9 replies to this topic

[Black.Ghost]

I am about to start doing some research into this, but the knowledge here is quite good so thought I would ask here first. 

 

I have three problems with the Focus at the moment, and would like to get them all sorted fairly soon as planning on driving to France or Austria for skiing in a couple of weeks. 

 

Problem 1 - The speedo - it randomly just cuts out. The needle drops to zero, even though there is no change in speed, and the odometer stops increasing (which isn't that surprising given the needle is reading 0). Sometimes, the display will display dashes and all the numbers disappear. It normally last for a few seconds, and then jumps back again. Today it lasted for a few minutes. A few times I have found dropping to 4th and then going back to 5th has bought it back, or it may just be coincidental timing, but that trick hasn't worked the last couple of times. I'm thinking loose connection at the gearbox end.

 

Problem 2 - Engine cuts out - a few times the battery light has come on, quickly followed by oil light and then the engine management light (at which point the engine has cut out). It has always started again straight away. When the garage changed the timing belt, they told me that the auxiliary belt tensioner wasn't tightening the belt enough. I thought they were trying it on for a bit of extra cash so said I can do it myself. Is it likely to be this? I've had a look and at idle, all the pulleys still seem to be turning fine. I have not had a problem starting the car at all, the temperature gauge doesn't go above half way and I can't think of any other symptoms. This has only happened since I had the timing belt done a short while back - the car runs fine and I don't believe the timing to be out or anything like that. 

 

Problem 3 - scraping sound - whenever the steering wheel is turned even a little bit to the right, there sounds like a scraping sound or something coming from the nearside front wheel area. I was thinking it might be a bearing, but thought that would make it all the time and that it's probably more likely steering related. 

 

Any help on any on of these would be much appreciated, and I am now off to scour the Ford forums for any useful info. 

[Black.Ghost]

http://www.honestjoh...dex.htm?t=15028

 

Well it seems problem 1 and 2 are in fact related, which is good news. The fix seems nice and cheap as well, so just need to order one of those.

 

Worse case is I'll need to get the ECU re-programmed as well but again not the end of the world. 

Edited by Black.Ghost, 06 February 2015 - 05:15 PM.

[Badboytunes]

With regards to cutting out and the iffy speedo ect, I would try a new battery. These cars are sensitive to stable voltage and if a battery starts to fail the gauges will do what you describe.

 

If it cuts out, and all lights come on, I would suggest that the battery may have a dead cell. Kwik-fit or similar can check it for you.

[minimanclive]

The speed sensor on the gearbox will make the speedo play up. My own mk1 Focus loses the speedo occasionally.

[Black.Ghost]

Yeah that's what the link suggests. I will try a different battery in there as well if this fix doesn't work. 

 

I have also had a quick look, and I can get a set of Focus wheels with 4 winter tyres on for £100 at the moment - conveniently just up the road from where I need to travel for work next week! That is a result. At that price, i won't even bother selling them on either, I'll just put them in the loft until next year! 

[mab01uk]

We had a Mk1 Focus and the same speedo problem was fixed by fitting a new speed sensor on the gearbox.

[Black.Ghost]

Yeah I think I am going to order the speed sensor and have a stab at it next weekend. Time now for a garage sort out - yet again! 

[M J W J]

My parents have had all the same problems. We changed speed sensors twice. It made a difference once but not the second time.

 

After changing it on my mum's petrol focus we ran diagnostics on it again (check engine light came back on) and it came back with a load of other faults which weren't there before.

 

First we cleared them which did nothing, they just came back. Air flow meter, clutch sensor, brake sensor and a faulty temp sensor were the ones that were related to the engine. We also had an immobiliser issue. While it never stopped the car from starting it always came back.

 

After swapping all the sensors from another working focus it still made no difference.

 

Eventually the engine began to always run hot despite a new thermostat being fitted and flushing the coolant system as well. The fuel economy was terrible and the speedo still didn't always work.

 

We are still not sure what caused it and if the problems were related but personally if you get this far and still having issues, I'd cut your losses and sell. My mum sold the car in the end as it was not worth the hassle and ford wanted too much to have a look at it.

 

Every ford we have owned at some point has suffered from electrical problems. It seams to be a thing with them in my experience.

 

My dad's diesel focus was cured though by just a changing the speed sensor so you may be lucky.

 

As for the scrapping sound. Check your power steering fluid levels are topped up to the max. My dad's focus used to always make a scrapping sound if it was the slightest bit below the max.

[Black.Ghost]

Thanks MJWJ. I'll see what the sensor changing achieves. Mad we are off to Framce or Austria at the end of the month, should be a good test once it's done.

On a side note, I got some Focus wheels with 8mm tread winter tyres off eBay today which isa bonus. Exactly the same wheels as I have now as well.

[The Matt]

Does your rev counter, fuel or temp gauge zero too? If not it does sound like the speed sensor OR the loom from it. I had one once that I changed the sensor, cured it for 3 or 4 months then it started playing up again. That had a really small kink in the loom that had caused one of the wires to fray. Soldered it back together and good as gold.

Sometimes it's the dash cluster at fault though (though not likely to cause the cutting out).

VSS is an easy job on them anyway.