Dorzak

I purchased a 2000 Ford Focus LE Sedan used in May, 2001. I use it as
a daily commute and familiy car.

Here is the issues I have had, and what I have done to get around some
of them, and those that I still have.

1. Won’t start/key won’t turn - called my grandfather-in-law who is a
locksmith, he looked at it determined some of the tumblers were bent,
whacked key in ignition with hammer, like driving the key into the
ignition like a nail. Fixed. Has re-occurred three times since in
two years, slapping with flat of hand to hit key inward while in
ignition has resolved it.

2. Stuttering / Stalling while idle and loss of power - turned out to
be a hose, coming out from the engine towards the passenger
compartment, the looping down to the air filter had a hole burned in
it. Replaced twice. There is a whistling noise from the engine when
this is happening. $37 part. This after the dealer replaced the coil
and spark plugs twice to no avail for this problem.

3. Brake Lights only the third or upper light works. Still haven’t
tracked this down. Suggestions welcome. Same bulb is the flasher for
turning, and works for turning, removing bulb turning 180 degrees and
re-inserting, the other filament is used for turn signal, and works.
So not bulbs.

4. Heater/AC fan. Fan stopped working on 1 and 2, but on 3 and 4,
then only on 3 intermittantly, and eventually gave up completely.
This is the other unresolved. Have seen other posts about heater and
will be taking stereo out once I obtain code and instructions from
dealer. Further suggestions also welcome on this.

5. Windshield cracking - its happened twice, no accident or rocks
hitting before it happened.

Any and all suggestions welcome for the other issues.

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Dave Gower

"Dorzak" <UseLinkToEmail@AutoForumz.com> wrote

> 1. Won’t start/key won’t turn - called my grandfather-in-law who is a
> locksmith, he looked at it determined some of the tumblers were bent,
> whacked key in ignition with hammer, like driving the key into the
> ignition like a nail. Fixed. Has re-occurred three times since in
> two years, slapping with flat of hand to hit key inward while in
> ignition has resolved it.

This is a known defect in early Focus, requires a replacement lock (about
$200) from a dealer or locksmith, because it has to be set to match your
key. Replacements normally seem to work OK. Certainly mine has been.

> 4. Heater/AC fan. Fan stopped working on 1 and 2, but on 3 and 4,
> then only on 3 intermittantly, and eventually gave up completely.

Your resistance block is failing and needs to be replaced. Is a common
problem on many vehicles.

Alan

In message <jtadnTvKJ6dhFN7fRVn-ig@magma.ca>, Dave Gower
<davegow.removethis@magma.ca> wrote

>> 4. Heater/AC fan. Fan stopped working on 1 and 2, but on 3 and 4,
>> then only on 3 intermittantly, and eventually gave up completely.
>
>Your resistance block is failing and needs to be replaced. Is a common
>problem on many vehicles.
>

The fastest speed setting bypasses the resistor/thermal fuse assembly so
if the fastest speed isn't working it's a fuse in one of the fuse boxes
or possibly the switch itself has mechanically failed.

--
Alan
mailto:news2me_a_2003@amacleod.clara.co.uk

Amanda Leal

I have a 2000 Ford Focus and having the same problem to # 1. last year in
August and had the dealership fix it...thank god for warranties, well now my
warranty has run out and thinking about trading it in, since I have had many
other problems with the car. Well today it so happened that my key would not
turn while I was at the car wash ready to leave. Thank god for my brother!
We hauled it off back home and there it sat there all day while I was doing
other things. Finally I got on here to see if anyone was having the same
problem with their key's not turning...and in all I just want to say thank
god for the hand slapping, it work for me lol!!! And I have the same problem
on #5. My only solution is to get rid of the car!

"Dorzak" <UseLinkToEmail@AutoForumz.com> wrote in message
news:1_510664_a938b5d5835640e83dd0655d9967f62e@autoforumz.com...
> I purchased a 2000 Ford Focus LE Sedan used in May, 2001. I use it as
> a daily commute and familiy car.
>
> Here is the issues I have had, and what I have done to get around some
> of them, and those that I still have.
>
> 1. Won't start/key won't turn - called my grandfather-in-law who is a
> locksmith, he looked at it determined some of the tumblers were bent,
> whacked key in ignition with hammer, like driving the key into the
> ignition like a nail. Fixed. Has re-occurred three times since in
> two years, slapping with flat of hand to hit key inward while in
> ignition has resolved it.
>
> 2. Stuttering / Stalling while idle and loss of power - turned out to
> be a hose, coming out from the engine towards the passenger
> compartment, the looping down to the air filter had a hole burned in
> it. Replaced twice. There is a whistling noise from the engine when
> this is happening. $37 part. This after the dealer replaced the coil
> and spark plugs twice to no avail for this problem.
>
> 3. Brake Lights only the third or upper light works. Still haven't
> tracked this down. Suggestions welcome. Same bulb is the flasher for
> turning, and works for turning, removing bulb turning 180 degrees and
> re-inserting, the other filament is used for turn signal, and works.
> So not bulbs.
>
> 4. Heater/AC fan. Fan stopped working on 1 and 2, but on 3 and 4,
> then only on 3 intermittantly, and eventually gave up completely.
> This is the other unresolved. Have seen other posts about heater and
> will be taking stereo out once I obtain code and instructions from
> dealer. Further suggestions also welcome on this.
>
> 5. Windshield cracking - its happened twice, no accident or rocks
> hitting before it happened.
>
> Any and all suggestions welcome for the other issues.
>
> --
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> Articles individually checked for conformance to usenet standards
> Topic URL:
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http://www.autoforumz.com/eform.php?p=510664