Why is my 2015 Ford Focus ST3 blowing smoke with a burning plastic odour?

Ford’s EcoBoost engines have a bit of a track record with blown head gaskets thanks to the fundamental design of the crankcase where it meets the cylinder head. Given the relatively high turbo-boost pressure some of these engines use to produce their impressive performance, the head gasket can fail. But it’s also fair to say that this engine design has also seen its share of overheating problems, blown turbochargers and coolant leaks (often into the cylinders). With that in mind, don’t bother guessing what the problem is, allow a mechanic to inspect the engine and give you a professional opinion based on facts.

Unexplained water leak in the cabin of my 2018 Ford Focus hatch

It doesn’t take much of a leak to allow enough rainwater into a car to wet the carpets. Given your car is a 2018 model, I’d be surprised if the rubber seals have deteriorated to any great extent. The best bet is to open the doors and hatch and have a close look at the surface of the seals. If there’s a nick or a cut in the rubber, you’ve probably found the problem. But also look for a twig or other piece of rubbish that could be stuck to the rubber and be forming a gap for the water to enter. If the front floors were wet, the advice would also be to check the drain hose for the air-conditioner, but if it’s the rear floors, it’s almost certainly rainwater. Don’t forget the obvious stuff like a window that looks closed but is actually open a fraction.

Battery problems with my 2012 Ford Focus

There are lots of potential causes for this sort of behaviour, starting with an alternator that is not working properly or even a body computer that is on the way out. But these symptoms are also a classic indication of a very simple problem; a poor earth somewhere on the car. A modern car has multiple earthing points, and if one is a bit sketchy, it can throw the whole car into chaos. Flickering lights and gauges and warning lights on the dashboard are classic indicators of a bad earth. If that’s the case here, an auto electrician should be able to chase down the fault and fix it permanently.

What do I need to know about replacing the rack and pinion in my 2007 Ford Focus SE?

This generation Ford Focus was the first to use electro-hydraulic power-steering. As such, you can’t transpose the rack and pinion hardware from any other model; it would need to be this exact version of the Focus for everything to be compatible. Once you’ve swapped the hardware, the electronics would also need to be coded and matched to the car’s body computer, as this is what controls the speed-sensitive variations in the steering assistance as well as functions such as the self-parking facility.

Can I get replacement air conditioner pulley/bearings from a salvage yard?

You could scour wrecking yards (as they used to be known) for the bits and pieces you need to replace, but you would potentially be buying parts with the same – or more – wear than the ones you already have. Some things, like rubber belts, globes, tyres and filters, you just can’t trust unless they’re brand new. Pulleys and their bearings are considered service items meaning they will eventually need to be replaced. When that time comes, the best advice is to replace them with good quality replacement parts, as that’s the only way to make sure the same problem won’t reoccur in a short space of time. Be wary, too, of really cheap replacement parts you can order online from no-name suppliers. That’s not to say cheap parts can’t be good parts, but quality is sometimes pretty sub-standard and you won’t know that until you’ve paid for them to be fitted and they’ve subsequently failed. And getting your money back from an online seller can be next to impossible in many cases.

2012 Ford Focus won't start after performing maintenance

Unless you’ve been the victim of a cruel twist of fate where something else has gone wrong at the exact moment you fitted the new neutral safety switch, it stands to reason that the new switch is not playing the game. You say you’ve tightened the selector linkage, but did you make sure the new switch was located precisely so that it could detect when the car was not in neutral (and, therefore, prevent it from starting)? By tightening the linkage, you may have moved the trigger for the safety switch to a position where it isn’t allowing the switch to make contact and let the engine crank. In the meantime, try this: If the engine won’t turn with the gearbox in Park, move the selector to Neutral and see if that changes anything. If the car suddenly starts, you know that the new switch is working but needs adjustment to get it into the correct position.

Is there an issue with the fuel tank in my 2008 Ford Focus?

I'd say you're looking at two different problems here, neither one of which involves the actual fuel tank (which is, indeed, 55 litres). The first problem is more likely to be the calibration of your fuel gauge that is out. If the gauge isn't reading accurately, it will tell you the tank is emptier (or fuller) than it really is. Your car is actually doing what most fuel gauges do, which is to be a bit pessimistic, suggesting there's not as much fuel still in the tank as there really is. You could have the gauge recalibrated, or simply know that even when the needle is at empty, you've still got a buffer zone of fuel remaining. The fuel consumption, meanwhile, is another issue and it's true to say that 20 litres for 140km of driving is too thirsty. A basic tune up might help, starting with fuel filters, air cleaners and spark plugs. But don't ignore things like correct tyres pressures and whether there's a roof rack fitted; these things will affect fuel economy more than you might imagine. And never under-estimate the affect driving style has on fuel use. A driver who smashes the throttle from every green light will soon start using more fuel every kilometre.

Can I put the motor of a 2016 Ford Focus in a 2012 model?

