Ford Focus MK1 - a little info please!

Digidol

Hey, I just got my uncles MK1 Focus (2001) yesterday and just have a few questions that someone might be able to help me out with...bare with me if they're stupid, my knowledge of cars is non-existant! The car is in excellent condition apart from a few minor things;

1) The rear wiper doesn't seem to be working or else I'm doing it wrong, when I pull the lever towards me it just sprays water but doesn't actually wipe, would this be a fuse problem or something more serious?

2) The gear knob is a little worn and I was looking to replace it with one I've bought but I cant seem to get the old one off. In my last car it just unscrewed but it doesn't seem possible on this one?

3) I have remote central locking on the car, which is working perfect however the indicator lights do not flash when I open it, is it meant to do so? When I lock it and then press lock again the lights flash ok though?

Any info would be greatly appreciated!

Sarah

colm_mcm

Hi Sarah, the central locking is normal, it flashes to tell you deadlocks are activated. This means the doors can't be opened without the key, even from inside.

colm_mcm

The gearknob just twists off.

Sofiztikated

Rear wiper could be something as simple as the wiper arm bolt being loose.

Go to the back of it, and lift the covering cap. (Can't remember exactly if it is covered, I've mine swapped with a Citroen C4 wiper as it's chunkier and looks better.)

Tighten the bolt, of the top of my head I think it's a 10.

Digidol

colm_mcm wrote: »

Hi Sarah, the central locking is normal, it flashes to tell you deadlocks are activated. This means the doors can't be opened without the key, even from inside.

Hi Colm, thanks for the quick reply! Do the lights not come on when I unlock the car too? It's just handy sometimes to know I've opened it when I come with a load of bags in my hands!

colm_mcm wrote: »

The gearknob just twists off.

I doesn't seem like it screws off, I've used a good bit of pressure and it won't budge at all?. My last cars gear knob unscrewed very easily. Someone told me it might be glued on?

Sofiztikated wrote: »

Rear wiper could be something as simple as the wiper arm bolt being loose.

Go to the back of it, and lift the covering cap. (Can't remember exactly if it is covered, I've mine swapped with a Citroen C4 wiper as it's chunkier and looks better.)

Tighten the bolt, of the top of my head I think it's a 10.

Thanks for the reply, I'll get a look at it this evening and see if it's loose!:)

Sofiztikated

Digidol wrote: »

Hi Colm, thanks for the quick reply! Do the lights not come on when I unlock the car too? It's just handy sometimes to know I've opened it when I come with a load of bags in my hands!



I doesn't seem like it screws off, I've used a good bit of pressure and it won't budge at all?. My last cars gear knob unscrewed very easily. Someone told me it might be glued on?



Thanks for the reply, I'll get a look at it this evening and see if it's loose!:)

Try warming the interior.

Digidol

Sofiztikated wrote: »

Try warming the interior.

Do you mean just turning on the fan heat in the car?

EPM

Digidol wrote: »

Do you mean just turning on the fan heat in the car?

I'd imagine so. Setting it on fire will make an awful mess.

On my old one it used to screw off.

Digidol

EPM wrote: »

I'd imagine so. Setting it on fire will make an awful mess.

I tried that a short while ago, I've already posted on another forum for advice on good fire extinguishers....I'm just waiting for a reply.....:P

Digidol

Sofiztikated wrote: »

Rear wiper could be something as simple as the wiper arm bolt being loose.

Go to the back of it, and lift the covering cap. (Can't remember exactly if it is covered, I've mine swapped with a Citroen C4 wiper as it's chunkier and looks better.)

Tighten the bolt, of the top of my head I think it's a 10.

Ok well I tried this and it wasn't the problem, it was on there fairly tight! Any other ideas?

maidhc

Digidol wrote: »

Ok well I tried this and it wasn't the problem, it was on there fairly tight! Any other ideas?

possibly either the stalk or relay or motor! All are cheap ro replace and easy to test, Best thing is probably to take the cover off the boot door and see if there is 12v going to the wiper motor when you pull the switch and water is spraying at the back.

If the isnt, then I would suspect the relay, this is pretty cheap and easy enough to replace. it fits behind the glovebox, but you need to take off the fusbox from the mounting bracket. The part itself is under €20.

If that doesnt solve it, then the stalk is more than likely wrong.

David09

Wiper problem could be really simple.

Open the tailgate and you will see a row of copper contacts on the sill, above the bumper where it closes against. Look up on the door and you'll see a row of pins that connect to them when the door is shut.
Make sure that the surfaces of both of them are bright and clean as the electric power for the wiper passes through this when the door is closed. If they're dirty, the chances are that the wiper and heated window won't work.

Digidol

David09 wrote: »

Wiper problem could be really simple.

Open the tailgate and you will see a row of copper contacts on the sill, above the bumper where it closes against. Look up on the door and you'll see a row of pins that connect to them when the door is shut.
Make sure that the surfaces of both of them are bright and clean as the electric power for the wiper passes through this when the door is closed. If they're dirty, the chances are that the wiper and heated window won't work.

Thanks for this, but the rear heated widow is working fine, I've been using this to help since the wiper is out of action!

YouTookMyName

Had a mk1 2002 myself, indicators didn't light when opening, the cabin light would come on though.

Gear knob definatly screws off.

Rear wiper could be the motor, i had to get mine replaced.

Digidol

YouTookMyName wrote: »

Had a mk1 2002 myself, indicators didn't light when opening, the cabin light would come on though.

Gear knob definatly screws off.

Rear wiper could be the motor, i had to get mine replaced.

Thanks for this, exactly what I wanted to know!:)

maidhc

David09 wrote: »

Wiper problem could be really simple.

Open the tailgate and you will see a row of copper contacts on the sill, above the bumper where it closes against. Look up on the door and you'll see a row of pins that connect to them when the door is shut.
Make sure that the surfaces of both of them are bright and clean as the electric power for the wiper passes through this when the door is closed. If they're dirty, the chances are that the wiper and heated window won't work.

Not on the Focus. Fiesta I think.