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Yay new car!

CrackRabbit

CrackRabbit

Lifer
After quite a bit of searching I finaly bought myself a new(er) car.
A 2003 Ford Focus SE
Pics returning later.
Paid just under 7K for it.
I think I did OK. 🙂

Update 1.
Well as I was doing some shopping today I closed my trunk, got in and started to car and noticed that the "door open" light was on, after re-closing my door a couple times I realized it was the trunk. The latch seems to be broken and wont latch all the way. I think I can just replace the latch mechanism and it should be OK. Any other Focus owners experience this?
Next Question.
The dealership I bought the car from was pushing a $2000 warranty on me and I declined it.
Thinking about it now, an extended warranty doesn't seem like a bad idea. Anyone know where I can buy a good one online fairly inexpensively?

Update 1.5 I got it fixed, kinda. The problem seems to lie with the actuator for the power trunk release. It got stuck open when I had used my remote. After playing with it some it got it back into a normal position. Still going to need to replace the latch assembly to ultimately fix the problem but my trunk will stay shut and open with a key fine until then. As a precaution I popped one of the seat latches so I can access the trunk incase it gets stuck shut.
 
Welcome to the ATOT ford club, and may the gas mileage save you money. Also, dont mind the domestic haters on here 😉
 
One thing you might want to check is the door latch recall on the rear doors, other than that you shouldn't have any worries.
I noticed these pics are at the dealer, did you bring it home yet?
I love my 03 Focus ZX3. In fact, I'm giving her a bath right when I get home.
 
Originally posted by: foghorn67
One thing you might want to check is the door latch recall on the rear doors, other than that you shouldn't have any worries.
I noticed these pics are at the dealer, did you bring it home yet?
I love my 03 Focus ZX3. In fact, I'm giving her a bath right when I get home.
Click to expand...

Yep sitting out in the parking lot right now. 🙂
No open recalls right now according to Ford.
 
Originally posted by: CrackRabbit
Originally posted by: foghorn67
One thing you might want to check is the door latch recall on the rear doors, other than that you shouldn't have any worries.
I noticed these pics are at the dealer, did you bring it home yet?
I love my 03 Focus ZX3. In fact, I'm giving her a bath right when I get home.
Click to expand...

Yep sitting out in the parking lot right now. 🙂
No open recalls right now according to Ford.
Click to expand...

cool. It was only a batch that received the faulty hardware. Just wanted to make sure...

 
Originally posted by: MetalMat
Welcome to the ATOT ford club, and may the gas mileage save you money. Also, dont mind the domestic haters on here 😉
Click to expand...

Heck yeah! Nice purchase OP, Ford FTW. I'm sure it'll last you a very long time and provide you with years of trouble free transportation 🙂
 
Originally posted by: foghorn67
One thing you might want to check is the door latch recall on the rear doors, other than that you shouldn't have any worries.
I noticed these pics are at the dealer, did you bring it home yet?
I love my 03 Focus ZX3. In fact, I'm giving her a bath right when I get home.
Click to expand...

You might also want to check out the

Anti-Theft
Brakes & Traction Control
Climate Control
Collision, Body Parts & Hardware
Cooling & Heating
Drivetrain
Electrical & Lighting
Emission Control
Engine Management
Exhaust
Exterior
External Engine
Fuel Delivery
Ignition System
Interior
Internal Engine
Powertrain
Starting & Charging
Suspension & Steering
Trim Accessories

If there hasen't already been recalls on the items listed above there probably will be or some political/economic reason for the company not to. So you might want to hire your own personal eng to check these items out even though ford says they are perfect according to their standards 😀 Did I forget anything??????
 
Originally posted by: steppinthrax
Originally posted by: foghorn67
One thing you might want to check is the door latch recall on the rear doors, other than that you shouldn't have any worries.
I noticed these pics are at the dealer, did you bring it home yet?
I love my 03 Focus ZX3. In fact, I'm giving her a bath right when I get home.
Click to expand...

