Hi all,

First post so bear with me

Got an 04 1.8 TDCi. Love the drive apart from a vibration that is most pronounced under the seats (feel it in our Ar$$es!). Happens around 60-70mph.

Also a knocking (relatively quiet) coming from the back-end. Feels like the rear door but that seems pretty much locked down. If I rock the back of the car up and down I can hear a slight knocking.

Finally - thanks for beoing patient - can you tell me if the factory fitted immobiliser has an alarm as standard? I can lock/open the car ok, just not the usual 'bleep' I expected from an alarm?

Thanks again!

Tony...

Vibrating at 60-70 usually means something like wheel balancing and/or tracking.

As for alarm, yes some have a standard boot bonnet and door protection but no ultrasonics. That was an optional extra on most models apart from the ST170 I think.

The knocking sounds like a bush of some sort. Poss top strut bush or lower strut bush. Cant remember if the focus's have trailing arms...if so could be that. Worst case scenario sub frame bush...but i'll be very surprised if its that.

You wont get the normal bleep from factory alarms. If you push the lock button twice the indicators will flash to confirm dead locking and alarm activation.

Hope that helps

Slug

Vibrating at 60-70 usually means something like wheel balancing and/or tracking.

As for alarm, yes some have a standard boot bonnet and door protection but no ultrasonics. That was an optional extra on most models apart from the ST170 I think.

The knocking sounds like a bush of some sort. Poss top strut bush or lower strut bush. Cant remember if the focus's have trailing arms...if so could be that. Worst case scenario sub frame bush...but i'll be very surprised if its that.

You wont get the normal bleep from factory alarms. If you push the lock button twice the indicators will flash to confirm dead locking and alarm activation.

Hope that helps

Slug

There are two common known problems with the rear suspension. One problem is the rear spring colliding with the rear lower arm during rebound. This is caused by a lack of support in the rear lower arm and the upper spring seat. The solution is to fit a spring isolator sleeve to prevent the metal to metal knocking. Another common problem is knocking of the top coils of the springs. A revised rear lower arm spring seat has been fitted since 02/2002

however it could be a loose heat shield getting under and having a look will show you simply give sections of the heat sghield a wee shake and youll know if its loose

There are two common known problems with the rear suspension. One problem is the rear spring colliding with the rear lower arm during rebound. This is caused by a lack of support in the rear lower arm and the upper spring seat. The solution is to fit a spring isolator sleeve to prevent the metal to metal knocking. Another common problem is knocking of the top coils of the springs. A revised rear lower arm spring seat has been fitted since 02/2002

however it could be a loose heat shield getting under and having a look will show you simply give sections of the heat sghield a wee shake and youll know if its loose

cheers artscot...you learn something new everyday. Will stick that in my head with the plenty of other useless car information in my head that most normal people wouldnt need to know lol

cheers artscot...you learn something new everyday. Will stick that in my head with the plenty of other useless car information in my head that most normal people wouldnt need to know lol

http://www.bba-reman.com/content.aspx?content=ford_focus_common_problems_and_solutions

always handy to keep in youre favorites

A quick test for the alarm (lock the car with the remote, wait 1 min, then open the bonnet with your key, if the car is alarmed it should sound.

I have got the 05 focus 1.8 tdci with the ford p.a.t.s alarm fitted as standard, and this test works on my car..

Alan