anyone here have a ford focus?

[otispunkmeyer]

i've noticed this on alot of my type of focus (2002 focus which is a facelifted mk1)

the headlamps are shaky and judder alot over bumps, especially at motorway speeds. and since i got my wheels balanced it actually seems to be worse. the lamps are constantly flickering/shaking up n down on the motorway, it anoying and must be annoying to oncoming traffic

has anyone had this? how did you fix it?

might be worth takin the car to ford and getting them to look at it and while theyre at it...adjust the headlamp beam alignment

 

[spaceman]

we used to have a 2000 drove it til 80k, and sold it.
had plenty of ignition problems, weird door latch issues, but never shaky headlamps.
fyi: check out if there any silent recalls on it.
there was one on the 2000 that the ford dealship wanted to charge us huge money for until google had my back.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally posted by: ncircle
we used to have a 2000 drove it til 80k, and sold it.
had plenty of ignition problems, weird door latch issues, but never shaky headlamps.
fyi: check out if there any silent recalls on it.
there was one on the 2000 that the ford dealship wanted to charge us huge money for until google had my back.

i just got a hayes manual for it so ill see if theres anything in there

im not sure america got this car, i know you have the focus, and my car is pretty much the same but they facelifted it abit, so its got different headlamps, (same shape, but has 2 lamps inside now with their own circular reflectors, they also moved the indicators from the bumper to the headlamps too) new bumper etc

ive never seen a previous focus with the problem

only this facelifted version

 

[Pepsi90919]

i've seen it on all types of cars, usually motorcycles... loose filament?

 

[iamwiz82]

Have you checked the housing itself to see if it's shaking? Maybe a bolt is loose or the plastic tab is busted.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally posted by: Pepsi90919
i've seen it on all types of cars, usually motorcycles... loose filament?

its definately not the bulbs, i know how they are fitted, they go in one way and are then secured with a rather stiff metal spring loaded clip, but i will check if i get chance.

besides a hot filament wobbling around wouldnt last very long would it? it would just come apart?

it is probably most likely the full headlamp assembly.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
Have you checked the housing itself to see if it's shaking? Maybe a bolt is loose or the plastic tab is busted.

lookin in the haynes manual now

seems the lamp is held in place with 3 bolts

2 on top one on the bottom, i know the top two are tight, so i might have to check the bottom one....requires removal of the wheel arch lining though

 

[xaeniac]

better place to ask is focaljet.com; but i have a foci and no problems here

 

[iamwiz82]

The easiest way to test is just to push it. There shouldn't be any movement at all.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

gah screw it..... ill go to the ford garage afterwork, see what they suggest. probably suggest double anal or something but i havent got time to fiddle around with my car

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally posted by: iamwiz82
The easiest way to test is just to push it. There shouldn't be any movement at all.

definately moves, both do

if i give a kinda shock force like just banging my fist on the bonnet or whatever i can see the reflectors shaking

 

[iamwiz82]

The next step would be to find which section is moving. Push it from the top and then from the bottom. By your description, it sounds like the bottom will be loose.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

ill nip to the ford dealer on the way home, see what they suggest, then when i get home ill try have a look myself.

only problem here now is that its dark by 4pm lol

 

[otispunkmeyer]

hahah ****** the ford dealer

came home, got the spanner out and went to work. the bolt that fastens the bottom of the lamp to the car was loose on both, it was abit tricky to get in, had to do some blind spannerin but i tightend em up and they are solid as rocks.

also took the liberty to fit LED rear tail light bulbs.... these are hawt.... 21 automotive grade LED's to replace the standard twin filament bulb. and they work a treat....response is soo fast compared to the filament bulb

they dont seem any brighter mind, but they are a better shade of red rather than the red with a hint of orange from filament bulbs

 

[So]

Uh, yay?

/thread.

 

[otispunkmeyer]

Originally posted by: So
Uh, yay?

/thread.

not quite

headlamps still shake, but not as much, might need more spannerin

the LED rears rock tho. i have a ****** light fetish

 

[Black88GTA]

Heh, seems like the headlights on all of my cars do this. Of course, 4 out of the last 5 cars I've owned have had pop-ups...I've just attributed it to the mechanisms being less stable over bumps than fixed housings.