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Ford Focus Hatchback ZX3 - Part XI
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Comments
in todays philadelphia inquirer as well.
We all know why we are buying it, it's a steal!
Europe has it , and we have it here in America.
I'm wondering, Is it available for sale in Asia and Australia?
If Honda is selling about 10 different versions of their Civic's, why Ford can't offer to us more versions of Focus: 170 hp zx3svt,220 Focus TypeR, cabrio ,4WD ,etc.
corner given the obvious success of the focus.
i can envision it now.the beauty part will be if ford
can hold the line on pricing as one moves up the
line.they will obliterate the competition,just as
i thought they had with the zx3 + sedan models.
it will be interesting to see how the competition responds to fords new reputation with the import buyer.
If so I would be interested in reading about it.
Just returned from Reading Pa. and my breaks only start making noise after I've been on the road for about 30 minutes. Weird.
I first noticed the whining noise in the transmission when decelerating from 40 to 35 mph. At first I thought is was the tires but the noise stops when you shift into neutral. At this point I get the noise at higher speeds as well whenever I decelerate. Ford has a service bulletin out on this, the dealer had to call HQ to see how to fix it.
My noise is still there in neutral, plus the speed is when around 30 mph or lower. It sounds kinda like the little machines in the movie "Batteries Not Included", or like a hand operated eggbeater. Not real loud not not so noticeable with the window up.
Pat
Thank you for Synth. Oil advice ("don't switch to it if you have already 50K on engine"). I Printed your answer and gave it to him.
zx3Beast:
Right on. I agree there will be a ton of different Z models, in the future. This was the first year for Focus, and Ford first wanted to find out if they had a winner. Well, with 1 Meg sold -- they "have their answer". Heh, heh.
Drebe:
Glad to hear you like your new clutch, and best o'luck. It does have a great clutch-feel, doesn't it?
GLASS YOU CAN'T SEE THROUGH:
I don't like "window-tinting" on cars, even tho it looks nice. I wish it was outlawed across USA.
A man wears a badge n'gun. To protect us. (That's you and me, the normal people). He has a wife and children.
He goes up to car, he can't see who's inside or what they're doing as he approaches.....
the window rolls down and the last thing he sees in this life is the snout of the gun just before a slug blows half his face off.
Later, fellow officers visit his wife to break the news as gently as they can.
She opens door, they see the kids behind her, she looks at the officer's faces -- and instantly knows. Her nightmare has come true, her Joe won't be coming home.
Sure, statistics are heavily against it happening. But it CAN happen. It loads one more tiny "straw of fear" on a cop's back -- the "fear-burden" he has to carry daily. Think about it.
Our Cops have enough dangers they MUST endure, without adding to them --just 'cause Tinted glass "looks so cool" or "helps on A/C".
If I were a Cop, you can bet your a-- that any "dark-windows" cars I approach, the driver is NO WAY going to get any breaks (even if he's only 2mph over speed limit, or only "barely kissed" that white double-line divider in the road).
No, not even if the driver is good old Santa Claus himself. Not one single break. I'll be LOOKING to ticket him.
And don't think this isn't being widely done already. Not everywhere but widely. Later...
zx3
I put the car up on ramps, and found what I was looking for: both rubber steering rack end boots show traces of seeping fluid - 1900 miles, and what appear to be defective steering rack seals - very discouraging. I will report further once I've called the dealer and spoken to the service folks and parts people (might as well ask if they have the parts on hand!)
However, I wonder at Fords logic in not tooting their horn about one million sales. Go figure.
silver-speaking of leaks,did you discover anything regarding the missing washer fluid as well?
powerslide- horn may be defective,mine was funky
sounding as well. i had it replaced under warranty.
drebe- glad you had clutch fixed.
