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Ford Focus Care & Maintenance

334 messages,  Last post on Nov 20, 2012 at 12:27 PM

You are in the Ford Focus Forum.

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

Messages Page 15 of 34

#135 of 334 Re: 2004 Focus Sedan SE Wheel Noise [quint41] by focusintexas

Sep 15, 2005 (6:02 pm)

Replying to: quint41 (Sep 02, 2005 9:08 am)
I also have the creaking sound on my 03 Focus. It is not the hubcaps. Whoever told you that must be wannabe mechanics. I notice my creaking sound when I start moving from a complete stop, and when I am accelerating. I think it has something to do with the body construction. Not the hubcaps. LOL.
 
04 Focus, is this the new design Focus? I am amazed. I thought Ford has finally gotten their act together regarding the new Focus with the new one.
 
We really should return all our Foci to Ford and let the President, CEO, and all top officials of Ford drive the Ford Focus. Let's see if they don't start complaining too.
 
A Ford Focus rebellion !!!! What a good laugh we will get out of this...

#136 of 334 Re: My 2003 Focus SE Sedan concerns. [explorerx4] by jeromeb

Sep 17, 2005 (4:35 pm)

Replying to: explorerx4 (Jul 25, 2005 5:50 pm)
At this time, the wipers were diagnosed as a bad wiper motor, replaced under warranty. The cruise control was diagnosed (after a second try) as a loose electrical connection on the control module. The most I can say is "intermittent open on pin 7". That was fixed. While they were at it they also discovered that my horn was not working, so they fixed that too.
 
One service advisor who rode in my Focus with me explained that the noise from the wheels was low quality factory-installed wheels. I'll try to specify "quiet" the next time I buy tires. Otherwise, I'll attribute the road noise to a lack of insulation.
 
Right now, all systems are working nominally on my Ford Focus. For the price, I'm satisfied.
 
The next time I rotate the tires, I'll pay attention to the brakes, the calipers, and check the wheel bearings. I'd be very surprised if the wheel bearing was already deteriorated. I have had worn-out wheel bearings on another vehicle, and the sound they make is quite recognizable, but not coming from my Focus.

#137 of 334 transmission issue/idle issue...Related? by autoidiot

Sep 19, 2005 (1:32 pm)

I must start by saying I'm a complete car idiot. Exhibit A: Ask me to change an air filter? Change a what? Therefore, any help in non-techie terms would be helpful, since now with my still under warranty 03 focus se wagon, I've got to depend on the dealer's gibberish for all my answers.
 
My car has had an idling problem, which I've seen written about on Focus discussion pages by other owners. Stopped at red lights, sometimes the steering wheel vibrates as if a seismic tremor were coming from inside the car. More recently, I'd noticed a surge problem (something I've also seen written about). Sometimes when I give gas it just seems like the car is about to die instead of go, and other times it surges ahead. When in Cruise, sometimes the shifting up a hill takes forever, the car will stay in gear shifting mode way past the point where the car has gone over the hill. And most recently, the car would die if you did not keep your foot full throttle on accelator. Dealer said that was an air valve which needed to be replaced, which was done and for a few weeks the car worked fine other than ongoing idle and surge/hesitation. But the other day while driving around 55, there was a huge knock from the engine, the whole car shuddered, and the indicator light for transmission/engine coolant system came on (an exclamation point). It went off just as quickly and the car kept running, but I had it towned into the dealer anyway as it is under warranty. They still don't know what's wrong with it and say no codes come up in computer. Are any or all of these things related. I read some stuff online about how Focus keyless gears can be really sensitive and a slight screw up in assembly can cause lots of problems. Could it be something like that? My car did not have cruise control when it was bought but the dealer installed it later as an IOU enticement to buy car. Could they have screwed up something with the cams when installing cruise control? The idle problem has been forever on the car, but with two recent tow truck trips to the dealership, I guess it makes me think now that it indicates something really wrong. The dealer just says, well, you've got some kind of shifting problem, but we don't know what. Anyone out there who can help to make me car literate? I sure would appreciate it. I'll even learn how to change an air filter.

#138 of 334 Air Filter Change 2002 ZX5 by eggdriver1

Oct 08, 2005 (12:50 am)

I'm trying to change my air filter on a 2002 ZX5 and am having a hard time getting the top of the airbox removed. I got 2 out of the 4 8mm bolts out but can't get the other 2 out.
They appear to be stripped or something as I when I turn the bolt; it just keeps spinning. A big problem is that it really isn't a nut attached to the other side but rather a crazy fastener thing that is perfectly round; hence I can't get a grip on it to try and break it free.
I've tried the LiquidWrench/WD40/PBLaster route and still no luck.
 
Anyone else have this trouble and how did you correct it.
I've got an idea but it's really my last resort.
 
Thanks...

#139 of 334 Snow Tire Question by kl_smith

Oct 12, 2005 (8:31 am)

I just purchased a new 2005 Focus Wagon SES. Now that winter is coming, I'd like to put snow tires on the car, but never having had a FWD car before, I'm not sure if I need them just on the front, or all around. Comments?
 
Also, what brand of snow tires do you suggest?
 
TIA
 
Ken

#140 of 334 snow tires by tdi guy

Oct 12, 2005 (11:23 am)

I suggest you put snow tires on all four wheels. My last purchase were Bridgestone Blizzaks. I used them for three winters in Green Bay, Wisconsin on a Ford Probe GT. I was very happy with them. Got them at Tirerack,com, although you can get them at many tire stores.

#141 of 334 Ford Focus Noise/comfort by tom71

Oct 16, 2005 (11:47 am)

I'm thinkin of buying a new 4 door Focus with 5 speed manual
tranny, but haven't decided whether to get the base engine
or the bigger one.
I've read that the Focus is noisy while cruising at freeway speed.
Do any of you Focus owners agree?
 
How comfortable do you find the seats after driving a few hours?

#142 of 334 Re: Ford Focus Noise/comfort [tom71] by tdi guy

Oct 16, 2005 (6:49 pm)

Replying to: tom71 (Oct 16, 2005 11:47 am)
I'm six feet tall and weigh 240 pounds. I have no difficulty taking long trips in my Focus. My ST is louder at highway speed than other models because of the performance exhaust, yet isn't too loud for my tastes. When I first had a chance to drive a Focus, it was in 2003 when my son bought a ZX3. I helped him drive it cross country - a 2,000 mile trip, expecting it to be a tough drive. I was very pleasantly surprised at the comfort and drivability considering its size and cost. Based on that experience, I purchased a Focus of my own in August. I'm glad I did.

#143 of 334 Re: Ford Focus Noise/comfort [tdi guy] by tom71

Oct 17, 2005 (8:44 am)

Replying to: tdi guy (Oct 16, 2005 6:49 pm)
Hi tdiguy,
 
Thanks for the info. This is helpful.
Is your Focus ST the one with the higher
horsepower engine?

#144 of 334 Re: Ford Focus Noise/comfort [tom71] by focusintexas

Oct 18, 2005 (11:23 pm)

Replying to: tom71 (Oct 17, 2005 8:44 am)
I wish I had another focus that has standard shift. The car is fantastic. My car makes an unusual hum when it cruises but when I experimented with the tires and changed the bearings, it is now almost silent when cruising. The only nagging problem I have up to now is that the steering wheel vibrates and wiggles when running at about 70 mph. My focus is the base SPi model with 14 inch tires.

Messages Page 15 of 34

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