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Ford Focus Hatchback ZX3 - Part XIII

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    jimmyfocuszx3jimmyfocuszx3 Member Posts: 65
    Razor5

    I went to the Ford Dealership and they told me to go to Kona. Kona told me to go to K-Nine [the clothing people of Kona] and guess where they told me to go..... Yep, they said contact Ford, so I just gave up.

    Jimmy
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    vadpvadp Member Posts: 1,025
    My tranny continues to rattle.
    I love the car but hate the transaxle.
    Just scheduled my second appointment with the dealer. Will keep you posted.
    I understand your position in regards of censorship etc. I've seen that all.(was born and spent 4/5 of my life in the "Evil Empire")
    It's really sad that so many americans can't see the danger of loosing of their rights to the socialist government. :(
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    fgaydosfgaydos Member Posts: 319
    Has anyone set their car alarm off yet?
    I'm wondering if it stops by itself?
    I'm worried if it goes off and I'm away for some reason will it keep honking all night?
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    vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    I am pretty sure it won't go off for more than 3 or so minutes, like most of these things do. My friend's Neon's alarm did that to me (hit Panic by accident and didn't know how to turn it off and he wasn't with me). It went off for 3 minutes (even after I started the car!) and then stopped automatically.
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    zx3beastzx3beast Member Posts: 661
    vadp- i sincerely appreciate your comments.my great-grandfathers were also from there.in fact i have cousins who still live there.the development i have moved to is predominately from there as well.you have every right to call it the evil
    empire.i do respect people of all countries and
    their differences.however,i do not respect their oppressive governments.thankfully,there are many
    such as yourself who can recognize the evils of
    socialism.unfortunately,in america the tail has
    begun to wave the dog.im glad that you speak out
    because when there are post made that insult the
    u.s.it has to be seen as a threat.now,back to the z,the tranny on fords i have owned previously had
    always been its strong suit.this one is certainly
    suspect.too many strange sounds.your theory on catalytic converter you had mentioned earlier may
    also be the culprit as far as the tractor sound.
    you are a true survivor my friend,thank you!
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    tickbittytickbitty Member Posts: 250
    Where did all this come from, I must have missed something?!

    Anyways, about the seat covers, I was hoping to hear about them too, and that is ridiculous that they can't be found. They MUST have a part number or something. I mean, what if a Kona got in an accident and the SEAT COVERS were ruined. Ford is telling you they can't be replaced? Bull!

    I don't even know what they look like but I heard they are good, and washable, and I need that because I'm a dirty person. (archaeologist.)
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    zx3beastzx3beast Member Posts: 661
    hey man,i can dig where you are coming from.i need
    seat covers as well.too many recent coffee spills.
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    vadpvadp Member Posts: 1,025
    zx3beast,
    thank you for your kind words.
    Appreiciate your patriotism for the greatest country on the surface of the Earth. And I really mean it!

    fgaydos,
    I coudn't figured out the way the "alarm" works.
    No matter what I do - shake the car quite violently while it's "armed" or simply unlock and open the door from inside throu the open window - it fails to take notice of that (through beeping or any other visible/audible action).
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    vadpvadp Member Posts: 1,025
    Here is a quote from the owner's manual:

    "When armed, the perimeter alarm will help protect your vehicle from unauthorized entry. When unauthorized entry occurs, the system will flash the hazard flashers and will sound the horn."
    Does anyone have any idea how to trigger it?
    Is my alarm malfunctioning?
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    vadpvadp Member Posts: 1,025
    I'm afraid I wasn't clear enough.
    I appreciate your patriotism for the U.S. - greatest country on Earth. (of course)
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    fgaydosfgaydos Member Posts: 319
    "i can dig where you are coming from"
    Beast that was an awful fully good pun. :>))

    Is it true archaeologists can find the dirt on everyone?
    ON topic - car alarm.. maybe if you try opening the door with a regular key it might set it off.

    It's just so loud.
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    superf22superf22 Member Posts: 54
    I don't have anything against you or much less this country, but you scare me man! are you by any chance rudy from survivor??
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    superf22superf22 Member Posts: 54
    there are many of those big speed detectors around where I live, and it does seem that they tend to show a lower speed than what my speedometer says, but it's not just my z, I've seen the difference while driving many other cars, most recently while driving a van, a motor home, a suzuki vitara, and just this afternoon my girlfriend's neon. the funny thing is that I was talking with a co-worker about it and he said that his car might be off since he changed tires a few weeks ago, but so far I haven't driven a car that matches the speed on those things, or heard of anyone who does, so I wonder how they work ???

