Ford Focus Hatchback ZX3 - Part X

zx3beast

your analysis is right on target and i agree given
the scenario you had described.i was assuming the
worse but hoping for the better.i had posted earlier about that piece of junk clutch pedal
return spring,given that experience and what drebe was initially describing i didnt want to see him get stuck.also,drebe is new to the manual trans.
better safe than sorry.i have experienced the bad throw-out bearing many years ago,where you can shift than it gets stuck,then it frees and event-
ually gets stuck.it struck me odd that he just noticed this because he has been driving for a while.by the way,how are you making out with your situation?

tuner1

I know 19hp is not much but a zero increase in 0-60ft times that just plain sucks.The zx3 SCC tested had a 60 plus hp increase and yet only a 15.9 1/4 mile.Look I really love my car but I wanted to avoid touching the ecu.I'm sure ford is happy that people that tend to buy civics and integras are taking a look at the focus but why make it difficult to extract performance?

tuner1

I know 19hp is not much but a zero increase in 0-60ft times that just plain sucks.The zx3 SCC tested had a 60 plus hp increase and yet only a 15.9 1/4 mile.Look I really love my car but I wanted to avoid touching the ecu.I'm sure ford is happy that people that tend to buy civics and integras are taking a look at the focus but why make it difficult to extract performance?

cscott1

I am finally going to get a zx3. I can’t wait! Ordered mine today and should have the brand spankin’ new 2001 by Aug 15. Thanks you for all the wonderful things you have said about these cars, it’s what finally convinced me to order. Here’s what I got:

Twilight Blue
Dark Charcoal
Zx3 Premium Package
Zx3 Power Group
Anti-Lock Brakes
Side-Impact Air Bags
5-Speed

And the best part of all- I got this car at dealer invoice!!!! I would highly recommend Valley Ford in Longmont, CO to anyone in this area. Mary Merill-Sweeny is who I worked with and she was great!

powerslide

The difference between the ZX3 and the sedan rating may have something to do with the rear doors in the sedan having the impact beam which may add some rigidity.

guyindasky

What was your cost out the door?

drebe73

it was a one time occurance but it sounded like metal scraping. today was such a weird day with the clutch. grinded gears for a second for the first time. I am really noticing how the car crawls when the A/C is on. At night when I am driving with the windows open the car seesm to ride so smoothly but with the A/C it is really sluggish. I shift at 3000 rpms normally but with the A/C on i just want to push it to 4000 just so the car will move. I should revise that when the fan is on 1 its better than when the fan is on 3. Just my observation.

superf22

I have already read here and at other forums that their z don't work well with the a/c on. I keep the a/c on most of the time and have no complains...I am a pretty conservative driver, and plus i'm still breaking her in, I'm never the one ahead of the crowd at the street lights to put it that way. so far I feel no difference with the a/c off. I don't feel the 1800rpm hesitation either. I've tried and tried but she just keeps running smoothly.

I really don't think it's safe to say this car is proving to be unreliable just yet, bugs I knew it would have before I even considered buying it, but that's something all cars from all brands have to deal with, specially all new models like the focus. I think most people are pretty happy with their z's.

zx3beast

superf22 - the hesitation or bog at 1800-2200 rpm
or thereabouts is an extremely slight aberration.
it can go unnoticed and does. as the engine
breaks-in performance will significantly improve
even with a/c on. i agree that the z will prove to be reliable long-term.there will be bugs but i dont
expect anything major.

zx3lemon

Has anybody else had a bad time with their ZX3 Hatchback. Less than 1000 miles, mine has been towed 4 times. It fails to start. No crank. Nothing. I have returned it to the dealer under the terms of the Iowa law.

whyford

Thanks for the Turbo Mag info...second time today that i heard about the article!

I was pulling into work and a guy i work with driving his 911 porche was looking REAL hard at my car. First time anyone really looked that i noticed anyhow.

Well at work i asked him how the car was running and he said he bought a T-Bird turbo for $300 Beaver Bucks and had most of the plumbing done! Wow i said...then he told me about a Turbo set up for the Focus! Egads a TURBO? Really?? And i mentioned that Sports Compact Car had a supercharged Focus zx3 and for $3k US V.S 1/4 mile times i thought it not much good.

9.5 seconds 0 - 60 now seems real. For the money spent for a supercharger to gain...what? .75 seconds? Nahhhhh.

