TO Ford Focus and other  car aficionados
FROM Burke Leon
www.usedcarphd.com

There have been a lot of nearly new Ford Focus, off lease immaculate, low
mileage with clean titles in the Los angeles area in the past few months for
sale at DEALER ONLY AUCTIONS.  If you want to see what they have been
selling for, with an eye towards buying one at a dealers auction ( hopefully
through me) or just for general information, drop me an email and I will
give you the information.

burke

ps  you MUST  tell me where you are emailing from

Anyone else having problems with their 2001 Ford Focus Wagon in particular
the creaking front end?  I’m not sure if it’s the tie rods or just the
suspension.  Whenever I’m reversing into a parking spot I hear it or when
I’m stopped at a light a go to accelerate.

Also, my brakes seem to squeal a lot in the rain.  This car is only 6 months
old.  Anyone else having squealing brake problems.  What’s going to happen
when winter hits, I’m going to need ear plugs.

Any feedback is appreciated.

Thanks,

KLJ

I’ve got an odd question to ask all ye Focus SX3 owners. I fly
radio-controlled model airplanes, and am considering getting a glider
with a 79" wingspan. However, in the next few months I’m hoping to buy
an SX3, and I’m wondering if the wing will fit in the car (the
fuselage is much shorter, and detaches from the wing).

So, someone with an SX3 and a tape measure: will a 1" x 8" x 79" wing
fit in your car? I expect it would have to go from the hatch window
between the two front seats: would it get in the way of shifting?

Many thanks,
Dan

I’ve got the original Continental Conti E-Contact GP (I might have just made
that up) on the rear of my Focus, but had to replace the front ones with
Goodyear Eagle NCT-5′s. Anyone know the pressure these should be inflated
to?

Ta.

Well…my Street Edition Wagon has been in the Ford Service department for
over two weeks now and they don’t know when I will get it back.  The car
went in for an IOU for repainting the rear bumper, the infamous mildew/mold
smell in the AC, and the faulty gas guage.  The service tech said that the
problem they are having with my car is that they can’t find the proper gas
tank.  I asked what was wrong with the one I had and he said that the tank
was made too shallow and caused the fuel gauge to read incorrectly.
Apparently Ford in all it’s wisdom made a new tank with identical part
numbers as the original and everytime they send a tank from the depot to
where my car is being serviced in California they end up sending the wrong
one.  Luckily the dealer gave me a loaner for free…so I am not without a
car…but I want my car back…

waiting in california

I could swear the clutch pedal in my 2000 zx3 is not returning
completely to the top of the pedal stroke like it used to.  I could
swear the "feel" is much more mushy.  I could swear I heard and felt
something break right before I noticed the difference.

I just brought it to the dealer (ugh) and the service guy told me the
clutch is not covered in the "bumper to bumper" warranty after 12
months or 12K (I have had the car 14 months and 11.5K); that the
clutch was considered "wear and tear like brakes".

 I have driven standard shift for 20 years and my previous VW went
130K for 11 years and I never had to even adjust the clutch!

So I am angry if this is true about the warranty – and I even have the
"gold" extended one.  I mean, I can almost understand the clutch plate
itself being under the umbrella of "wear and tear" – but the
surrounding hardware!!!!

I was wondering what anyone may know, or have heard about the SVT and when it
will be out.  Last I heard from my brother in-law was end of this month.  That
of coarse would be key in getting the 0.0% financing.  He works for Ford, just
wondering what anyone else knows.  

Dan

This one is #5 for me! The wiper motor park switch recall. Car must be in
service for "less than 1/2 day".

I’ll take mine in when I get the oil changed.

John

Arotaw an jerouti pote tha vgei focus cab
You know gia to xorafi!

Having troubles using either of my two key fobs, one with new batteries and
the other with old ones.

I wave my keys around my car like I’m blessing it, and eventually (after
pressing the button repeatedly, lock or unlock or trunk) it works, or I give
up.

I imagine it’s thus on the receiving end of the transmission, in my ZX3 – I
have a little routine down now that has the process down to 12 seconds to
get it to work, but am too lazy to take it in to make it work as it did only
a month ago.

Where is the receiver? Is it dirty? Is there some trick after 20,000 km’s
Will kicking my car help? It seems to help me spiritually, at least.

Glad to find this NG – will be here hourly!

- Charles Crosbie
N.A. Focus ZX3 SVT

(and, Producer of Ford Focus TV/radio commercials!)