    another thing, why is it legal to own radar detectors? first it directly allows a person to break the law, second I hate it when people brag about it "I'm so bad because I drove from atlanta to chicago in four hours! haha!" , and third what is the deal with radar detectors equipped with a radar detector detector scrambler, I know that sounds confusing...my understanding is that there is such thing as a radar detector detector, so these new breed of radar detectors hide themselves from radar detector detectors. so why can't the police have those on their radars so people can't use radar detectors....oh boy this is getting really complicated, sounds like a bad tongue twister! the whole subject of giving people tools to break the law without regard for the safety of others bothers me, that's all.

    gotta go drive...
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    razor5razor5 Member Posts: 27
    I called Mr. Nasser and told him my Kona seatcovers had come unstitched causing me to slide forward in my seat, which in turn caused me to steer improperly, accelerate and flip my ZX3 over 3 times. I sent him the NBC photos showing the unstitched seatcovers on the flipped ZX3. I He called and I told him all I wanted to do was get a new set of seat covers. He said he'd get back to me. What does it take, an act of Congress?
    The Kona seatcovers are nowhere to be found. My dealer denies that they exist. They've never heard of the Kona version and "what do bicycles have to do with the Focus?" they ask.
    H U L L O
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    kostamojenkostamojen Member Posts: 55
    Im glad no-one was truely offended by my slight slang usage. Makes me feel much more comfortable on this forum... Even though I havent gotten a Z yet :)

    Anyway, black cars are MUCH hotter than lighter colors (twilight blue is probably as hot as black) especially white. Leather adds to the problem as well. Of course, if you live in a cold area, a black car would probably be better!
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    silver_bulletsilver_bullet Member Posts: 1,339
    A radar detector is simply a device designed to indicate the presence of a certain frequency of broadcasted electromagnetic energy - much like a radio "detects" radio frequency energy and broadcasts music and speech. If the police are legally broadcasting on designated public frequencies, why should it be illegal to possess a device that receives their signal? What you do with the information is your own business (hello! This is supposed to be a free country!).

    Your comment about "giving people tools to break the law" is silly - it could be applied to almost anything. How about handguns? A bread knife? A ladder (might use it to climb into someones house and rob them)? I don't know about you, but as long as our government approves of giving police the right to monitor our activities in a covert fashion, I think it is our right as Americans to possess tools that permit us to know when we are being monitored.
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    zx3beastzx3beast Member Posts: 661
    amen!
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    zgrrrlzgrrrl Member Posts: 147
    at least I think it was you who asked...

    you asked if the ppl w/ the brake problems have auto or 5spd...

    my Z is a 5spd
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    vadpvadp Member Posts: 1,025
    I'm sorry to repeat myself but I was still unable to set off the alarm.
    This is really puzzles me. If I'm unable to trigger it on purpose what will it do in a case of a true break-in. Nothing?
    And Ford has a nerve to call it an alarm?
    Please correct me if I'm wrong.

    BTW, superf22, you are the one who really scares me.
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    khtkht Member Posts: 13
    Just thought I might point out that at the scene of a traffic accident police often turn on their radar guns to slow traffic down (well the people with detectors slow down, thus slowing down traffic, same effect used by taxi cab drivers in Europe). But most of the time people are too busy trying to see if they can see some blood or a body that traffic slows to a crawl anyway.

    More on topic: So far my ZX3 has the green light and should be here as soon as it completes the journey from Mexico to Ohio (approx. 3 weeks :)
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    vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    If you set the alarm and then open the windows and pop the door open manually without using the remote or key or anything, doesn't it go off? If not, then it may be broken. Of course, it might just be keyless entry and not an alarm. I know the car comes with a SecureLock sorta think (with blinking red light on the dash) for the ignition. Maybe there is no alarm.
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    vadpvadp Member Posts: 1,025
    I think, vocus, you're right.
    I was under an impression that the alarm comes bundled with the remote entry or the power group options.
    O.K. There is no alarm on my car. Stupid me.
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    drebe73drebe73 Member Posts: 243
    My Zx3 is Black and I live in Florida. No matter which color your car is, living in Florida, your car will be hot sitting in 95 degree weather. Tinted windows help and so does the AC. I run the AC on high with the window open to cool down the car. I close the window once its cool, making sure its on recirculate and I only have to run it on 1 or 2 once its cooled.
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    drebe73drebe73 Member Posts: 243
    When I bought my ZX3, the alarm was after market option installed by the dealer. Not a Focus standard, a Ford option.
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    gogogophergogogopher Member Posts: 11
    Looking at the Edmund's data for the 2000 and 2001 ZX3 and it looks like I'm giving up 1.4 seconds on 0-60 by getting a 2001. Where'd the acceleration go? Also looks like the RPM for max Torque and HP changed. Is there some engine/transmission change or are these numbers not "statistically" different?
    -Wilson
    still waiting for that yellow 2001...
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    vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    More than likely one number is for an automatic car and the other number is for a manually shifted car. There is no difference in the engine of the 2001 Focus, so that could be the only thing changing the numbers that drastically.
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    classicred1classicred1 Member Posts: 1
    Sorry folks, but the Focus ZX3 dosen't sound very good, for the price, get a Japanese car that will last, anyone will do.
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    norwaydougnorwaydoug Member Posts: 249
    Dear Focii people,

