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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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#251 of 309 Focus repairs at 60K by 0311vn Jun 30, 2006 (2:26 pm)
I recently drove round trip from San Diego to Detroit and had two unexpected problems to repair en route. First, the 01 Focus developed a coolant leak at 62K that turned out to be a crack thermostat housing, so I was told by a Ford dealer in Mich. To replace that it cost me $230.   Then in Colorado the Focus began to run hot at low rpm. When it came close to red lining I turned the heater on in 90F temps and raced the engine in neutral at a stop light.   I took it to a Ford dealer and was told a resistor had gone bad in a radiator fan. To replace the radiator fan assembly it cost me $670.   I don't have a problem paying to repair a car, and will go to a dealer when necessary to do so. But my question here is, isn't it abnormal for said items on my Focus to go bad with on 60K on the car?   I'm curious if there is a car website that gives the average milage for part failures on cars.   Anyone had said problems on a Focus at 60Kish? Replies to this message: loolala (Jul 29, 2006 6:56 pm) chrisnj1 (Aug 16, 2006 5:05 am) jdog29 (Oct 01, 2006 12:15 pm)
#252 of 309 Re: Focus repairs at 60K [0311vn] by loolala Jul 29, 2006 (6:56 pm)
Replying to: 0311vn (Jun 30, 2006 2:26 pm) I had the same repair on my 2000 ZX3 (5 speeds) about six months ago. Thought I had more than 90K at the time. I found it leaking parked at work, and I went straight to my Mechanic, and it didn't leak when it got there. It turns out to be a small crack that wouldn't leak when it's hot. I got it replaced for about $200 total, and so far, it's the only repair out of my pocket on the car (now over 100K). The other one I don't want to deal with is the rear wiper went dead, but I don't use it much! Replies to this message: chrisnj1 (Aug 16, 2006 5:05 am)
#253 of 309 Re: Focus repairs at 60K [loolala] by chrisnj1 Aug 16, 2006 (5:05 am)
Replying to: loolala (Jul 29, 2006 6:56 pm) I just bought my son a 2001 Focus SE with 37000 miles. The car is in great shape. Guess what.................. The only issue my mechanic found was a cracked thermostat housing. It is made of plastic.
#254 of 309 Low howl noise in Focus front end... by 0311vn Aug 31, 2006 (2:20 pm)
I've had this hollow sounding low pitch howl coming from the front end. I bought new tires and have rotated them but still hear the noise. Wondering if it could be the break rotors but I've replaced them as well.
#255 of 309 Ford Focus by tom71 Sep 03, 2006 (12:29 pm)
I get the impression, the Focus is a poor to average car in the reliability area. I realize in the early years the Focus had more problems. I'm curious about people who own Focus's from year 2004 to present.   Is there any Focus owner out there who have had good reliable (trouble free) service to 100K or more? Replies to this message: 0311vn (Sep 03, 2006 1:24 pm) explorerx4 (Sep 03, 2006 3:50 pm) hatchbackguy (Apr 11, 2009 9:56 am)
#256 of 309 Re: Ford Focus [tom71] by 0311vn Sep 03, 2006 (1:24 pm)
Replying to: tom71 (Sep 03, 2006 12:29 pm) I suspect that the front wheel bearings may need some attention. I don't see any thing mentioned about said bearings requiring repacking.   I've had no engine or trans problems with my Focus wagon with 71K on it. However, the thermostat housing cracking and the fan assembly for the radiator needing to be replaced did not score points with me.   After five yeas of owing it I give the Focus a C plus, maybe a B minus.   The best I ever got on the highway was 34 mpg driving west to east; several tanks full were clocked at 32 on the same drive from San Diego to Austin, TX. I suspect a tail wind from the west helps.
#257 of 309 Re: Ford Focus [tom71] by explorerx4 Sep 03, 2006 (3:50 pm)
Replying to: tom71 (Sep 03, 2006 12:29 pm) how many are going to have an '04 or newer with a 100k or more miles on it?
#258 of 309 Re: Focus repairs at 60K [0311vn] by jdog29 Oct 01, 2006 (12:15 pm)
Replying to: 0311vn (Jun 30, 2006 2:26 pm) I Just had the same problem on my 2002 focus SE, and also in simalar situation. I drove round trip from Dallas to MT in July 2006. My car had 60,000 miles on it when I returned to Dallas. Once back in Dallas, I changed the brakes, oil, and did a radiator flush using the prestone radiator flush. I then drove all the way back to Montana w/ no problems. 2 days after arriving in MT I noticed a puddle in the driveway. It doesn't leak while the engine is warm, but if left to sit cold it will lose almost a liter/day. I searched and searched and finally found the source (thermostat). That is how I found your message. I bought the "melenium platinum" warranty from the dealership, but i still have to take the car in to see if it is an approved repair. Even then there is a $100 deductable on my plan. I'm thinking about just replacing it my self. I do still refill and drive my car w/ no problems, I just wanna get it fixed before the freezing weather sets in.
#259 of 309 My Focus just turned five years old... by 0311vn Oct 01, 2006 (1:45 pm)
We bought it two weeks after Sept 11th when the American car companies rolled out the zero financing offers. We just made the last payment this week. Our Focus SE wagon has 71K on it.   For a small car I appreciate the utility of its interior with the back seats down. Most SUV have little utility in this regard as witnessed in my son's SUV.   Friends of mine bought an 01 Focus, the first year they came out, I think, and had numerous problems with it and recalls. I have had the trans casing replaced when it was fairly new due to a hairline crack, at no cost. In my previous post I pointed out the two cooling system problems I had in June.   We paid 17K for the car. I got a $600. discount through a retired Ford worker buddy on the X Plan or whatever it's called. I'm a bit puzzled at the price of the car in 01 as the Focus seems to be selling at a lower price now.   I tend not to get very ego involved with my cars, so I believe I can give an honest appraisal of it, as I do with places I visit. I would probably give my Focus wagon a C plus. I give it a higher grade for its fuel milage; I got as high as 34 to several tanks driving through the SW. I clock most of the fill ups to have an idea if there is a problem by noting a drop in fuel milage. I give it a B plus on the highway and B minus in the city for fule milage. Actually, any vehicle that can get in the mid 30s on the highway probably should rate an A minus.   I doubt if I would buy another Focus, not so much that I am disappointed with the car but that I prefer something larger for highway driving, even a mini van. I had a 86 Honda Accord that I put 200K on with major repairs beginning at 90K (alternator, water pump, trans replacement) to 140K. The AC system on the Accord went out when it was five years old; too early in my book.   If I went with another new Ford I might pick a Fusion. Click and Clack on NPR say the Ford 500 is a solid car, but they really killed the styling from the original design I saw at the Detroit Auto Show around five years ago.   Grade C on the Focus, as I said.

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