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Ford Focus: Problems & Solutions - READ ONLY

577 messages,  Last post on Oct 16, 2006 at 1:39 PM

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

Messages Page 26 of 59

#245 of 577 Re: To buy a focus or not to buy a focus? [helix] by akangl

Aug 30, 2004 (4:39 pm)

Replying to: helix (Aug 30, 2004 2:21 pm)
While 2001 may have been a bad year, as was 2000 its not fair to condem the car forever. Ford does admit that there were some problems with the early models it seems like the 03 and 04s are much better.
 
I had an Escort that was a wonderful car and decided about 5 weeks ago to buy a Focus as a gas saver. Bought a 2004 Focus ZX3 base, manual trans, only option is ABS brakes, paid $11k new. In 5 weeks we've put over 5000 miles on the car with no trouble. It seems as solid as my Escort and more so then the Corolla I owned. I fully expect to get 200k miles out of it.
 
The Focus is a good economy car, nothing more, nothing less.

#246 of 577 windshield replacement by alyosha73

Sep 02, 2004 (1:01 pm)

Was unfortunate to get hit with a rock on my last trip home and sure enough this time it generated a crack about 10 inches long, starting from the molding on the drivers side, little below eye level, curving up. Had a bunch of little chips before and was kind of thinking about getting a new windshield before, but this happened. Since I dropped comprehensive/collision coverage as of last year, replacement is out of pocket. Called a bunch of glass companies from yellow pages and found out the price range - from 170 to 350, depending on the glass and installer. In glass choices were - OEM (Fopd/Carlite/Visteon), PPG, Guardian, Safelite. The lowst quotes were from Guardian and Safelite, who install their own produced glass. Made them bid against each other and Safelite offered to do it for 150 plus tax, total coming to $167.
They scheduled to come over next day to my choice of places. My concern was about the quality of the glass (subjective), safety (use of the right glue, priming, time for glue to set). Clearly there is no information on how to compare different brands of glass- other than price, but I am not ready to automatically assume that more expensive glass is of better quality. As a matter of fact OEM glass has more middlemen in the process and just as easily can be of low quality, since manufacturer just submits the glass contract to the best bid, unless it is some kind of a luxury car (not the case with my Focus SVT). Speaking in defense of those self producers (Safelite and Guardian) they make the glass in US, to survive US manufactuering environment, they have to be pretty good (sadly). The glass which was eventually installed by Safelite guy on my car was manufactured in Ohio. Optical quality is subjective and so far I cant really tell any difference, so here are my observations. Safelite glass has the same dot matrix pattern for visor and around the edges (where the black border is for UV protection of the urethane glue). No visible difference form Carlite OEM. In addition there is a slight greenish tint stripe at the top, which is pretty much not noticable, however it is extra, which was not present in Carlite. I was concerned that Safelite glass can be thinner and less durable than Carlite (OEM). I took measurements using a micrometer in the same bottom part of the windshield, where there was no glue. Safelite turned to be thicker by 0.03 inches. Carlite was 0.200 inches think, Safelite was 0.234 inches thick in the same place (roughly bottom middle).
 Next came the installation job. The installer was quite a nice guy, who took his time doing his job and still finished within 1 hour 20 minutes (he is being paid per installation, but gets fined if the installation takes too long). He removed the old glass without making any mess, he knew where to pry the covers, where to unscrew, how to remove one of the wipers (very professional) and such. He mentioned that he did many Foci before, but there are a few on the road too. He trimmed the leftover urethane, and primed the metal, even though he paid extra care not to scratch any paint (none was scratched, but he was careful). Then he used heat activated urethane glue (my understanding it is one of the best kinds, had windshield replaced on my car before (4 years ago and was not impressed with technology used). Then he quickly set the windshield and pressed it lightly. That was it. Excellent job. Supposedely the job is garanteed for the life of the car, but I am being realistic about it, if the windshield will work for another two years, I am going to be happy camper.

#247 of 577 Thankfully by akangl

Sep 02, 2004 (3:28 pm)

In Alaska we don't have state inspections and all that. If our windshield gets hit with a rock and we can get it fixed (the chip) before it cracks, great, if not, oh well. I won't replace a windshield until the cracks totally block my line of vision. I think our record was a year without any chips/cracks. They don't care about cracked windshields up here, if they did a lot of people would be replacing them every 2-3 months.
 
My Focus is clear for the moment, so is my Titan, our Dodge got hit the other day and cracked......oh well. Winter's coming so I'm sure by spring all 3 will be busted. Gotta love Alaskan roads.

#248 of 577 windshield replacement by alyosha73

Sep 03, 2004 (8:55 am)

I see yoru point, it is just that previously I drove for a year with a crack and it was annoying the heck out of me, then I finally got the windshiled replaced and then I sold the car in a year- so I only enjoyed clear view for a year, while I could have done it sooner and reaped the benefits. So now I got replacement 3 days after the crack. I am pretty optimistic about getting at least 2 years of use out of it, according to my experience with roads in my state. I just wanted to right a review, cause apparently not to many reviews are available on the net, and I could not make informed decision and had to go with my gut. So far so good.
On another note- since you say cracked windshields are somewhat a norm in Alaska, did you see any benefit from using those plastic hood deflectors? Ironically I had one installed like 3 hours before I had my windshield cracked, could be that this thing protects your hood at the expense of windshield.

#249 of 577 by akangl

Sep 03, 2004 (9:06 am)

I don't see any benefit to them, usually they just push the rock higher onto the windshield.
 
Broken windshields ARE the norm here in Alaska. My hubby's Ram has a nice crack after getting hit with a HUGE rock, took a chunk out of the windshield. We'll fix it when its not able to be seen out of anymore.
 
My mom drove around for 6 years with a broken windshield in her car, was broken all the way through, if a semi went by her she would have to hold the windshield.

#250 of 577 CAbin air filter by av8r

Sep 19, 2004 (6:23 am)

Has anyone found an after market access panel for the cabin air filter?
 
The stock access panel is a pain to open and reseal.

#251 of 577 CD Player Problem by docweston

Sep 25, 2004 (5:55 pm)

CD Player in my 2002 Focus ZX5 displays "CD ERROR" message and wont play or eject CD's. Is it in need of cleaning or more serious help?
Docweston

#252 of 577 2004 ZX5 by evolmootion

Oct 03, 2004 (6:58 pm)

Anyone have problems with a 2004 ZX5?

#253 of 577 I have by akangl

Oct 04, 2004 (12:01 am)

A 2004 ZX3 (basically the same car) and we are at 8000 miles in 2 months with ZERO problems. Probably the best little car we have ever owned.

#254 of 577 04 ZX3.......what's next? by zx3trauma

Oct 22, 2004 (12:30 pm)

My 04 ZX3 is currently in the shop for the 4th time for a loud moaning, whining noise in the front end. First they said it was a bearing in the front axle and ordered the replacement axle. I took it in when the part was ready and they said OH, now Ford says we can only replace the bearing, not the entire axle so we have to order a bearing only and send the axle back. The next week the bearing came in so I took it in and they replaced. Drove home, same noise only now it pulls to the right. Took it back yesterday, they swear it is a bad tire. Forgot to mention I have only had it 5 months and it has 9K on it. They rotate tires, noise is still there. New tires put on, noise is still there. They just called me and said they found that the noise is coming from the transmission, NOT the axle or tires!!!!!!! So now they are removing the transmission to investigate and they have no idea what is wrong.
 
I also have the "cutting out.....acts like it is carbuerated" actions going on.....and they say there is no fix and they don't know what to do.

Messages Page 26 of 59

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