    I found this photo of a NA Focus with amber lights. Does anyone have an idea how this was done.

    Hope it works....here is the link:

    http://www.geocities.com/kevin_harms/focipic.html

    ND
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    vadpvadp Member Posts: 1,025
    ND,
    honestly, all I see is a reflection of the camera flash light.
    How is your battle with Ford?
    I take mine to the dealer next week.
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    zx3beastzx3beast Member Posts: 661
    the reason i had asked that question was to establish if the problem was prevalent with both
    auto + 5spd. those with 5spd. as a rule tend to
    not brake as often or hard.generally speaking those with auto tend to go through brake pads at a
    faster rate.keep in mind i am only basing this on my own observations among family + friends,co-workers etc.does anyone here know when asbestos
    was removed from brake pads?in a past post silver
    bullet pointed out correctly that pads are much
    softer than years gone by.also,rotors arent what
    they once were as well.brakes have never been an issue with me,however the better half has worn the pads(brake pads that is)on her auto trans car.so
    has my oldest son + daughter.i do believe that the ford rotors are suspect and they were never machine properly.again,allat the expense of being
    cheaper,lighter and of course that old environment friendly nonsense.
    .
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    zx3beastzx3beast Member Posts: 661
    you are right,an archeologist would have a field day finding dirt in here,with all the mud-slinging
    that goes on.but hey man,thats part of the fun of reading the post.you never what you are going to
    dig-up..i admit it im an old fossil.
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    zx3beastzx3beast Member Posts: 661
    the first pic on top right appears to have the
    amber light integrated in the rear lights.if thats
    it,it really looks quite impressive.when you scroll down it looks washed -out.im referring to the exterior shot.at any rate,i like the look.
    thanks for the link!
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    zx3beastzx3beast Member Posts: 661
    classicred1 - i do respect your right to express
    your opinion.however,on the contrary,the z is an
    excellent buy.one thing you have to admire about
    this group here, as passionate as we are about our purchase,we are not blinded to its faults.no car
    is perfect or without some issue.ill concede the
    long-term reliability point.if you base the reliability on its euro counterpart it should turn
    out just fine.of all the post made,it can be argued that there hasnt been anything major wrong
    as a whole.will there be problems popping-up along
    the way?sure,but that happens to higher priced vehicles as well.a number of these folks here were former import buyers.ive said it many times before,that the focus zx3 cant be beat for price/performance,warts and all.take one for a test ride
    and get a first-hand experience.i admit its not a pleasant experience to purchase a new vehicle and
    have un-resolved issues with it.ive been buying new cars for 30yrs.there is always something that
    will pop-up when you least expect it.doesnt make it right,but it is reality.for all the complaints
    made,including my own,i m willing to bet that an
    overwhelming majority of z owners here,still are
    thrilled with their purchase.thats the beauty of
    this forum here,you can get instant info and feed-
    back on whats going on with the z here.have you
    read all the previous post? most would agree that
    they love their z.ive never seen or heard as much
    enthusiasm for a car since the original mustang.its easy to post here and just dimiss this
    car but in my opinion you are missing out on what
    this car is all about and what it has to offer
    compared to the competition.
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    kostamojenkostamojen Member Posts: 55
    This is from the Civic 2001 Review:

    "Just when Honda started building momentum with the high-performance Si, it has once again pulled it off the shelf. Combine that with the disappearance of the budget hatchback, the changes in suspension components and tuning, and the smallish horsepower boost, and teens will be tempted to keep their older Civics or cruise over to the local Ford dealership to look at a new Focus ZX3."

    HEHEHEHEH! Funny aint it :) Too bad I hate civics in the first place or this would be me!
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    greycapgreycap Member Posts: 19
    to all of you who have successfully waxed your ZX3 without getting any on the black plastic trim. Next time I'll just tape the trim - it would be faster!
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    greycapgreycap Member Posts: 19
    ... unless you want more of the same. Some people get a kick out of trolling for flames; the only way to discourage them is to pretend they are invisible, inaudible, do not exist.