My beefs so far,

The other day my 5-speed with 700 U.S miles (in Canada we drive K.M's) clutch vibrated about half throw to the floor and FELT like a bad throw out bearing (second gear and between residential stop signs, no power on). well i put the zx-3 in neutral and pumped the clutch a few times and the problem was still present.

Gone now but i will watch for this as this is not normal.

Third gear residential roads at 2400-2800 RPMS no gas....slow cruise, the engine power boats with A/C on and with A/C off...This is getting to me!

The car feels wierd when this happens and does so every day in all weather. As this is a 5-speed and not an automatic i would tend to think that it is a fuel management fault in the Chip itself?

In the next few weeks i am going on a 200 mile Highway trip ending in Gods Country with lakes,hills and underused straight roads

Might have a former World Class race car driver there that weekend and if he let's me follow in his M3 BMW.....i might let him drive my NEW Focus.

Other thoughts?

My Dealer is good so far. My Salesperson has called to enquire about how i feel (on the answering M/C) but i WILL get back to them when i have an HONEST and TIME tested opinion.

Rims and tires.

WHY would anyone want to spend money on rims and tires? Sheesh, not to many years ago what are stock tires on the ZX-3 were aftermarket. These are GOOD tires and rims boys and girls.

Thanks to every that posts the bad points as most of us know the good points already.

Nuff said

zx3beast

i had spotted a zinc yellow z at a local gas station.my first close-up in person look. this
color looks incredible on the z .the owner bought
the 5spd. charcoal interior right off the showroom
floor.this z had stock ground-effects,including
rear wing.i didnt realize this was a current
option or if dealer had it done.it really adds
a nicely finished look to the z. anyone who orderd the zinc or is thinking about it,will not be disappointed.i just wish it was available when i bought.it looks very sporty without being gaudy.
it just looks right on the z.

hondattitude

where was the location of the wing on the zinc yellow focus? did you recognize the other parts of the body kit at all?

zx3beast

it looks like this -
www.focussport.com/bodykit.htm

run4life

Greetings to all!
I am one of the great masses which view this site daily but somehow have nothing of importance to pass on and thus just sit back and enjoy the ride and am thankful that my experience thus far has been totally positive.
I happened to come upon my Infra red Zx3 on a local dealers lot as I was in the process of looking for a replacement for another (Dodge Omni Hatchback). I was very impressed with the automobile and turned to the Internet to check out its reputation. I gained a wealth of knowledge in reading about its attributes here on this site. Thanks to all who have shared their experience and knowledge about our auto.
To make a long story short, I went back and bought one of the two that were on the lot. I think I ended up with a good deal and paid cash for the new family member ($13400) and took it home that day (purchased at the end of March).
It has about 4500 miles and that includes a trip to New Mexico from NC and through Colorado. My gas mileage seems to be better than most of the folks here on the site. I get about 37 miles/gal with my 5 speed, but I am 60 years old and have very little interest in speed other than going the speed limit which is 65-75 across country.
The car has A/C, ABS, mats, Keyless entry and theft prevention(?) smokers package (which I have no need for since I run 10 miles each day and on alternate days ride my bike 30+ miles) So far I am totally satisfied with its performance and have nothing negative to report. I will continue to read and watch the posts and enjoy them very much. I will let you know if anything develops which may have bearing on others. Thanks for being there and my best to all and may you all enjoy miles of happy and peaceful motoring.

fgaydos

I'm talking about the car wax on the plastic trim. Even though I thought 'Black Magic' took it away, it seems it was just hiding till the BM dried out. Came back uglier than ever.
So I put the peanut butter on it and time will tell.

silyboy

I know there is a performance parts forum, but this one is more widely read. Has anyone installed the AEM Short Ram Air intake on their Focus yet??? If you have how was the ease of install? Performance gains? Increase in noise? Difficulties? Would love to know.......

zx3beast

fgaydos- i had just finished reading pcleveland1's
book(1001 uses for peanut butter). some i cant describe here.but the one where he states to use
it to remove wax from molding is ingenious.it works
and it works well.

zx3beast

best of luck with your new z.very nice post.

jwkessler1

whyford - If by "Motor Boat" you mean surging - alternatly accellerating then slowing uncontrollably at low speeds, I experianced that on my Escort GT when it developed a leak (crack) in the air intake duct which messed up the Mass Air Flow Sensor. The thing was darn nearly undriveable until the leak was patched, after which is ran perfectly.

I would suggest having your dealer look in that area real closly.

