I have a 2009 Ford Focus Cabriolet CC with 70,000 miles on it. It’s been a bit chilly here in London this November, and my car decided not to start the other weekend. I got it jump-started and took it to a shop where the battery passed all the tests. At first, I thought I just drained the battery, but after driving for a week, the same thing happened again. This time, I had to use a booster pack to get it to the mechanic. They tested the battery, alternator, and starter, all of which seemed fine. They said it could be an intermittent electrical issue, which is tough to diagnose. The car started just fine after the test, and they said it was good to go. But when I went to pick it up, it wouldn’t start again. The lights and electrics work fine when I turn the key, but when I try to start it, the engine attempts to turn over but doesn’t start (see video). Could this be a problem with the ignition switch? I’ve heard it’s a common issue with Ford Focus cars but have gotten mixed responses.
Rian said:
I FINALLY SEE MY FAVOURITE FOCUS ON THIS FORUM!!!
She’s a beauty (on her good days)
Rian said:
I FINALLY SEE MY FAVOURITE FOCUS ON THIS FORUM!!!
She’s a beauty (on her good days)
I would do anything for the 2010 sedan model (not the SES, the LX model)
Try giving the dash above your cluster a good couple of thumps or bashes before and during ignition on. Let me know how it goes.
Brennan said:
Try giving the dash above your cluster a good couple of thumps or bashes before and during ignition on. Let me know how it goes.
I think this is the same issue I mentioned before, bad soldering on the instrument cluster? I forgot that giving it a whack sometimes helps!
@Remington
I had the same issue with my 08 CC. I had to remove the instrument cluster and have it re-soldered. Took it to a place in Leicester, and they fixed it within a couple of hours. Hopefully, you can find someone closer or send it to a specialist.
Edit: Search for ‘Focus MK2 instrument repair.’ There are postal services available.
@Brennan
Yeah, I had just passed my driving test and bought the car six months before. I messaged my instructor for advice, and he gave me the number of someone who came to collect the car, fixed it, and brought it back the next day.
Have you ever had the instrument cluster re-soldered? It was a common issue, and Ford kind of acknowledged it after a Watchdog investigation (remember them?). They used to offer repairs for £99, but that’s long gone now.
It’s a fairly easy fix if you’re comfortable with electronics repairs and soldering. But if you’re like me and not great with a soldering iron, it cost me about £150 to have someone come to my house and do it. They took the cluster out in about 15 minutes, repaired it, and I never had any issues since. My car was throwing weird fault codes, and the symptoms varied. Sometimes it wouldn’t start, sometimes it would go into limp mode after starting, etc.
I found that my 2013 Focus had issues with bad high-power fuses. The car was always running on low voltage (11-12.9V), and it ended up blowing a few batteries over the year. It was always a slow start. I had to replace the starter, alternator, high-pressure fuel pump, and several fuses before I found the issue. Replacing those fuses got my voltage back to a normal 14.4V like it should be, and the car started right up. Not sure if your older model has the same fuses, but it’s worth checking the fuses first as it’s the cheapest fix.
Yep, as others have said, most likely a bad cluster connector. It’s about a half-hour fix to reflow the solder on the connector inside the cluster. Check out the MK2 Focus groups on FB. A few guys there do repairs and color mods. Ollie Jones and Laurence Lagden are two names you can look up. They’re based around Reading and High Wycombe, I think.
It’s likely a bad battery. When you try to start it, you can hear the car struggle to turn over, and all the dash lights go off.
Jump the battery and replace it.
Tobi said:
It’s likely a bad battery. When you try to start it, you can hear the car struggle to turn over, and all the dash lights go off.
Jump the battery and replace it.
The battery passed all the tests at the mechanic, so I don’t think it’s the root cause of the issue.
I just fixed my 2009 barrel lock a few weeks ago by wrapping some electrical tape around it. The metal could just be worn out.
Edit: After hearing the sound, it seems like an electrical problem or a dead battery.
Go to a Ford dealership and…