You might also want to check out the

Anti-Theft
Brakes & Traction Control
Climate Control
Collision, Body Parts & Hardware
Cooling & Heating
Drivetrain
Electrical & Lighting
Emission Control
Engine Management
Exhaust
Exterior
External Engine
Fuel Delivery
Ignition System
Interior
Internal Engine
Powertrain
Starting & Charging
Suspension & Steering
Trim Accessories

If there hasen't already been recalls on the items listed above there probably will be or some political/economic reason for the company not to. So you might want to hire your own personal eng to check these items out even though ford says they are perfect according to their standards 😀 Did I forget anything??????
Click to expand...

i think you forgot to ask for your toll when people cross your bridge
 
Originally posted by: ElFenix
Originally posted by: steppinthrax
Originally posted by: foghorn67
One thing you might want to check is the door latch recall on the rear doors, other than that you shouldn't have any worries.
I noticed these pics are at the dealer, did you bring it home yet?
I love my 03 Focus ZX3. In fact, I'm giving her a bath right when I get home.
Click to expand...

You might also want to check out the

Anti-Theft
Brakes & Traction Control
Climate Control
Collision, Body Parts & Hardware
Cooling & Heating
Drivetrain
Electrical & Lighting
Emission Control
Engine Management
Exhaust
Exterior
External Engine
Fuel Delivery
Ignition System
Interior
Internal Engine
Powertrain
Starting & Charging
Suspension & Steering
Trim Accessories

If there hasen't already been recalls on the items listed above there probably will be or some political/economic reason for the company not to. So you might want to hire your own personal eng to check these items out even though ford says they are perfect according to their standards 😀 Did I forget anything??????
Click to expand...

i think you forgot to ask for your toll when people cross your bridge
Click to expand...

For my TOLL. Yeah, you sure will pay a toll crossing the bridge with that car. Just starting it will take a toll on the engine as well.
 
Originally posted by: steppinthrax
Originally posted by: foghorn67
One thing you might want to check is the door latch recall on the rear doors, other than that you shouldn't have any worries.
I noticed these pics are at the dealer, did you bring it home yet?
I love my 03 Focus ZX3. In fact, I'm giving her a bath right when I get home.
Click to expand...

You might also want to check out the

Anti-Theft
Brakes & Traction Control
Climate Control
Collision, Body Parts & Hardware
Cooling & Heating
Drivetrain
Electrical & Lighting
Emission Control
Engine Management
Exhaust
Exterior
External Engine
Fuel Delivery
Ignition System
Interior
Internal Engine
Powertrain
Starting & Charging
Suspension & Steering
Trim Accessories

If there hasen't already been recalls on the items listed above there probably will be or some political/economic reason for the company not to. So you might want to hire your own personal eng to check these items out even though ford says they are perfect according to their standards 😀 Did I forget anything??????
Click to expand...

Edit---
Personal Attack removed.
I think it's time we talk to the mods about your posts that are purely uninformative and do nothing except instigate flame wars.
 
Congrats OP.

If the car makes you happy then don't worry about what other people think.

"Your car is slow!"

"Your car is ugly!"

"Your car is a waste of money!", etc.


here's to many happy miles to you and your Ford. :beer:
 
Originally posted by: steppinthrax
Originally posted by: foghorn67
One thing you might want to check is the door latch recall on the rear doors, other than that you shouldn't have any worries.
I noticed these pics are at the dealer, did you bring it home yet?
I love my 03 Focus ZX3. In fact, I'm giving her a bath right when I get home.
Click to expand...

You might also want to check out the

Anti-Theft
Brakes & Traction Control
Climate Control
Collision, Body Parts & Hardware
Cooling & Heating
Drivetrain
Electrical & Lighting
Emission Control
Engine Management
Exhaust
Exterior
External Engine
Fuel Delivery
Ignition System
Interior
Internal Engine
Powertrain
Starting & Charging
Suspension & Steering
Trim Accessories

If there hasen't already been recalls on the items listed above there probably will be or some political/economic reason for the company not to. So you might want to hire your own personal eng to check these items out even though ford says they are perfect according to their standards 😀 Did I forget anything??????
Click to expand...

FYI, my lowly '94 Escort ran for 170K with one major repair, everything was original
(ac, alt., rack, susp. ect.) not one SES light ever came on in 11 yrs!!
 
Originally posted by: BUTCH1
Originally posted by: steppinthrax
Originally posted by: foghorn67
One thing you might want to check is the door latch recall on the rear doors, other than that you shouldn't have any worries.
I noticed these pics are at the dealer, did you bring it home yet?
I love my 03 Focus ZX3. In fact, I'm giving her a bath right when I get home.
Click to expand...
Crap Removed
Click to expand...

FYI, my lowly '94 Escort ran for 170K with one major repair, everything was original
(ac, alt., rack, susp. ect.) not one SES light ever came on in 11 yrs!!
Click to expand...