The short answer is no. Ford changed from a range of normally-aspirated engines in late 2016, to a newer, turbocharged 1.5-litre engine for the 2016 model year. In theory, any engine can be made to fit any car, but there's no chance of this swap being an easy or inexpensive one. You'd also have to change the transmission to suit the newer engine and then there are the thousands of modifications to things like heater cores, radiators, engine mounts, steering and suspension components, exhaust systems and anything else that could be in the wrong place to suit the newer engine. And that's before we get to the different computers the newer engine will have to run it properly. You'd probably also need to have this conversion signed off by an engineer to ensure its legality and safety, too. The simple solution (particularly ion a relatively inexpensive car like a second-hand Focus) is to simply buy the version you want in the first place.

Are there any known transmission issues with a 2012 Ford Focus manual?

By buying a manual Focus, you neatly sidestep the biggest problem with this car, that of the perennially faulty DCT transmission. As a rule of thumb, the advice is to never buy a Ford with this transmission, purely because its failure is a question of when, not if. The irony is that the rest of the car was actually pretty reliable, so as long as the recall for a potential fuel leak caused by a blocked carbon-canister has been attended to, you stand a good chance of buying a reliable car.

Can I fit a boot release latch from a 2005 Ford Focus LS to a 2006 model?

This all depends on whether the 2005 Focus is a Mark 1 or Mark 2 version of the Focus. So that's the first thing to ascertain. If they're both Mark 2 cars, then there's a very good chance that the boot release will be the same in either (and, therefore, interchangeable) as we're talking about the same car. But even if the 2005 Focus is a Mark 1 model, it would still be worth physically checking to see if the release latches are the same. That's because even though the Mark 1 and Mark 2 Focuses were different cars, many manufacturers (Ford included) carried over some mechanical parts (such as latches and cables) from previous models to save on development costs. A good example of Ford doing this was the succession of 1980s Falcons including the XD, XE and XF models which all used the same exterior door handles. So compare the latch you have with the latch on offer and make sure it operates in the same way and direction, uses the same mounting points and will connect to the same cable. If so, you might just be lucky.

Ford Focus 2013 Problems

No car is perfect, but we've gathered everything relating to the Ford Focus 2013 reliability here to help you decide if it's a smart buy.

Ford Focus Titanium 2013 : What is the average fuel consumption?

Answered by CarsGuide 19 Jul 2019

The claimed average for your car is 6.7 L/100 km. It would be higher if it were driven around town – 9.4 L/100 km – but a less – 5.2 L/100 km – if only driven in the country. But remember that these so-called claimed figures are a guide only and not necessarily what you might get from your car.

Engine

Used Ford Focus review: 2011-2018

27 Jun 2018 · by Graham Smith

It should have been plain sailing for Ford with the European designed Focus, but it wasn't to be. The introduction of a dual-clutch automatic transmission saw the Focus badge develop a reputation for ...

2013 Ford Focus Trend transmission failure

Answered by CarsGuide 8 Dec 2017

The trade-in value is appallingly low; it should be around $7000. If you haven’t already talked directly to Ford then do so (13 3673) and explain your concerns with the car, and request a better deal. If that fails to get a satisfactory response then go to the ACCC or VCAT.

Transmission

Problems with gearbox on 2013 Ford Focus

Answered by CarsGuide 10 Jul 2017

If only it was that easy. I assume that it’s not giving you any trouble now, but if it is you could get it repaired under the warranty. If it’s not I don’t see you have grounds for a full refund, even though that model has a poor reputation for its transmission troubles. If you had done your homework before buying it you would have found lots of reports on the troublesome transmission.

Transmission

2013 Ford Focus transmission issues

Answered by CarsGuide 9 Jun 2017

I can only assume your car has the dual-clutch automatic transmission. If so the bearing problem could conceivably be related to the transmission issues.

Focus clutch shuddering

Answered by CarsGuide 12 Aug 2016

There are no hard and fast rules unfortunately, so you are relying on your skills of negotiation and Ford doing the right thing. I think you should get your money back, but that's being unrealistic. Ford has been doing deals to buy cars back, and that would appear to be your best bet to get out of the car. The dealer would probably offer you $14,500 to $16,500 as a trade-in, but your car is worth more like $18,000-$20,000 as a private sale, which is the minimum I would be trying to get Ford to pay.

Transmission

Ford Focus 2013: Is the transmission reliable?

Answered by CarsGuide 12 Jul 2016

There are known problems with the double-clutch gearbox in the Focus and there is a class action under way from some unhappy owners. But I have had success for several CarsGuide readers in getting their cars right.

Transmission

What's a good SUV that's easy to get into?

Answered by CarsGuide 6 Jun 2016

The CX-3 is the best in the baby class and gets The Tick. It’s not great for value and could be a bit small. You should also check the latest Subaru Forester, which is much improved.

Used Ford Focus reviews: 2002-2015

20 May 2016 · by Ewan Kennedy

Ewan Kennedy reviews the Ford Focus as a used buy.

Focus transmission problems

Answered by CarsGuide 6 May 2016

Is it fair? Yes, I think it is, but do I think will get a full refund, no I don't. I reckon what they've offered you is not a bad deal, it's one I would accept to get out of the car and get on with your life without any further anguish.

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Disclaimer: You acknowledge and agree that all answers are provided as a general guide only and should not be relied upon as bespoke advice. Carsguide is not liable for the accuracy of any information provided in the answers.

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