2007 Focus - Dash light not turning off

Plascebo

I have a 2007 (keyless entry) Focus.

What has been happening lately is that "sometimes" the dash light (which shows mileage etc) does not dim when the car has been centrally locked, and the battery drains.

Have brought it to the dealers who put it on diagnostic overnight and could not find anything wrong with it?

Has anyone else come across this issue before, or know what I need to do to rectify it?

Plascebo

The wife rang the garage this morning to explain that it is the odometer that intermittently does not dim, causing the drain.

Ford mechanic said that this is what sometimes happens to keyless entry cars, putting it down to "wear and tear".

He went on to explain that the only solution was to have the car reverted to key-only entry (remove keyless entry option) and that this was a big job and would cost €560.

Anyone with more experience than me in these matters (I have none ) know if this is the only option?

Thanks in advance.

TGi666

Sounds like the headlight switch is at fault to me

newbie2

Does the radio clock light stay on too?

Plascebo

Would you believe that is also intermittent.

Sometimes both the odometer and radio light stay on, others just the odometer.

kirving

Guessing here; If the swith/relay setup is anyway similar to the previous Focus, the headlight switch being at fault makes sense. I know that keyless entry is a different system, but the basic wiring underneath the electronic control might be similar.

Had a problem whereby the dash lights wouldnt turn on because of a bad contact.

Reverting to a keyed system is an extreme solution.

TGi666

Are any of the headlights/taillights staying on?
also if you can try remove the switch and see what happens

Plascebo

TGi666 wrote: »

Are any of the headlights/taillights staying on?
also if you can try remove the switch and see what happens

No, only the odometer (and occassionally the radio light) and I have dimmed them to the lowest setting.

Where is the switch located?

TGi666

the headlight switch?

johnayo

Plascebo wrote: »

I have a 2007 (keyless entry) Focus.

What has been happening lately is that "sometimes" the dash light (which shows mileage etc) does not dim when the car has been centrally locked, and the battery drains.

Have brought it to the dealers who put it on diagnostic overnight and could not find anything wrong with it?

Has anyone else come across this issue before, or know what I need to do to rectify it?

Have heard of this problem quite a bit. Some of the Ford Forums were reporting this problem a lot. I've seen where some dealers were replacing steering locks to fix although that didn't always work either. When I get a chance I will try and get a link on this.

ba_barabus

+1 on the headlight switch being at fault.

It caused similar problems in my mothers 07 Mondeo

newbie2

I don't think the headlight switch would effect the radio light, would it?

OP,
Do the lights (radio & odometer) definitly stay on all night? Is it the odometer or the entire dash back light (speedometer, accelometer, temp etc)?

I'm asking because I noticed one evening when I locked my car ('06 Focus) using the central locking key fob and was walking away, the radio and odometer lights were still on long after the cockpit and other lights went off. They did eventually go off. When I unlock the car, the radio and odometer lights light up even before i put my key in the ignition.

Plascebo

johnayo wrote: »

Have heard of this problem quite a bit. Some of the Ford Forums were reporting this problem a lot. I've seen where some dealers were replacing steering locks to fix although that didn't always work either. When I get a chance I will try and get a link on this.

Thanks johnayo, would be greatly appreciated.

The garage are adament that it is not the light switch (without checking), so am curious as to the solutions on the site!

eric hoone

My '08 focus dash display stays on too but i think it's related to a faulty sensor on the passenger-side rear door which tells me it's open when it's not. Never drained the battery flat mind you

Plug

Lads this is not a headlight switch problem first of all.

Replace the the ignition barrel!!!

Not the electronic steering lock switch(the black thing you pull out). The ignition barrel is in behind that, thats what you want to replace. The problem is when it goes faulty the medium speed CAN remains on because of it not making contact with a switch and causes it to stay in 'awake' mode(lights on etc).


A new ignition barrel will fix it. Do me a favor, go to a garage and get them to order an ignition barrel and get them to fit it. Your problem will go away then. Don't be wasting anymore money on this. Trust me!

johnayo

Plascebo wrote: »

Thanks johnayo, would be greatly appreciated.