This will actually be my 4th Ford Product.
In the past I had a 93 Tempo, A 94 Escort and a 99 Mercury Cougar.
Sadly my Escort didn't quite do as well as yours. 🙁
 
Never should have traded it in, they only gave me $600 for it...would have been a
perfect DFV (designated fishing vehicle)...
 
Originally posted by: BUTCH1
Never should have traded it in, they only gave me $600 for it...would have been a
perfect DFV (designated fishing vehicle)...
Click to expand...

I need one of those. Maybe I'll just hold on to the focus and run it into the ground.
Family tradition. My parents are trying to kill their 96 Sable so they can rationalize a new car purchase. The damn thing won't die.
 
You could try a local boneyard for a new latch if you can find one, 2003 is a fairly
new car but try the local pick-a-part, you might just luck out. Possibly someone
slammed the trunk too hard and weakened the latch. Hell call the dealer and start
bitchin, maybe they will replace it for you..
 
Is the trunk actually latching all the way? Is the trunk latch physically loose or does the car's body computer just "think" its open?

On our Expedition, on occasion the door ajar light stays on even though all the doors are securely shut. Of course this means all 44 interior lights stay lit up as you drive down the road at night. The fix is to go around and liberally spray some WD-40 around all the latches, that seems to clean the contacts and all is well again.

All fords may have some issues with getting gunk/trash in their electrical parts. My sister brought her Grand Marquis over complaining that the turn signals were broken. The car didnt have a conventional "flasher fuse" all that stuff is controlled by the GEM module, that is what Ford calls their body computer. A quick google search turned up the same WD-40 fix on the hazard light switch. I guess gunk gets in there and the GEM module thinks the hazard light circuit is open, not letting the turn signals work.

So, if the trunk feels like it shuts properly, shoot some beloved WD-40 in there and try to clean it a bit.
 
A few things.
1-Try to go the dealer, and see what can be done. you just bought this car a week ago, try to use that. Remember they are not obligated or binded to do that.
Although some states, like California, there is a 30 day warranty for cars that are sold with the factory warranty expired. You many want to google that for Oregon.
2-If you have to go on your own, don't buy the latch at the dealer. Buy it from an autoparts store, or from a locksmith. If the barrel lock is in the latch like my hatch's latch, this requires some locksmithing work. Before buying a new latch though,try to grease the part first, and work it in. This may work. However, don't try WD-40, try a grease that doesn't inhibit rust. Any locksmith will tell you WD-40 is evil for latches, hinges and locks. You can find these next to the WD-40 at any autoparts store. I use a Valvoline product, it's amazing.
3-The latches and the ignition cylinder lock is the weak link of the focus. This is the only troubling thing I had with my 03. In fact what is good and bad about the focus, is that you can count on replacing or servicing these once. However, between me, a coworker that owns a 03 ZX5, and a friend that owns the exact same focus as me, down to the color reports no problems besides the latches.
They have been redesigned, so I don't think the replacement part will be prone to failure. The originals are more then likely Bosch, the replacements are Ford.
On my hatch latch, the original has a metal latch switch that hits the striker bolt. I think this stresses the other parts of the latch into breaking. The replacements usually have a lighter metal or a plastic switch that makes it easier to swing out the way when hitting the striker bolt, so the rest of the latch can lock it.
4-The rest of the focus is fine, especially the manual gearboxes. Brakes are easy to service, the suspension is easy to service (relatively), and outside of abuse, the engine will hold it's own.

PM me if you have focus specific questions anytime.
 
The latch is physically broken. I can lift the lid at any time and it will come open.
Thankfully the trunk lid will stay down and shouldn't pop open while driving.
Dealer won't do anything for me car was sold As-is.
Trying to save a buck bites me in the ass yet again.
After doing some reading I guess I should be thankful that it failed that way instead of getting stuck shut.

 
Originally posted by: CrackRabbit
The latch is physically broken. I can lift the lid at any time and it will come open.
Thankfully the trunk lid will stay down and shouldn't pop open while driving.
Dealer won't do anything for me car was sold As-is.
Trying to save a buck bites me in the ass yet again.
After doing some reading I guess I should be thankful that it failed that way instead of getting stuck shut.
Click to expand...

You probably ran into my posts about my latch during your reading. 😛
Again, autoparts store or locksmith.
 
If you have the $2k for the extended warranty, you're probably better off putting it in a good savings account and using it to pay for any repairs. I've had them on 2 used cars, and neither one ended up needing enough work done to exceed the cost of the warranty.
 
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