Ask the Car People.SM


Ford Focus Electrical and Lighting Problems

486 messages,  Last post on Dec 19, 2012 at 7:45 AM

You are in the Ford Focus Forum.

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

Messages Page 43 of 50

#414 of 486 Re: Alternators keeps "burning up". [rachpach1984] by steveinarizona

Aug 30, 2011 (11:40 am)

Replying to: rachpach1984 (Aug 02, 2011 1:11 pm)
Have you found out what the problem is burning up alternators? I have a 2005 Ford Focus SE that I bought several years ago with 34,000 miles on it and now have 80,000. Recently the electrical started acting up doing pretty much all the weird things everybody else has described. Won't start but jumpstarts fine. Can drive it a few days no problem and then goes to acting up again. Had the alternator changed about a month ago and seemed ok for a few weeks and back to the same problem again. This is the second autozone alternator. Mechanic at NAPA has no idea other then to put a new more expensive 130 amp alternator on it for around $500 but I am afraid to invest that kind of money if I am going to have the same problem again. Seems many people are having this issue with their focuses but not really too many solutions. Mechanics today are weak in their troubleshooting skills and rely on computer codes that don't always correctly tell you what the problem is. They usually want to replace the alternator or the battery then after that its "I don't know" and they say we can't figure it out. Something is causing the alternators to burn up.

#415 of 486 Tail light assembly keeps melting--Is there a recall anyone knows of? by therays4

Sep 01, 2011 (9:58 pm)

I have a 2005 Ford Focus station wagon. Last year the right tail light went out. When I went to have it fixed, I was told I had to buy the whole tail light assembly because the heat from the bulb and/or wiring had melted it. It cost us $300+ for the part and labor at a Ford Dealer. Now, the left tail light has gone out. I go to the mechanic and it's the same issue I had last year with the other light. While there, he checked the right one for me (I had NOT mentioned the prior problem) and he says it's about to melt too!!! Seriously, I cannot afford to replace both of these entire tail lights every year at $300 a pop per light. Does anyone know if there is a recall on this? This seems like some really bad design or something that the lights keep "melting." The new assembly for the right tail light was just put in last year and it's already "almost melted"? That is crazy.

#416 of 486 headlights and starting issues by achoward

Sep 02, 2011 (8:14 am)

I have a 05 Ford Focus ZX5 hatchback manual with 83,xxx kms. Lately iv been having alot of issues with starting the car and my headlights dont turn on automatically anymore.
 
The starting issues arnt all the time but are more often than not. Ill turn the key and it will sound like its trying to start but either no fuel is getting to the engine or no spark. I have to turn it back off and try again several times before it will start. Odd thing is that even tho it is fuel injection if i pump the pedal it will start or if i leave it trying to start for a few seconds it will stutter then start. Iv done an engine clean with seafoam and dont use cheap gas.
 
The headlights are supposed to come on when the accessories do, but mine dont tend to anymore. I have to drive with my highway lights on if im driving at night and other drivers dont appreciate being blinded. I replaced the bulbs and it still happens. ill have to either turn the car off and on several times to maybe get them to work or sometimes (rarely) they will come on (or off if they were on) if i go over a bump. im hoping its not a break in the wire.
 
Could the two issues be connected?

#417 of 486 Re: headlights and starting issues [achoward] by steveinarizona

Sep 02, 2011 (8:18 am)

Replying to: achoward (Sep 02, 2011 8:14 am)
I have a 2005 Ford Focus in the repair shop right now for an alternator problem. Our problems started about two months ago with the car acting up not starting, or when idling the dash goes crazy with lights going bright or weak and various electrical components not working such as headlights, radio, ect. We replaced the alternator for the 3rd time with another autozone warranty alternator and it lasted about two weeks. The NAPA repair facility thinks it is due to cheaply made autozone alternators and we are now installing a good quality Bosh alternator which was about $330. The battery was replaced last year. I had them check the pigtail connector to the alternator as other post I had read had found that the inside of the pigtail had serious corrosion in it that can create high resistance and poor grounding connection with the alternator and end up causing diodes inside the alternator to fail and burn up your battery. The diodes are responsible for converting the current from A/C to D/C and there are six of them in sets of two. He said the diodes are the most common thing to fail inside the altrnator and casing huge fluctuations in the current to the battery and the car wiring. We are picking up the car tomorrow and I will post back how everything goes over the weekend since this is a company vehicle we use a lot. It has 80,000 miles on it. So, this is alternator 4 in a year but the first highend one so we will see if that makes a difference plus it will now be under NAPA warranty if it fails.

#418 of 486 Re: gauges [corbryant] by steveinarizona

Sep 02, 2011 (8:36 am)

Replying to: corbryant (Mar 15, 2011 3:31 pm)
Is it still working fine today? Have similar problems with our 2005 model.

#419 of 486 Re: headlights and starting issues [steveinarizona] by Mr_Shiftright HOST

Sep 02, 2011 (9:12 am)

Replying to: steveinarizona (Sep 02, 2011 8:18 am)
NAPA does have a point about the quality of chain-store rebuilds. Alternators are rebuilt from random reconditioned parts. They don't rebuild each one using all its original parts. So if the process is rushed or they cut corners, quality control goes downhill fast.

#420 of 486 Re: headlights and starting issues [achoward] by oldfordmech

Sep 02, 2011 (12:21 pm)

Replying to: achoward (Sep 02, 2011 8:14 am)
? Is eng hard to start when eng is warm, Does it always turn over ok but will not fire ? You May Have an ign sw going bad causing both problems.
I need more info.
Cliff

#421 of 486 Re: Tail light assembly keeps melting--Is there a recall anyone knows of? [therays4] by hault

Sep 02, 2011 (1:52 pm)

Replying to: therays4 (Sep 01, 2011 9:58 pm)
I have a 2004 Malibu and a 2005 Freestyle with the overheating bulbs. My solution was switch to led bulb. It flashes faster, but it eliminates the meltdowns.

#422 of 486 Re: Tail light assembly keeps melting--Is there a recall anyone knows of? [therays4] by oldfordmech

Sep 02, 2011 (3:02 pm)

Replying to: therays4 (Sep 01, 2011 9:58 pm)
There are after-market light suppliers such as Keystone lighting and you may also NAPA for these assys. Good luck.
Cliff

#423 of 486 Re: Tail light assembly keeps melting--Is there a recall anyone knows of? [hault] by therays4

Sep 03, 2011 (2:47 pm)

Replying to: hault (Sep 02, 2011 1:52 pm)
Thank you! I'll try the LED bulb this time with the new assembly. I appreciate the help!!

Messages Page 43 of 50

To POST a message, please Sign In.

Advertisement

Browse by Category

Browse by Vehicle
   View All Vehicles

Browse by Board
Browse by Topic
View All Topics

Edmunds Community

Advertisement