Ford Focus Hatchback ZX3 - Part IX

norwaydoug

Congratulations on your purchase. It is nice to see a girl to be so passionate about a car. I think your first washing (use actual soap for washing a car....not dish soap!) will remove the unusual fogginess on your windshield. The humid weather may also be causing this and perhaps if you had your air conditioner on and the defrost setting on your climate system then the fogginess would disappear.

The goop on your gas cap is most likely some lubricant. Just wipe it off when you have a chance.

Remember when you close your cap to allow the cap to click a few clicks to ensure it is properly closed.

I agree with the other advice regarding the Focus name removal, the brakes (should not squeak, but let the car wear in a bit). I noticed on miine that the disk pads (appear very shiny) were quite uneven and slowly became very polished after about 1000 miles. Easy on the brakes.

Shifting is a bit of an art and perhaps you just have to get used to the 5 spd shifter. Just shift slowly and allow a bit more time for the clutch to be fully engaged prior to shifting. It may be that you are rushing it a bit. (Or have sensitive ears).

What options did you get. We like to know the colors (inside and out) of our new members.

You made a fine choice. I am thrilled with my z.

NorwayDoug

norwaydoug

To all new owners. Please read your owner's manual thoroughly. A lot of features you may not realize your z has will be revealed, information regarding care for the car (appearance and mechanical) is clearly stated in the document and it makes good bed time reading.


One feature I particularly like are the indoor hatch grab handles that allow you to close your hatch in a manner that prevents your hands to touch the outer paint surface of the hatch. Just open your hatch and see the grab handles on either side. (I did not see this in the owner's manual). The outside grab handle for the hatch is of course under the Ford Symbol. (I may be stating the obvious)

I can't stress it enough. You made a major purchase.

Drebe73: My badging idea about embossing the bumper would have both Focus and zx-3 on it and therefore you would know who makes the car and the model.

ND

norwaydoug

Did anyone try the peanut butter trick to see if it removed the residual wax? It makes sense to me....because the oils of the peanut butter would dissolve the wax.

Advice about waxing: Do not try to wax the black weather stripping. It will not come off!!! Just wax painted surfaces!! Take great care when applying the wax near the black stipping.

My Mother waxed all her black bumper guards and we were never able to remove it. She sold the car a few years back and so the peanut butter idea is moot for me.

silver_bullet

Zgrrrl, all of the above is good advice. I too am a fan of either Simple Green or Clear Magic and water to remove brake dust from your alloy wheels. It is worth the effort to put a coat of wax on them once you get them nice and clean, and try to wash your wheels weekly even if the weather is yucky and you aren't planning on washing the entire car. Once brake dust starts baking onto the wheels, you're fighting a losing battle to keep the finish nice. As suggested, try driving the car normally for several hundred miles before asking the dealer to inspect the brakes -- unless you notice some loss of stopping power, of course. The pads need to bed in properly before you can effectively judge brake performance.

zx3

N/D (or P/C?).....
("the little bumps are to keep your thumbs....")??
I'm dense, I didn't quite understand that.

Zgirrl.....
The "occasional rumbling" when shifting, could be if you didn't put the stick FULLY into the gear you were shifting into (2nd, 3rd, or whatever). I occasionally do it.
I use RainX "Self-Dry Spot Free Car Wash". 90% of water just drains off the car, no drying required. Works fine.
Just be SURE to follow the Instruction about doing your z ("a section at a time, rinsing the suds off with a hose that does NOT use a spray nozzle").
Just let the water pour out of the hose onto the suds, gentling washing them away. That section will now self-dry. Then go to next section of your z and repeat.
First, I do roof of my z. Then rear. Then front. Then left side. Then right side. Then (with whats left over in bucket) do wheels (RainX takes dirty brake-pad dust right off). Voila -- you're done.

"Peanut Butter" question (sorry, I forgot who asked it)........
I'll give it a shot tomorrow (if it doesn't rain) and post the results.