Re: wimpy horn, yeah, it doesn't inspire much confidence. I'm thinking of upgrading to the Hella horn set available from several different vendors; Griot's Garage is one of them. Make your ZX3 sound like an S class Benz
I'd like to get one of those horns that sound like an ocean liner, you know, that real deep sound? They only cost about $50, but I don't think there's any room for it under the hood. I'll have to check next time I put it on the ramp...
Gabe
for that matter.havent checked it since purchase in
jan.horn sound was weak till i had dealer replace it.sounded like it had static,much like a bad loud-
speaker.your fiances power steering fluid leaks do
not sound cool at all.fortunately,you are able to
do earlier diagnosis.cheap or faulty springs, seals
nuts,bolts,screws,washers etc., can wreak havoc at
any time.a weak link in the chain will render the
entire assembly useless.im ready to get back on my soap box about about sourced parts again.
How could this smell be entering the car? I can only imagine that some oil may have dripped out as a result of the removial of the horizontal oil filter. Access is impossible without a lift. Still I see no oil at all.
I would appreciate some help.
Other than that, with 5000 miles on my green machine...all is well (light rattle in the vertical post/headliner is still with me....nothing serious, but somewhat annoying).
zgrrrl asked why shifting in neutral with an automatic while moving...my answer....as I recall, in all cars I have owned is the instruction in the owner's manual not to do it. (I am not a mechanic and so I do not know the official reason).
Perhaps it is because if you are driving 30 mph and shift it in neutral while going down a hill and while gliding you can speed up to 60 mph. If you then shift it into drive, this will cause additional burden on the transmission because you will be in the wrong gear.
I invite a better explanation.
ND
It is possible that when removing the oil filter, that they are not getting filter into a upright position and spilling oil down back side of motor; also spilling oil when adding new oil. In changing my own oil, I found this very easy to spill in both situtations. In fact, in adding new oil, found it best to use a funnel. Like in many of the newer vehicles today, one has to be careful not to spill oil. Oil where it doesn't belong in a vehicle can cause many problems, one being the smell of burning oil.
Pat
autumn orange, auto, power windows and locks, abs,remote locking, med graphite interior, cruise, tilt and telescoping, air, etc, everything but side airbags.
couple of comments:
1. with air on, fan on high seems awfully loud, not noisy just loud.
2. when inserting key into ignition you have to hold key in different position than with most cars.
3. where can i get a focus accessory catalog? all dealers around me are out.
bill
I don't think any one enjoys getting dressed for work and then getting into a car thats been sitting in the sun, you will be drenched in sweat before you even turn on the car. Even with tint the car is like a sauna and its hard to even breath the air. States set legal limits on tinting and police do ticket those who go too dark. Now tell me why the police have to give drivers a hard time for putting the clear tail lights on thier cars when those same lenses are standard on car made by Lexus.
Getting ready for my long road trip beginning Fri. Just spent way too much money assembling a roadside assistance kit (though if it's something serious I'll be stuck in the cold). Oh well, I guess I little money is worth the sanity.
If anyone sees a black ZX3 with a Yakima roof rack, NC tags, on the side of the road anywhere on the East Coast over the next 3 weeks, stop and say "hi", and maybe you can help me fix my Z.
Plus, my interior hatch release button still doesn't work, though the dealership swore up and down it worked fine when they tested it. Other than that foglight, my little z seems to be pretty watertight. No soggy passenger side floor as yet. I hope the light is the only leak I have.
Richmond is becoming Land of the ZX3. I see them everywhere, which I think is pretty cool. We have good taste down here! Happy driving to all; I can't believe I'm coming up on my 10,000 mile service...
(By the way..."rhinocerote" {pronounced rie-noss-er-OH-tee} is technically the plural of rhinoceros. Just thought I'd throw in a little fun-fact for the day =])
Pat
Did you know that your drivers door has to be opened for the hatch release to work. Some others have discovered that was the only problem.
Oh, on the foglights. Just the gasket. Even mustangs sometimes come thru with the gasket in back of light misaligned, allowing water to enter. Most likely a new gasket will fix you right up.
