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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 33 of 34

#315 of 334 Re: Draining coolant [marked1] by bereket

Jan 09, 2010 (9:37 am)

Replying to: marked1 (Jan 09, 2010 9:00 am)
Thanks for quick reply, I was worried because we have suddenly freezing temperatures here at night and I started losing coolant a few weeks ago and have been topping it up with only water, so I wasn't sure what concentration coolant I have now overall especially the coolant in the block..but I added straight coolant into the overflow last few days, hoping to rectify things. (?) Anyway, given what you said, I will drain the radiator and refill in the overflow. I need to find out what's leaking I see no leak from the radiator or hoses all look fine and the oil looks fine too (thinking if it's an internal leak like the head gasket) the car has about 90,000 miles seems too early to have a gasket problem....I will look at other posts to see what else it could be

#316 of 334 2001 Ford Focus Sedan by genel1

Jan 28, 2010 (9:13 am)

While driving, my speedometer will all of a sudden go to 0mph and stay there, then after a while will reengage to the correct speed. Seems to happen in the morning about 5 miles into the commute on a daily basis, then at other times just whenever. What is up? Thank you in advance for your replies

#317 of 334 Re: 2001 Ford Focus Sedan [genel1] by dnatech

Jan 31, 2010 (4:06 am)

Replying to: genel1 (Jan 28, 2010 9:13 am)
Hi,
I have a 2003 Focus sedan with 100,003 and little work done on it. I drive 40 miles a day mostly highway between 60 and 65 mph and get aprox. 34 MPG.
The AC no longer works but it's no big deal.
I have experienced loss of the display panel - speed, fuel gauge, engine block heat, radio,etc... when in summer it gets really hot and humid, and I left the window opened and it rained. The car works well but I have no idea at what speed I am driving.
Once the car gets dry, everything is back to normal.
It would seem to be a bad connection when it's humid?

#318 of 334 Timing belt on 2003 Ford Focus sedan by dnatech

Jan 31, 2010 (4:23 am)

Hi,
I just passed 100,000 miles and wonder if a timing belt (or chain?) should be replaced. The car runs really well and little maintenance has been done beside oil change and tires.
Is the camshaft belt scheduled to be replaced at 120,000 the equivalent??
I know, maybe a dumb question?

#319 of 334 Re: 2005 Focus SES Alignment Problems [mrsdoni] by steve502

Mar 02, 2010 (8:20 pm)

Replying to: mrsdoni (Jul 31, 2007 12:03 pm)
Here is the deal. Ford manufactors the Focus with a 2 degree negative camber. This makes your rear tires go defective as fast as 10,000 miles especially if you don't rotate your tires very often. You can get an alignment every month and it will not fix the defect. I have 24,000 miles on my focus and I have my third set of tires on it. I've did the research. An alignment shop here in Warrensburg MO found the problem and fixes around 4-5 Ford Focus a month. They put in a kit that brings the camber within a fraction of a inch which will give you about 3 times the life span of the tires. The don't have the ability to zero the camber. If you don't get this done, you will be buying tires like I did every year. I did make a complaint to my dealer and the Ford Company itself with no help so I sent my complaint to the National Highway Safety department which investigates safety issues and forces auto companies to fix defects with a recall. Need folks like you to do the same. The last set of rear tires I took off scared me. It was so close of coming apart. Call 1-888-327-4236 and make you complaint today.

#320 of 334 Re: 2005 Focus SES Alignment Problems [steve502] by markus5

Mar 04, 2010 (3:24 pm)

Replying to: steve502 (Mar 02, 2010 8:20 pm)
My '04 ZTS has 80,000 K, and I have posted before regarding "Tire Problems and Strategies for this vehicle. The original equipment tires were "" assymetrical non- directional All-season" Pirelli P-6's. Although they are not rated highly in Tire rack surveys, and I was not impressed with them after the original 20,000 plus miles, I may be looking to install a similar type of tire as soon as as snow season is over.
Over the last 6 years I have been through too many Max Performance summer tires which are only used for 7-8 months of the year. They were amazing in grip but have no guarantees for treadware and as they are typically directional they can not be rotated except front-back. It is obviously a trade-off. In this particular ( Focus) type of suspension & alignment set-up, It seems that tires with softer compounds are stressed especially in the 205-50 16 inch size. The smaller winter tire which I use does not seem to have these problems.
When it comes my tire costs over these 61/2 years, this has not been an economy car
But the Driving dynamics of these cars are tops, I will definitly be looking at the new model in 12 months or so !

#321 of 334 replacing air filter 2007 Focus at 100,000 miles by jordan24

Mar 13, 2010 (10:28 am)

I was surprised to find out that I did not have to change air filter until 100,000 miles. Really surprised when I found out it cost approx. $500. The mechanic told me later that I really did not have to do it; it looked good since I drive lots of highway miles. Why is this filter so different from others and to protect car when should I change it? I am anxious to get answers and cannot find any.

#322 of 334 Re: Fuse Panel 2007 Focus [piglover] by callieabby

Mar 24, 2010 (9:43 am)

Replying to: piglover (Oct 18, 2009 2:19 pm)
On my focus there are 2 tabs on the cd storage box. Push those in and it should come out easily. I have do it and is a bit tough at first cause I was scared to break it. But just apply some pressure to the tabs.

#323 of 334 Re: replacing air filter 2007 Focus at 100,000 miles [jordan24] by callieabby

Mar 24, 2010 (9:48 am)

Replying to: jordan24 (Mar 13, 2010 10:28 am)
I was informed this morning by a mechanic that those filters should be self cleaning and should not have to be replaced. I'm not sure since I have never heard of this before.

#324 of 334 Re: replacing air filter 2007 Focus at 100,000 miles [callieabby] by lost

Mar 26, 2010 (3:32 am)

Replying to: callieabby (Mar 24, 2010 9:48 am)
These filters are not self cleaning , they will clog up and need replacement eventually. There is a gauge built into the side that indicates how the filter is operating, green is good, red is bad.This must be checked while the engine is running.You can go to the Visteon web site to learn more about the filter, look for "Air Induction Systems".

Messages Page 33 of 34

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