The garage are adament that it is not the light switch (without checking), so am curious as to the solutions on the site!

Sorry so late getting back.

http://www.talkford.com/topic/203909-ford-focus-2006-lcd-dashboard-display-not-turning-off-causing-the-battery-to-drain/

dutopia

newbie2 wrote: »

I don't think the headlight switch would effect the radio light, would it?

OP,
Do the lights (radio & odometer) definitly stay on all night? Is it the odometer or the entire dash back light (speedometer, accelometer, temp etc)?

I'm asking because I noticed one evening when I locked my car ('06 Focus) using the central locking key fob and was walking away, the radio and odometer lights were still on long after the cockpit and other lights went off. They did eventually go off. When I unlock the car, the radio and odometer lights light up even before i put my key in the ignition.

Correct, the odometer lights and other LCD (If you have the auto version) stay on for a few minutes even after you pull the keyless entry knob out and lock the car.

Plascebo

dutopia wrote: »

Correct, the odometer lights and other LCD (If you have the auto version) stay on for a few minutes even after you pull the keyless entry knob out and lock the car.

It is just the odometer light that stays on all night. When working correctly it turns off after roughly 4-5 mins when the car is locked. But more often than not it stays on all night

Plascebo

Plug wrote: »

Lads this is not a headlight switch problem first of all.

Replace the the ignition barrel!!!

Not the electronic steering lock switch(the black thing you pull out). The ignition barrel is in behind that, thats what you want to replace. The problem is when it goes faulty the medium speed CAN remains on because of it not making contact with a switch and causes it to stay in 'awake' mode(lights on etc).


A new ignition barrel will fix it. Do me a favor, go to a garage and get them to order an ignition barrel and get them to fit it. Your problem will go away then. Don't be wasting anymore money on this. Trust me!

johnayo wrote: »

Sorry so late getting back.

http://www.talkford.com/topic/203909-ford-focus-2006-lcd-dashboard-display-not-turning-off-causing-the-battery-to-drain/

Gentlemen, thank you for this, much appreciated.

From reading the above link it does indeed seem to be the ignition barrel which is at fault.

Am reluctant to mention this to the Ford dealer as the only route they say will solve the issue is to go keyed.

Would anyone have an idea how much (roughly) it is to order a new ignition barrel for the keyless entry Ford (ignition has built-in fob)?

Emcurls2

I had this problem with 2007 Ford Focus LX since September 2009. Changed the car to regular ignition and entry and two new batteries later it is back in a Ford Garage again. They have it for a week now and still no diagnosis. The car has had problems not starting since 2009. Ford in Cork are washing their hands of it with no warranty line even though they covered the cost of some of the changes to the keyless entry. The Ford Garage its in now say they never seen it before but problems with keyless entry are all over the internet. Can anyone shed light on this.

Plascebo wrote: »

Gentlemen, thank you for this, much appreciated.

From reading the above link it does indeed seem to be the ignition barrel which is at fault.

Am reluctant to mention this to the Ford dealer as the only route they say will solve the issue is to go keyed.

Would anyone have an idea how much (roughly) it is to order a new ignition barrel for the keyless entry Ford (ignition has built-in fob)?

joeKel73

I've come across the same problem now with a 2007 Focus with keyless entry that I've had since April. I did notice the backlight on the odometer display staying on but didn't investigate and I've found myself with a dead battery 4 times in the last month (only short commutes this month with no longer trips so battery probably dropping off slowly each day).

I saw a tip on a Ford forum to not engage the steering lock and sure enough the backlight does time out after a few minutes. So that's a workaround for now.

Plascebo wrote: »

Would anyone have an idea how much (roughly) it is to order a new ignition barrel for the keyless entry Ford (ignition has built-in fob)?

Has anyone here had their ignition barrel changed? Any idea of the price for doing this?

melbaus

Dear friends, Placebo

I have just bought a Used Ford Focus 2005, and facing exactly the same problem.

