What sorts of problems has your Focus experienced?

[06_infrared_zx4]

Originally Posted by josephd

With the exception of the alternator at 45K. I just replaced normal wear parts, and she has 81K. My only real gripe with my car is, I seem to constantly chase one squeak,rattle, or noise, after another.
There seems to be an intermittent what my neighbor describes a ticking noise in the right end. The noise is only at high speeds, 40 MPH and up, I think it is a wind noise that might be coming from somewhere.
Other than that, she runs very well since of course I take very good care of my Focus.
And the best thing about my 07. I have just made my final payment!
I am going to do my best to drive this car until the wheels fall off, so I can pay cash for my next ride! With the mortgage, and expenses of a house, I am done with throwing money away on car payments. Rant over :-D

I have that same tick/clicking noise coming from my car too. Started last spring around 85k, have 95k on it now. If you figure out what that noise is let me know.

[coldbear]

Your rear rattle may be the rear cable entering the chassiss . The rubbing metal to metal causes squeaks frequently. This topic has been discussed many times on the FF forum.

[coldbear]

Also rear sway bar bushings get worn. Easy fix. Cheap too.

[Trapper81]

I bought my Focus new in '02,it has over 146,000 miles on it. I think its been a really good dependable car considering I have beat the dog @$%# out of it since I purchased it. Im rough on my vehicles. :-)
It does good in the snow and mud, I've taken it on some mudding trail where 4WD trucks were getting stuck and I always take it out when it snows just to have a litle fun. My repair list has been as follows:
-Clutch (I knocked a spring out of the clutch disk while I was out drifting and spinning the tires)
-Bypassed the clutch safety switch cause it kept coming unplugged
-Just last year I finally had to replace the Battery! I've never heard of a car battery lasting 10 years! I poppped the top to see if I could get away with just refilling it with distilled water but the plates looked lke they were desintergrating in the water and it would no longer hold any kind of a charge.
-The signal wire to the coil pack fell out of the plug, so it went into LIMP mode and I had to go find another harness at a nearby junk yard.
-I had to replace both CV shafts.
-Both swaybar links.
Being a mechanic helps too, all these parts and repairs together havnt costed me over $500 since '02.
Everything else has just been routine maintenance i.e. oil changes, filters, plugs,and wires.
This Focus has really been a great car.

[matmatician]

Originally Posted by coldbear

Your rear rattle may be the rear cable entering the chassiss . The rubbing metal to metal causes squeaks frequently. This topic has been discussed many times on the FF forum.

If you could post a link to a thread about this, that would be great. I used the search function, but nothing came up.

[josephd]

Originally Posted by 06_infrared_zx4

I have that same tick/clicking noise coming from my car too. Started last spring around 85k, have 95k on it now. If you figure out what that noise is let me know.

My Mechanic and I have gone through this car with a fine tooth comb, and came up with nothing. What makes me insane, it is intermittent. The noise in my Focus started around 77K. If I find out what it is, I will be happy to let you know.

[josephd]

Originally Posted by matmatician

If you could post a link to a thread about this, that would be great. I used the search function, but nothing came up.

If it is the same noise my car had where it squeaks in the right rear when you hit bumps. You need to tie wrap the emergency brake cable to the body of the car. The cable rubs against the body every time you hit bumps, and causes the squeak. Good luck

[matmatician]

Fantastic, I will give that a shot tomorrow. It's been driving me crazy.

[josephd]

Originally Posted by matmatician

Fantastic, I will give that a shot tomorrow. It's been driving me crazy.

Good luck, keep us posted.

[06_infrared_zx4]

Originally Posted by josephd

My Mechanic and I have gone through this car with a fine tooth comb, and came up with nothing. What makes me insane, it is intermittent. The noise in my Focus started around 77K. If I find out what it is, I will be happy to let you know.

After talking with a few mechanic friends of mine, I have it on good authority that the cause may be a loose caliper slide...er something. This would allow the caliper to rattle at high speeds, contacting the rotor and causing this noise. I'm gonna check to see if that is indeed the case when I get off work today. *fingers crossed*