Ford Focus Parts & Repairs
hondattitude
Member Posts: 17
Many readers in the hatchback conference are
already familiar with my situation. I picked up our
ZX3 on the night of 12/16/99. On my way home a
deer ran out in front of me and I hit it. I have
been waiting for a left front fender for almost 4
weeks now. The bumper, hood and headlights are all
in. How long can a part possibly be back-ordered in
today's world. I mean its not like its 1955 or
something. My point is this... WHAT IS A REASONABLE
TIME FRAME FOR A CAR TO BE REPAIRED? I've never
needed a bodyshop before in 24 years of driving.
This just seems to be absurd and a poor reflection
on Ford Motor Company's Parts Division. I am not
angry with my dealership yet but my frustration
level is growing.
already familiar with my situation. I picked up our
ZX3 on the night of 12/16/99. On my way home a
deer ran out in front of me and I hit it. I have
been waiting for a left front fender for almost 4
weeks now. The bumper, hood and headlights are all
in. How long can a part possibly be back-ordered in
today's world. I mean its not like its 1955 or
something. My point is this... WHAT IS A REASONABLE
TIME FRAME FOR A CAR TO BE REPAIRED? I've never
needed a bodyshop before in 24 years of driving.
This just seems to be absurd and a poor reflection
on Ford Motor Company's Parts Division. I am not
angry with my dealership yet but my frustration
level is growing.
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Comments
Does anyone know about this problem?
Pat
"shortage" still going on or are people getting their car fixed in a reasonable amount of time? is their anyone i can call to complain to before i start this horrible process?
My zx-3 was only struck on the side while I was sleeping and the car was in the parking lot.
It took 6 weeks to partially be fixed. I had it for a week, but returned it due to problems and they have had it for 6 days and are currently waiting for parts. THE abs light is on and since it is a safety issue....it is undriveable.
I suggest that you speak to the manager of the dealer, your area representative, ford customer service (speak only in person...do not e-mail). Document when and who you call and have a log.
I hope you do not have the problems I have. I believe your car should be fixed in 10 working days. If it takes longer....start calling and complaining, but always remain calm.
I think it is good to speak to the manager of the dealership immediately and say that you have heard that there a major parts problems and you would like to be kept informed. They have ordered parts for me by emergency back order (not that it works!)
Good luck
ND
#0 of 0: Why Focus won't start. (przeho) Sat 22 Apr '00 (09:00 AM)
I have a 2000 Ford Focus automatic Ztec engine. The problem is it won't start. Anybody with the same problem. Any answers? The dealer replaced the fuel pump and a fuel pump relay switch. The car ran find for one day. It sat it the garage overnight. The next day I went to start it and it just cranks and cranks. The dealer has it again. It's not the cutoff switch. It has gas in it. Anybody with the same problem? Thanks,
Paul
prz@cvns.net
Any suggestions for Paul?
Pat
Community Leader/Maintenance & Repair Conference
!!!Just participate and join in on the excitement. There is a lots of info, tips, tricks and mods for your enjoyment. WORD TO YOUR MOTHER !!!!!!
The filament resistance of an incandecent lamp is quite low when the lamp is off and the filament is cold. Once it heats up the resistance increases a lot. This means that when power is first applied to a lamp, it's initial current draw is fairly high. Once the filaments are glowing the current rapidly drops off.
Brake lights are rather bright so they tend to draw a fair amount of power, even after the filament is glowing. When the brake light comes on, the initial current surge can cause a brief and slight dip in the car's power which can be seen in the headlight output. A similar surge might be noticable when the lights go out and the load on the car's electrical system instantly drops.
This might be especially noticable at idle when the alternator isn't putting out as much power.
This is pretty much the same effect you might see at home when your refrigerator comes on and the lights dim briefly.
Of course other high current electrical devices, like the AC compressor clutch, can cause similar effects.
I really would appreciate your help.
Today, I left my Silver Focus at dealership and I'm supposed to hear from them tomorrow morning.
The engine made this sound: click click click.. pat, Did your car make the same noise?
