:44 pm)
Hi,   I've got a problem with some kind of critter (I think it's a squirrel, less likely a cat) that brings food and junk up into the engine compartment.   I was checking the oil this morning and saw muddy footprints, but couldn't tell what they were from. I guess the squirrel because whatever was in there apparently moved alot and the mud was on top of the engine...and a cat is usually clean. I removed junk that was brought in there from around the spark plug wires.   On a Pinto I had years ago (critters must prefer Fords for some reason) I had problems with red squirrels chewing up the rubber parts of the emissions hoses around the canister. To stop them, I smeared on some anti-squirrel sticky stuff and it worked.   I figured that the squirrel may have been looking for a place to nest and gave up (I use the car every day so it had to have been just overnight). My uncle used to have problems with cats climbing into the engine compartment (still another Ford)with a still warm engine in order to warm up in winter. Needless to say, it wasn't very healthy for the cats.   Anyway... just wondering if anyone has had problems with critter invasions in their cars. It sounds dumb, but they do it alot. I am not making any of this up.   Charlie
#20 of 309 Crappy Side Mirrors! by maiki Mar 28, 2001 (8:57 pm)
I received my special ordered 2001 ZX3 last Thursday. In general I love it. Today I found something about it I do not love.   I was backing out of my narrow carport this morning, and the passenger side mirror scraped against the post of the carport. (My previous car didn't have a passenger side mirror.) Most side mirrors would bend if that happened. Instead, mine fell off, dangling from a wire.   I was not driving fast. It was not a strong impact, just a bare touch. Those plastic mirror housings seem very flimsy, not connected very sturdily to the car, and don't bend. So, the slightest touch breaks them off!   While I was driving it started banging on the car. I got off the freeway, and pushed it back into place. On the freeway it fell off again, dangling, banging more against the car. All the banging left a lot of black marks (from the black plastic mirror) on the white car.   I thought it might be covered by the warranty. It seemed defective, to fall off so easily. I brought the car to the Ford dealer service dept. in the afternoon. The service guy said that's not covered by the warranty. He said he has had to replace a lot of those, although the Focus was new in the States last year. He said the whole mirror housing would need to be replaced, and would cost me around $275. (and mine is not powered.) That wouldn't cover the damage of the black marks on the body, which I have to bring it to a body shop for.   Anyone else had problems with those mirrors? Any recalls? Class action suits? Such defective mirror housings should be covered by the warranty.   What a pain! Less than a week after I got the car!

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