Odometer light doesn't turn off at night, and it is just that light which stays ON on the dashboard.

It has started causing battery to drain, as I can see noticable difference while turning on the ignition with the car key. It is taking more time and battery is definitely draining.

What should I do folks??

Placebo: How did you solve your problem?

Please help!!

joeKel73

melbaus wrote: »

What should I do folks??

Try this, I've been not engaging my steering lock for a month now and haven't had any flat batteries. So does seem like an issue with the ignition barrel for me anyway. Check after 10mins to confirm the backlight times out...

J o e wrote: »

I saw a tip on a Ford forum to not engage the steering lock and sure enough the backlight does time out after a few minutes. So that's a workaround for now.

melbaus

J o e wrote: »

Try this, I've been not engaging my steering lock for a month now and haven't had any flat batteries. So does seem like an issue with the ignition barrel for me anyway. Check after 10mins to confirm the backlight times out...

Hi Joe,

Thanks. I am reading on other forums as well, and most of the posts do seem to point to a faulty microswitch in the ignition barrel, that causes the problem.

One of the guys actually ordered a new barrel, and fitted all of it as DIY!!

I won't be able to do that on my own, though could get a mechanic to do it.
Will explore the price and all during the next few days.

Have you considered ordering an ignition barrel and replacing?
Or would you be content with the not-locking-the-steering solution as a workaround for a longer time?

FYI, for some of the guys on the other forum, even this workaround doesnt work, i.e, the Odometer light stays on overnight even if the steering is not locked.

Please keep in touch.

Cheers!
A

joeKel73

I would rather get it sorted properly but if the workaround works I can't justify the cost of replacing the ignition barrel at the moment. Car is due a service shortly so I'll ask them for an estimate.

If you get prices etc let us know.

melbaus

J o e wrote: »

I would rather get it sorted properly but if the workaround works I can't justify the cost of replacing the ignition barrel at the moment. Car is due a service shortly so I'll ask them for an estimate.

If you get prices etc let us know.

Hi Joe,

Yes sure, will let you know. Meanwhile, will try this workaround as well.

So just confirming that for you r case, so far you didnt face the battery draining out for a month now, by not locking the steering?

Cheers!

joeKel73

Yes I haven't been engaging the steering lock, the backlight has been timing out and the battery hasn't drained since.

ifocus

Hi all, I have the same problem with my Ford Focus ST (2006) with keyless-entry. Dashlight stays random on. Did anyone change the ignitionbarel with the passive key for a new one? And did this solve the problem?

Gr. Anton (from The Netherlands)

joeKel73

Just to update since Sept, I haven't had the battery drain since by not engaging the steering lock. Didn't bother getting the ignition barrel changed, it's a cheaper (free) workaround.

ifocus

Ok Joe thanks, I will try this but I only see this as a temporary "solution", if it works for my Focus ST (I also red otherwise).
I still wonder if someone did actualy change de ignition barrel and if that solved the problem.

Daniogroove

So has anyone replaced their ignition barrel yet? If so, what was the cost?
I have the same issue on my 2009 Focus but it's not keyless.

Daniogroove

http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/37065-dashboard-lighting/

Just came across this which points a different issue altogether.

martinr5232

Daniogroove wrote:

So has anyone replaced their ignition barrel yet? If so, what was the cost? I have the same issue on my 2009 Focus but it's not keyless.

Its only keyless barrells that give trouble.
How long is your display staying on for twenty minutes to half an hour would be normal.

Daniogroove

Its only keyless barrells that give trouble.
How long is your display staying on for twenty minutes to half an hour would be normal.[/QUOTE]

Ya something like that, I'll keep an eye on it the next while, last thing i want is for it not to start some morning.

Thanks though

mavicagolf

ok i have this very car with this problem or did have as it is now fixed so check if the radio is genuine for the car !! make sure it is wired correctly try taking the radio out and see if the problem still exists my problem was wiring to the radio hope this helps graham