Happy ZX3'en
Pat
I open it up and find a MONSTER watch. A Casio Baby-G. I am not complaining really, but the thing is....HUGE and....errr....pink. Sure I am a female and all, but, I never wear the color.
Guess it's time to start.
It was a nice surprise.
p.s. there was also a cardboard picture frame Ford's letter suggested you shellac the thing onto the dash - ok it's just velcro - but this being my first new car - I am not sticking anything to it.
Now, the power steering leak in my fiancee's car doesn't amuse me in the least :-(
Anyway, it would be ludicrous if they banned window tint like ZX3 was saying or gave you a ticket just out of spite for having dark tint. How stupid; why should I suffer in order to make a cop feel more comfortable approaching me (who you may only see a couple times in your entire lifetime)? I'm not about to lower my comfort levels for a cop or anyone else. If he doesn't feel comfortable, than he needs to have the driver step out of the car, as was mentioned earlier. I, on the other hand, am nice enough to roll down my window before the cop gets up to me, so he can already see me plain as day. The cops down here are pretty lenient in regards to tint, so I don't think I will have to worry about getting a ticket for it. People often get away with pure limo tint, so 5% below legal is a minor offense. Anyway, lets try not to be so narrowminded in regards to why people get tint. It really makes a big difference in hot, humid climates like the deep south.
When I opened the box in front of my dad and aunt they immediately started, "Does that thing have a direct connection to Ford roadside assistance?," "When you break down at least you'll know the time." etc, etc, etc...I've become the subject of jokes in my family...argghh.
Man, looking at it, this thing is huge...
Ohhh, and the picture frame, I couldn't resist putting my doggie in the photo frame (maybe one day I'll have a pic. of a girl to go there
You could do a test , try filling it up with water, which should not evaporate as fast as washer fluid. If you still see that water is disappearing as fast as the washer fluid did then there must be a leak somewhere.
Does it makes sense ?
When did you buy your Foci? I have had mine since April 28 and I am anxiously awaiting my G-Shock!
Patcleveland,
I think you are right about that hatch release scenario. We certainly become knowledgeable about our foci!
The million foci article is on-line in today's www.auto.com
I also noticed that in www.autonews.com that 181,000 ford foci have been made in the USA since Jan 1-July 21. That's a lot isn't it!? I do not know how many foci were built from August '99 til Dec '99. It also suggests that good deals should be able to be made on the Foci for those of you who are in the market. I hope the parts situation gets better. I am interested to hear how silver_bullets experience will be to get the power steering leak repaired. Good luck with that silver. It will be fixed soon and your fiance will be driving again!!
ND
At least I hope so.
ND
ND
(my last note of the day...I promise!!)
and to answer ND, I got my Focus a month ago today exactly (6/24). I now have 3200 miles on it. (yikes there goes the warrenty).
And yes, the brakes still squeak, my next oil change I will get at 4000 miles this weekend and they said they'd replace the pads if it was still happening at the next oil change....
We'll see.
Just a couple things guys.
1. Silly question but never done it before. How can I scotch guard my seats? Buy a can of the stuff and just spray it on? Anyone?
2. I am totally frustrated because the ONLY places to park on my street are aligned with tress that drip some sort of clear sap that gets all over my Z. I spend hours cleaning it then this happens, and I am afraid what it's doing to the paint. The only other place to park is the next block over but I am afraid to let the car out of my site. Anyone? bueller? Bueller?
Thanks, per usual you guys ROCK.
ND - luckily, the slow seepage is just that - slow. The reservoir goes from the MAX mark to the MIN mark (cold) in about a week. No noises from the steering, and everything feels fine, so she's just driving it for now. I just have her check the fluid every other day. I have the feeling Ford will take forever to get the parts and fix the problem, so we aren't in a big hurry to take it in.
Seems like a lot of work removing the seats. If you are worried about overspray just place a towel down where you want to protect. No biggie.
Quick and easy.