Hi all. Looking for some advice. I drive a late 2007 Focus 1.8TDi. Back in march it started messing about, all sorts of warning lights and ABS & Steering failure warnings, then it wouldn't start at all, immobiliser light flashing when trying to start. Turned out as expected the cluster was causing it. I repaired the cluster myself using a you tube video, i'm a qualified electronics engineer so done it myself. When I fitted it back in the car it was perfect and has been right up until today. Drove out of work to come home and the mph dial was sitting at zero, the rest of the dials were fine. Then the battery light came on, then ABS, and the dials were on and off intermittently. Pulled into the driveway and turned car off for a few secs. Tried to start it and it wouldn't start, but was trying. Back in march with the cluster failure it done nothing when trying to start as the immobiliser was preventing it from starting. Is it likely the battery could be on its way out as the last 2 days has been quite cold? Or is it likely the cluster is away again after a short period of time? I will have owned the car 4 years next March and i've never had to replace the battery yet. But would a battery fault cause the intermittency on the cluster?

I’m by no means an expert but had the same symptoms and trouble with my Audi A3 , was suffering from battery drain .

I changed the battery and it solved the issue though , annoyingly the battery on my focus is now discharging itself and looks like it will need replacing ! 
 

 

3 hours ago, djmartylyttle said:

Then the battery light came on, then ABS, and the dials were on and off intermittently. Pulled into the driveway and turned car off for a few secs. Tried to start it and it wouldn't start, but was trying.

I have seen things a bit like that (many years ago in a Sierra, so a bit different!) with alternator failure, that allowed the battery to go flat before showing any lights or indications.

I repaired my IC over 4 years ago now, it has not failed again. The immobiliser is the classic part of that, so trying to turn slowly defo sounds more like battery / alternator.

I'd agree that this is a dead battery

A failing battery caused all sorts of electrical gremlins in a previous Merc C and a Toyota Celica for me. Both occasions were solved with a new battery. Interestingly, with both cars on taking it to a 'battery place', on testing the existing battery was told that it was OK! Replaced them anyway, I have no idea what kind of stress test they were doing but the only true stress was on me! LOL.

16 hours ago, djmartylyttle said:

I will have owned the car 4 years next March and i've never had to replace the battery yet.

So you don't know exactly how old that battery is?

Best to change it - winter is coming

 

16 hours ago, djmartylyttle said:

Or is it likely the cluster is away again after a short period of time?

Once resoldered properly the solder joints should be good for several years at least.

17 hours ago, djmartylyttle said:

...., But would a battery fault cause the intermittency on the cluster?

5 consecutive posts urging a battery change LOL When you do it, let us know if the fault persists, and if so, we'll get some proper experts on the case! 🤣

Cheers guys, I’m going to replace the battery today and see how it goes. I didn’t take the car to work yesterday but tried starting it when I came home and it did start twice although both times it was struggling so hopefully the battery will sort it.