< Third gear residential roads at 2400-2800 RPMS no
< gas....slow cruise, the engine power boats with
< A/C on and with A/C off...This is getting to me!

< The car feels wierd when this happens and does so
< every day in all weather. As this is a 5-speed
< and not an automatic i would tend to think that
< it is a fuel management fault in the Chip itself?

zx3ow2

I have 3500 miles on my ZX3. Bought it in June.
Runs fine. Noticed the glitch @2800 rpm. Gas
milage sucks, only getting about 22 mpg. My 94 GEO Prism with 182m miles still gets 30 mpg with auto transmissin -- my ZX3 is 5 - speed.

Thanks for all the good info on the posts.

njzx3

hey everyone, I just got back from a 1 week criuse... took me a while to catch up on all the weeks posts. Anyways, I must say... it's like Chinese Water Torture knowing that my car is due any time now but still isnt here. I was thinking...

Since i ordered my 2000 model about a month and a half ago (the end of may) do you guys think that my Z will be less prone to problems since Ford is aware of so many of the issues that they would correct them while building my car? Being that I dont have my car yet, and in just over a month I have to drive from NJ back to Tampa, FL... i'm not gonna be a happy driver if my new car starts crappin out on me on that 1000+ mile trip.

as for the yellow Z... I saw one on my way from NJ to NH today.. boy 'o' boy was it SMOKIN! Not a color that I would chose since i tend to have a lead foot and dont want to be a big yellow radar target, but I must say, those of you who have zincers ordered are going to absolutely love it.

Also, I was looking into a body kit for my Z for when it finally comes, but i dont think a 1,600 appearance mod fits anywhere into my budget for quite a while. My girlfriend is gonna get me all tinted up as a gift!!

anyways, im rambling. it's good to be back

Kevin

floridafocus1

I bought my ZX3 in late Feb. It's been a blast to drive and I have had no mechanical problems to date. The car has an auto transmission and the acceleration is fine, esp. for a small car. What I like best is that the Focus is comfy and rides like a larger vehicle. My gas mileage varies, usually about 27 mpg, but on my last road trip I got 33 mpg. My last 2 cars were Saturns and this one beats both of those hands down. I would recommend this model to anyone looking for a reliable, affordable, fun little car.

njzx3

Florida, im glad you are enjoying yer focus... i cant wait to get mine!! I was actually just in miami yesterday... cruise ship docked there and a friend of mine picked me up... you may have heard of him... the guy that goes by the name Lita on the Power96 Radio morning show?

What color/options did you get on your Z?

Kevin

focusfanatic

Will 205's fit on our stock rims?

gabegarwick

Sorry to hear about your troubles! I am also in Iowa, (Des Moines). I've had my ZX3 since the end of March, 2000 miles on it now... no problems...

Do you know when your car was manufactured? (I'm curious to know if it was manufactured before 2000...)

What are you replacing the ZX3 with? (Another ZX3 I hope!) Really, overall, very few of us have had problems with the car...

cheers,
Gabe

tuner1

As usual mr.bullet knows what he is talking about,remember to keep the tire size at least 90% of your wheel width.

stanky73

I have 6500 miles on my ZX3 (got Feb 20th) and the following items have broken:

Throttle position control sensor (resulted in towing),
Brake fluid sensor,
Water in both headlights,
Leak from the roof antenna area,
Leak on the pass. floor from dash area (still not fixed after multiple attempts),

This car is not waterproof. Guess it doesn't rain much in Mexico. My car is in the shop more than my '87 blazer with 175K on it that it replaced! On top of it, is not uncommon to wait up to a month for a part with this model - as I did with the headlights. Oh yea, the engine sounds like a diesel between 1500 and 2500 rpms as well. The service at the dealerships is great, the car is total and complete crap though. I don't care how well it rides, steers, about features v. price --- if it can't stay out of the shop for more than a month at a time there are serious reliability issues here. Pay more, buy a Honda or Toyota!!!

Please take my advice,
Joe
stanky73@peoplepc.com

togneter

Funny, I live in Seattle. As you might have heard, it rains a bit here. No leakage problems yet. Sounds like you were a little unlucky. But please don't project a single car's problems into a pattern for the entire model.