    Of course, if you like these flamewars, I can't argue. Some people feed pigeons - so why not trolls? But it's the low way to keep this topic in the top ten.
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    zgrrrlzgrrrl Member Posts: 147
    The only experience I have with the side mirrors is almost ripping one off at theATM...I thought I got lucky and just got off with a paint smear and scratch on the mirror, but, part of it is not anchored down any more....
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    silver_bulletsilver_bullet Member Posts: 1,339
    The Ford service CD-ROM gives the procedure for removing and installing the outside mirrors. They are retained by a bolt, and several clips, but no adhesive. I don't know which Ford vehicle has glued on outside mirrors, but it isn't the Focus.
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    trevatreva Member Posts: 39
    well, not really "mod-ing" the car, as such. Just adding a few things to it, based on these forums, that hopefully will make it even better than it is now. I guess it's my new hobby....
    Anyway, I just popped in my new K&N filter last night (got it from performanceparts.com for $35).
    It sounds a bit more 'throaty' when I rev now - I assume that's the presumed greater airflow. I have also added some RedLine Water Wetter to the coolant, that should apparently cool things down by 20+ deg or so. Whether these changes will improve the fuel efficiency to any extent, I'll have to wait and see - I've got some long weekend trips planned for this month.
    I've got some PL893 foglight bulb upgrades coming in the mail (from autotoys.com), which I'm interested to see how well they improve the fogs. They're slightly higher wattage (50w) so I'll have to keep an eye on how hot they'll get.

    So, that, my friends, is all the upgrading I'm doing to my baby for the near future. Tis all I can afford for now. An oil change is coming up very soon (I'm on 3800 miles), and I'll debate upon changing to synthetic oil at that time.

    What are you folks gonna be doing for your z's winter antifreeze ? Can I assume it came prepped with 50:50 water/antifreeze ? With snow having already fallen in the Sierra Nevada, it's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas.......

    treva
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    drebe73drebe73 Member Posts: 243
    You two are both right on with your comments. Preach on my brothers.
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    norwaydougnorwaydoug Member Posts: 249
    Dear Foci owners,

    The dealership has told me that Ford has instructed them to loosen motor mounts on my engine, lift drivetrain and re-seat it. This will apparently eliminate the loud idle, the tapping noise I hear at idle and the tractor-like noise when shifting in stop and go traffic.

    I am bringing in the car on Monday night. They will perform this on Tuesday. It will be returned to me Tuesday evening.

    Wish me luck. I am skeptical, but optimistic at the same time.

    ND
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    silver_bulletsilver_bullet Member Posts: 1,339
    I hope this cures your problem, but I'm skeptical - it sounds like Ford engineering is grasping at straws. Didn't you say your car started life quietly, then got noisy?

    I hate to be a real pessimist, but have you checked Carfax to see if Ford supplied you with a buy-back vehicle when they "gave" you a new car? I have a Carfax subscription, and I'd be happy to run your VIN if you will provide it.
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    vadpvadp Member Posts: 1,025
    Good luck.
    Hope the engine lifting procedure will help.
    And I'm very sceptical too.
    My car goes to the dealer on Tuesday morning -
    tractoring sound + misbehaving fuel gauge.
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    zgrrrlzgrrrl Member Posts: 147
    ND good luck!

    vadp, did they recommend the "lift" for you to, or your problem still needs to be diagnosed by your people?

    Oy.
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    vadpvadp Member Posts: 1,025
    It still need to be diagnosed.
    During my first visit the dealer failed to admit that there is a problem.
    This time I'll be more persistent.
    More likely the technicians will get the same suggestion from Ford.
    I'll keep you posted.
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    pcleveland2pcleveland2 Member Posts: 516
    NorwayDoug,
    There was a TSB on the motormounts. Apparently there were some parts left out on some of the motormounts. They might be on the right track. Lets hope so.

    (computer, computer, computer, computer, computer.)

    Pat
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    zgrrrlzgrrrl Member Posts: 147
    but does anyone know anything about the TBS on the brakes and what exactly the problem is?
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    vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    Go to http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov and do a search on TSBs. They will list them by year, make, model of car.
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    zgrrrlzgrrrl Member Posts: 147
    That is where I saw the TBS at that site, I just errr, don't understand it! And dont know if it could be correlated to my brake problems...sorry...
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    vocusvocus Member Posts: 7,777
    Have them check for TSB #'s 7436 and 99194. They are the ones having to do with the brakes. And if you don't get a satisfactory answer, go to the service manager or another dealership.
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