Perhaps he or she will see your post and respond.
Hope you are back on the road again quickly!
Pat
Community Leader/Maintenance & Repair Conference
Brought it to the dealerships Service Center. Latch was changed but when I got it home, still did not work correctly. It seemed out of alignment so I brought it to another dealership/Service Center. They refused to work on it saying "It needs body work because it was out of alignment and possibly damaged and they can't do it...it needed to be brought back to the dealership where I bought it.
Went back to the original dealership and was told, that the Focus' trunk is "flimsy". They adjusted the trunk but one side sticks up a little higher up than the other. Not a major thing, like "not starting", but I am afraid of letting this thing go...
Questions: I don't trust my original dealership now. What are my rights? What should I do to cover myself for the warranty? Has anyone else found their trunk to be "flimsy". Is the trunk supposed to "pop up" when the remote is pressed?
Just an asside...the little hook on the floor mat seems to be pulling up my carpeting. Is there anyway to get that removed without damaging the carpet...Thanks for the tips on the leather seats!!!
The first problem was the failure of the clutch pedal spring within the interior portion. The end of this strong spring is very weak at it's stress point, which is where it connects. It had been making a "ping" sound for weeks, and then "KAPOW" while waiting for a red light in the middle lane of a three-lane boulevard. The clutch pedal was then reduced to a bare minimum, and the cruise control ceased to work (as a safety feature, I was told). Roadside Assistance refused to come out, as the car was still "drivable". However, the mechanic at the dealer said that it was a good thing that I got it to him as soon as possible. They fixed it with the same type of spring that took 3 days to order. I still hear the "ping" occasionally, and am waiting for it to fail again.
Strike number two was the air conditioning condenser runoff draining into the passenger front compartment and creating a mildew smell. They kept the car for a week, after they took another Focus apart to find the problem. It turns out that an entire sealing kit was "left off" during assembly. Having been tested in Germany for two years prior to it's US release, I can understand why this problem has only recently arisen, as Germans don't need AC. The repairs require that the entire dashboard be removed to "fix" this problem.
Strike number three happened when my wife picked the car after the AC problem was "fixed". Well it was flowing liquid "freon" into the same area, and the cruise control had been forgotten to be reattached. She got only a few miles from the dealer and had to return it, where it now sits again.
The good part of all this, is that we got an LX
Focus with an automatic transmission as a rental. This has changed my way of thinking about automatics, especially on my 45-mile daily commute (each way). My next car will be a Honda Accord Coupe with an automatic transmission. The rental also made me appreciate all of the bells and whistles that we have in the SE, as power windows should be mandatory on the Focus.
I was a devoted Ford/Mazda car buyer, but this Focus experience has suddenly turned my views sour. I plan to trade this Focus in as soon as possible on a Honda! For those who are still thinking about buying a Focus, DON'T DO IT!!! This is the second least reliable car that I have ever owned out of my last 10 new cars. And evidently, the problems are not limited to just my car. Those Focus owners who don't have AC or manual transmissions have less to worry about, but I now have complete faith that something else will soon break on it. Good luck to all the other Focus owners!
the info.
Recal #00S31
It is about the "Rear wheels have potential of
falling off due to poor wheel bearing clamp loads.
Listen for grinding or clunking noise from rear of
vehicle or wobbly rear wheels." *In particular the
left rear wheel!* (thanks pcleveland2 u nailed it)
Listed time to repair is "less than a 1/2 day"
It possibly can effect vehicles built-
July '99-Apr 28 '00 @ Wayne (sedan and wagons)
October 4 '99-May 6 '00 @ Hermasillo
(so basically early-mid production models)
Note- some dealers have no clue about this. called
my usual dealer and they had not heard of this
recall yet.....
Hope this helps!
As I am getting ready to hit 1,000 miles the smell is still there but not as strong. Also cruise control stopped working just the other day.
Will be taking to dealership very soon for repair.
The leaking problems everyone is talking about is pretty scary. It has been to cold to work the a/c, hopefully they corrected this problem in the 2001 model. Anyone have the same smell or cruise problems. Thanks