Hope your luck improves.

zx3beast

any make or model can potentially be a lemon. i agree with togneters post.the zx3 has so far proven
to be a trouble-free vehicle with minor problems.
i have personally experienced two myself but i cant
fault the entire car based on that.this is the first post i have heard concerning water leakage.
heres hoping your problems are resolved in a timely
manner.

pcleveland2

Have to agree with xz3beast that any individual make or model can potentially be a lemon. I can't fault my ZX3 at all. Over 12.000 miles trouble free, and I expect many many more trouble free miles. Have seen other individual cars like yours including Chevy Blazers which were not up to par and spent many weeks in the shop.

If you got a lemon, you have your state lemon law for protection. There was a link in one of the post last week to the states lemon laws. Go for it, but make sure you do it right, get all the documentation.

As to the leak on the passenger side, this is covered by a technical bulletin. Get your service manager to look it up. It is fixable. Don't know why the headlights had water in them, but that normally should have been a easy fix. Usually a new gasket does it. Shouldn't have had any down time on that. The sensors are the only things which should have caused down time.

In other words - your ford might be crap in your mind, BUT that doesn't make all fords crap.

Pat

njzx3

I aggree with Tog, Beast and pc... check out your states lemon law.

gabegarwick

I seem to remember that someone here ordered an armrest for their ZX3 and had it installed...

Who was it? (Please step forward)
(How much was the armrest? I'm hearing conflicting stories. I hear $80, then I hear $180)

thanks,
Gabe

silver_bullet

No problems with either my ZX3 or my fiancee's, beyond my not-quite-straight steering wheel at delivery, and my fiancee's misadjusted rear hatch latch. Both cars are running like tops. Let's hope Egg Yolk / Zinc Yellow doesn't become known as Lemon Yellow

I've got several hundred miles on the EBC Kevlar brake pads now - if you are thinking about it, do it. Your wheels will thank you, and the pedal feels great. Their claim of virtually no dust has proven true.

whyford

jwkessker1 wrote "whyford - If by "Motor Boat" you mean surging -
alternatly accellerating then slowing
uncontrollably at low speeds, I experianced that on
my Escort GT when it developed a leak (crack) in
the air intake duct which messed up the Mass Air
Flow Sensor. The thing was darn nearly undriveable
until the leak was patched, after which is ran
perfectly."

Thanks for you reply. My "Motor Boating" term is something i must have read....if you are in a boat and shut down the power the wake behind the boat will surge forward and push the boat ahead...this is not a harsh push but a gentle surge.

My L'il ZX-3 does this. I agree with your point about a cracked boot or whatever because that makes very good sense. I'm going to wait to see if i have any further beefs and then bring the car in for a look see from the FORD Mechanics.

About my tire/rim statement,

Okay i agree the rims and tires are not racing tires! BUT i may toss the car into a Slalom timed event held at the Mall for fun! Last time i did that was in a Fiat Bertone X-19 and spun the sucker out into the wall back-ended. It was a PoS then (white metal fasteners etc...rust bucket but it looked nice?)

Here's my plan (If you are from Florida DON'T READ ANY FURTHER!)

Scrub da Rubber this season and get a WINTER outta them then park the rims for next year and get 17"? 18"? Rims and Dunlops? Yokohamas sucked on my Mazda RX-7.

Wait till SUMMER SALE on a good WINTER tire and then mount them onto the stock rims.

Now just how HARD has anyone slid their ZX-3? Any Stories? I pushed the car a wee bit more and notta slide///squeel nothing!

If you are really pulling G's then tell me when and how your car slipped!

Is it the COOL Look your after or what because at work i say Ford Focus and i get "UGLY". AWWWWWW!

Just my opinion but with the Twlight Blue it takes the edges off the look and dark tint helps the flow of the body lines. I do HATE the headlights though. Going to place 'Static Film' (Cars come covered with it to prevent acid rain damage etal) painted body color and narrow down the peaked look.

I really liked the Supertuner Focus headlight treatment ala 'Sport Compact Car' July 2000 issue but exchange $US/CDN? NO WAY!

"Keep your eyes on the road and your hands upon the wheels"......Jim Morrison (my age shows?)

WhyFord?

whyford

whyford wrote>

Going to place 'Static Film' (Cars come
covered with it to prevent acid rain damage etal)
painted body color and narrow down the peaked look.

I mean to do this as a temporary look see...

Not sure how i would do a final cover..

With respect,

WhyFord?

bjammin2

Check this website out - http://www.autobuzz.com/gallery/gallery1.cfm?eventid=203&manu=

Look at the bottom for the modified red ZX3.

fgaydos

bjammin,
Copuld you be a little more specific?



