Phil S

I have always noticed a smell from the Air Con but it doesn't last long. I would describe it as an bad egg smell - a bit like bad fart - or is it the Mrs? :lol:

Yes, get exactly the same thing on my 1.6 Ti-VCT (115 bhp). As has been said the Air Con drains quite a bit of power from the engine so I believe it to be normal. I would assume it is less noticable on bigger more powerful engines 2 litre and up. My Mk 1.5 (99 bhp) used to be the same but probably a bit worse and once or twice (in 3 years) it caused it to stall. My Mk2 is the same but hasn't stalled yet, so I tend to switch off the Air Con after a cool down anyway.

1. Can't do the windows up once ignition is off but that's the same on most cars. 2. Water from slot when opening boot. 3. Can't open the car with spare key without disarming the Alarm within 12 seconds. 4. Crap Dealers That's it!

Get down to the join at eye level and see what it looks like then! Spanish Car - Pretty good match - Moonstone

That's a standard reply to queries for new Manuals. I emailed Haynes in 2003 for a Manual for the Mk1.5 and got that reply. Almost certainly Haynes will publish a Manual for the Mk2 probably around 2008.

Right, I've bit the bullet and taken a Ignition Switched feed from the Central fuse box and from the Windscreen Washer Fuse. Seemed a pretty inocuous thing to touch so that's why I chose it. Soldered a wire to a spare 15 amp fuse by cutting a piece of plastic from the top, I will then use this in the Washer fuse position with the wire to the top which is the distribution side, and keep the original as a spare. Done it this way to avoid disturbing any plug in connectors or wiring which might cause trouble. Put a 2 amp in-line fuse in this wire and wired it to the phone cradle with a 2.1mm p

Someone must have taken a Ignition feed from somewhere. Where and what did you have to take apart. Am a bit dubious of removing the CD unit in case I have to have it re-programmed. :?

A wire brush and a coat of silver hammerite is called for here. :wink:

Anybody taken a Ignition switched feed from anywhere near the centre console? Want to hardwire my phone charger/cradle but only want it on when ignition on. Perhaps someone has done this or knows where the best place to tee in and what bits to undo to get at it.

My back drums were rusty and because of the alloy wheels you could see the rust. Took the wheel off (one at a time), wire brushed the drum and gave them a coat of heat resistant black paint available from any car spares shop. Look a treat now.

Would it be true to say then that a Solar Reflective screen will impede Sat-Nav but a Heated screen won't. What Foci have Solar screens? Is it just an option. Is a Solar screen what they refer to as Athermic? Thinking of buying Sat-Nav but have a Heated screen but don't think it's a Solar one.

OK, the Verdict: It rained heavily again last night so this morning I opened the boot. I estimate that 70 % of the water has been eliminated but still a small amount of water drips of the side. This is probably due to the fact that this clear plastic tubing is not squeezy enough to fill the gap all the way along as the gap varies, some places its tight and some places its loose. Whether Fords will ever produce a proper tailor made rubber strip for this is doubtful but that's what it needs. The only other option is to fill the gap with clear silicone sealent like is used for beding/stic

Yes, the clear plastic stuff. Don't really want it to rain, had enough of the stuff in the past couple of weeks. Perhaps I'll throw a bucket of water over the boot, wait for it to drain, then open up and see the result.

I posted this a while back but here it is again: I'll give you the benefit of my experience with fitting the standard Ford Mk2 Mudflaps to the Mk2 car now I've done it. The Fronts In order to get at the wheel arch turn the steering the appropriate way for each mudflap. Remove the screw from under the sill and keep it to use in the rears. Remove the top screw. Use the new screw from the packet and fix the Mudflap to the bottom sill hole keeping the mudflap pushed into the wing. A bit awkward as the edge of the mudflap gets in the way but it is bendable. Then fix the top screw. Finally f

OK, I've done this with the smallest diameter tubing from B&Q. Have to push it in with a blunt screwdriver which is OK but it is rather difficult to get straight and make the tubing sit in the boot groove evenly. Looks OK when in though, hardly noticable. Now will wait for it to rain (again) and see if the pouring water when opening the boot is no more.

My Mk1 used to lose a lot of power and stall sometimes with the Air Con on. Was going to get it checked out but swapped it for a Mk2. Haven't had the same problem with the Mk2 though.

I don't think anybody is complaining about the technicians. It's dealers in general and both the front desk service staff and the sales staff. Here's another one: I ordered some car mats for my Focus and took the precaution of finding out the Finis codes before I went to the parts desk. The bloke looked them up on his system and printed out a order form with the part numbers on. I could see that one of the numbers was different to what I had and asked him to check. He abruptly told me that his system was right. Car mats came two days later and I took them home to fit. Fronts OK. Bac

Can't help you with dealer in Nots/Derby but if it's any consolation I couldn't agree more with your comments about Dealers, there crap here in London too. Never ring you when they promise too, have kept me waiting for over a month for a part for my Focus, don't keep their promises and once when I had my car serviced - they lost it, took them half hour to find the car on their lot. Have had experience (or know people that have) with other Main dealers whizzpopper, Renault, Nissan and their not much better. Verdict: Ford Focus = Top Car Ford Dealers = Crap! :shock:

With 11.5k on the clock and 05 plate, will be lucky to get starting price.

Air Con is no substitute for a Sun "hoof". Whenever I've been in to a dealer and asked why no sun "hoof" as standard they come up with the same old thing "But sir cars today have Air Con" Yes I say but how am I going to carry my ladder now without a hole in the roof to stick it through!

Are these strips only provided on Ghia's? What do they look like? Any chance of a Photo?

My 55 plate ZC doesn't have it. I was under the impresion that Fords had discontinued this facility. Seems now that they seem to be doing what they like. Perhaps it's due to where the car was built or that they've used up panels with the dimmer built in.

That's what I told her but she's as good with doing that as she is with using DVD Remote Controls. Do I need to say more! :lol:

Yes, this is stupid. My wife is frightened to open the car now because of this. If Ford think this is a good idea then they should have provided 2 remotes.

Give it a chance, the cars only been around for little over 1 year. There's bound to be more available for the Mk 1, it's been around for 8 years now. As time goes on there will be less for the MK1 and more for the MK2.