Finally......
A friend who owns a Body-Shop says he avoids using any kind of car wash (liquid or dry) on his newly-painted cars, for 30 days after he paints them ("that gleaming new paint is still soft, needs time to fully-harden").
Then he added:
"If I HAVE to wash it, I wash very gently, using a SMALL amount of mild liquid-dishwashing soap, the kind housewives hand-wash their dishes with (NOT the stuff used in dishwasher machines) in a BIG bucket of water, and rinse off."
And further added:
"And no way, do I use any wax or polish during those critical 30 days, that the paint is slowly curing to a diamond-hard finish."
That's not what I say or recommend (because I don't know). That's what he says. Other Paint-Pro's, might think/do differently.
zx3

zx3beast

zx3-keep your eyes on the road and your hands upon the wheel.let it roll,baby roll.the reference to
raised bumps on underside of steering wheel is for ideal grip 10 + 2 position.your body shop buddy is right.however,by the time our z was delivered it
had been painted at least 6to8 weeks earlier.i be-
lieve he was referring to freshly painted repaired
vehicles or new re-paint jobs.seems like you are
still enjoying your z.

silver_bullet

The bodyshop is correct - don't wax repainted areas until the paint has fully cured. Even using a car cover or nose mask on a repainted car is a no-no until the paint has fully cured - allow at least 90 days. Factory paint formulations are different from the paints used by bodyshops for repairs/repaints. It isn't possible to fully heat cure a repair job, except for using localized heat lamps, so repair paints are designed for the "quick in, quick out" approach. A factory finish can be considered fully cured by the time you get the car. Your window sticker and the ID sticker on the driver's doorjamb list your build date - chances are your car is older than you think.

zgrrrl

Thanks guys, you've been very helpful easing my mind.

Of course I am passionate about my ZX3! What owner can't be?

oh, and ND, to answer your question...my ZX3 is:

**5 speed
**CD Silver
**Dark Charcoal interior
**A/C ( a must in IL muggy weather)
**Tilt/tele ( a must for my short being)

That wraps it up...

BUT...

The brakes pretty much whine every time I brake now. Not a groan, not scraping, not even a squeak really... just a high pitched whine. We'll see how that turns out, I guess.

Thanks again all.

treva

I too can hear faint noises in my automatic, when I'm coasting, or slowing down. I'm pretty sure it's not the brakes, coz the noise doesn't increase/decrease when I apply them. I think in my case it's the torque converter; so perhaps it's the transmission that's the cause. The noise disappears upon acceleration. In any case, it is only a very faint noise and isn't intrusive (yet).

I too got the white spots on the side black trim, but found that the spray-on-wipe-off clear magic worked perfectly at restoring the black color. It's remained so, even after further washing.

Has anyone considered the "California Brush" ??, that you wave like a magic-wand over the paintwork, and apparently collects all the dust. I've seen them in the shops, but have wondered whether it'll scrape the paintwork. I'm apprehensive about moving solid particles all over my shiny clearcoated beauty.

imsoyboy

I got the oil changed this past Saturday at 2,435 miles. I had my husband bring it in and explain to them that the engine only takes 4.5 quarts of oil. He spoke with the service rep and the technician who was taking care of my car. Upon receiving the receipt, the oil amount said 5 quarts. My husband got pretty upset that after telling two people, it was still wrong. They called the tech up to speak with him about it. The tech stated that the computer tellls them to put in 5 but per his request only put the 4.5 in. I just can't believe that the computer is wrong. I think that's where all the screw-ups happen. I checked the dip stick after the car rested a while and it was fine. I guess they'll get it right one day.

silver_bullet

California Car Dusters work very well on DUSTY cars when used as directed. If the car is very dirty or has dried mud etc. on it, wash it properly. Don't use the duster on a damp or wet car. I you live in a dry, but dusty climate, use of the duster can extend the time between washings. If you press down with the duster while moving it over a gritty surface, expect to see fine surface scratches.

norwaydoug

Has anyone actually seen a yellow ZX3? I am curious because it is a real statement color. The zinc yellow for the ZX-2 is a bit of an odd color, but I have heard the zx-3 yellow is much more lemony in nature.

Is it a 2001 MY option or is it available in 2000 MY.

ND

zgrrrl

I have seen the "VW Bug" yellow ZX3. There is one sitting outside one of the dealerships I pass on my way to work.

Not bad looking, just not something I'd want. The new yellow is supposed to be "more vibrant"...from what I've heard. I think someone posted on that awhile ago.

mzn

Our ZX3 conversation continues here.

carlady/host