Check this website out -
http://www.autobuzz.com/gallery/gallery1.cfm?eventid=203&manu=

Look at the bottom for the modified red ZX3.

drebe73

I keep getting the stuck stick where i cant shift into first after a reverse. I have to let up on the clutch a bit then it works. I think its back to the shop for my Z.

zx3beast

drebe- always better safe than sorry.as i had said
before its worth the time to get it checked out.
drebe-does your stick have the lock-out ring?

guyindasky

Does anyone know if the optional 16 inch wheels with the premium package for the '01 models, is the same as the 16-inchers on the current Kona edition?

zx3

Today I was at dealer talking with Ford Svce mgr, looking for answer to wether my z can use synthetic oil (in its 5-spd manual transmission) or do I have to stick with conventional oil.

Anyway, as we talked I told him my z now has 1300 mi. on it --- without a glitch, without a flaw, without a failure. Told him how pleased I am. Now, this guy has no axe to grind. He don't sell cars, he just fixes 'em. Nice guy. Up front.

He said, "You aren't the only one says that. When I prep new ones for delivery --- they drive outta here, and except for scheduled oil change, etc. --- I never see them back unless its some whacky, crazy little thing, like a small busted spring, or door handle loose, or screwed-up ignition key, or wierd rattle, or they don't know how to shift gears properly 'cause its their first stick ....things like that. That car is really well built. Not like a few Crap-Box-Models I've had to work on these past 30 years, but of course I can't name 'em".

Later...
zx3

zx3beast

i agree,thankfully for the most part thats all it
really has been.a couple of little crappy parts
here + there.i wonder what the acceptable vendor
defect rate is in regards to sourced parts.

njzx3

I need help... no, not that kinda help

anyways... ford is now tellin me that my car isnt even gonna hit the production line until mid august... well, i kinda need to be back at college in mid august... does anyone know where i can do a dealer inventory search to find a car off a dealers lot?

thanks

njzx3

if you guys only knew how aggrivated i am right now!!! i found a lot search engine, and none of the cars on these lots have the color or options i want... what should I do? I cant wait for this new one to be built... i gotta get back to school..... AHHH!!!!

fgaydos

Did you try the Penna. side dealers or New York?

njzx3

i wish i could... I have no ride... i turned in the rental i had... the 650/month i was spendin on that can be saved for my payments... if I ever get my Z... this is just real frustrating... they realy dont care about the customer after you sign on that dotted line... they say 6-8 weeks til i get the car, now it's like 10 weeks before it even hits production... talk about a major cramp in my plans... cant exactly drive from NJ to Tampa in mid august to get back to school if my ride is still in pieces in mexico...

im gonna go talk to my salesman tomorrow... see what he has to say about it

in the meantime. if any of you are at your dealer and see a Z with these options, please let me know:

Color: Twilight Blue(preferably) or Black

auto trans
convenience group
power group
floor mats
Air Cond
Speed control
remote entry
smokers package
ABS

the only thing im willing to get rid of is Speed Control, but would like to have it... I take a lot of long trips

Thanks,
Kevin

njzx3

a twilight blue or black Z fully loaded minus engine block heater and side impace bags

focuszx3r

try Rheinhart Ford in PA, my dealer sourced mine from them (5-speed, no a/c) and we were shocked of the amount of Focii they had in stock, they had 3 like the one I got, and one in my originally ordered green, but I like my malibu blu better. they sold the most escorts in their district last year so they got allocated like all the focii on the eats coast.
Anyways, as for the traction control, I smoked up my tires one night, it was kool

norwaydoug

My z is running great. The only problems are the steering wheel alignment issue (fixed by the dealer) and a wierd rattle near the vertical post near on the driver's side.

Here is my update:

1. I had my oil changed. Had 4.5 quarts oil change. I smell oil whenever I stop while the engine is hot. Still an issue , but getting better. Where does this oil smell come from? (The engine compartment is totally clean and the oil level using the dipstick looks right to me)

2. There is a small hesitation between 1800-2200 rpm. Definitely a 'feature' of the ztec. More noticeable with the air conditioner on. lack of Power is also an issue with the air on.

I always shift in such a manner to be beyond this rpm range and it is not a major issue. The engine is running better all the time. I still feel it is not broken in.

3. Gas mileage with my 5 spd ranges from 28-33 mpg (US Gallon).

4. Car is running wonderfully. No major issues.

The z rocks!

How is zzgrrl? I miss her notes!

ND