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15 Posts
Since 2003, when I bought the Focus ZTW, I have changed 5 alternators, 3 batteries and 1 battery harness (the HD cables running from the battery to the starter and alternator). One alternator lasted only 5 weeks earlier this year.
The wife has been driving the reliable '99 Chevy Metro LSi hatchback for the last 3 weeks while I waited for a new battery harness to arrive (Motorcraft: $85.00)
The battery harness I replaced this last weekend and once I got everything back together the car was showing 14.7 VDC on the volt meter when I started it and it didn't move (actually didn't see it since I was testing, just assume) once I put it under load with lights on and AC on high. I figured that I had finally solved the problem
Yesterday , My wife calls and said that the car almost died on her. I get home from work and sure enough the battery reads 12.5 at idle and dropped below 12 VDC under load. This is BS and I'm sick of this Fucus. My wife is going to Advance Auto to have them test the charging system to verify that the alternator is bad. I will, again, replace it if that is the case, but what then? The damn little pigtail connection only goes to the idiot light on the dash, right? -its the only thing I have not replaced. I find it hard to believe that it is what is frying the stator inside the alternator.
This car has become the least reliable vehicle we own and I am very disappointed in Ford for not doing a recall to correct this obvious defect in their 1st Gen Fucus.
The wife has been driving the reliable '99 Chevy Metro LSi hatchback for the last 3 weeks while I waited for a new battery harness to arrive (Motorcraft: $85.00)
The battery harness I replaced this last weekend and once I got everything back together the car was showing 14.7 VDC on the volt meter when I started it and it didn't move (actually didn't see it since I was testing, just assume) once I put it under load with lights on and AC on high. I figured that I had finally solved the problem
Yesterday , My wife calls and said that the car almost died on her. I get home from work and sure enough the battery reads 12.5 at idle and dropped below 12 VDC under load. This is BS and I'm sick of this Fucus. My wife is going to Advance Auto to have them test the charging system to verify that the alternator is bad. I will, again, replace it if that is the case, but what then? The damn little pigtail connection only goes to the idiot light on the dash, right? -its the only thing I have not replaced. I find it hard to believe that it is what is frying the stator inside the alternator.
This car has become the least reliable vehicle we own and I am very disappointed in Ford for not doing a recall to correct this obvious defect in their 1st Gen Fucus.