Hi

First post, TIA for any help, I hope this is the correct forum.

Ford Focus Ghia diesel 02 plate, registered May 2002, 59k miles.

Cluster problems Nov 2013, flickering dials, then they stopped working and LED ‘died’. Cured with a spray of cluster circuit board with contact cleaning spray. 8 years on but no luck with a repeat spraying.

Sent for repair, came back exactly the same. Returned, after a fitting of what looks like a new circuit board and ‘cloning’  All appears fine, dials, millage etc. EXCEPT ABS self-test does not light for the expected 2-4 seconds as expected to depict the ABS system self-test.  MOT fail.

 

Ford Focus MK1 hidden menu – tests and readouts:

 

 

1.       GAGE – Gauses test. All good

3.  bULb – Indicator bulbs/LEDs test. All working

       6.. dTC – DTC codes list.  “none”  displayed

        18. Ab-L – ABS error signal. Ab-H.

I’ve tried a newer cluster (manufactured Dec 2003,I think), all fine EXCEPT the yellow ABS light and the red handbrake light remain on  indicating problem with the ABS system.

Ford Focus MK1 hidden menu – tests and readouts as above, but LEDs, not bulbs

Any thoughts? Do I actually have ABS?

Many thanks.

I don’t know if that car has abs , certainly it was made before abs became compulsory. I can only think of checking to see if there are wires to sensors at each wheel .   If not and no abs then if mine I would probably destroy the abs warning light in the cluster. 

Hi

Thanks for your reply.

I have looked for wires to connect up the sensors and don’t think there are any and hence no ABS. My knowledge of my car is that it’s blue and has for wheels, but bearing that in mind, surely I would have spotted them?

Original cluster – no ABS self-test illumination because there nothing to test? (bulb works fine)

Newer cluster ABS and handbrake light illuminated permanently but there no ABS to have failed, so it shows as a fault?

Behind the engine you can see there are four ‘grips’ for holding the brake lines(?), but there only two lines, so I’m I right in thinking – one to front and rear brakes? If four present, one to each wheel?

 

Thanks for your assistance.

It does sound like your car doesn't have ABS, and that you have ended up with a newer instrument cluster which is looking for a signal from the ABS module.

A few weeks ago I could have checked on Ford ETIS for the build of your car, but sadly they have closed the system down now. There are some on here that work for garages and would be able to confirm the build state of your car, they might see this thread and let you know.

If you definitely don't have ABS then you could take the instrument cluster apart and remove the ABS lamp or LED or even just cover it over with black tape. The red handbrake warning is more of a problem. Not sure what you can do about that.

Is handbrake light compulsory. Years ago no cars had handbrake lights. Some cars use the handbrake light as the brake fluid light also, so if it stays on when handbrake off then it means brake fluid level low.  I don’t know if your car uses the handbrake light as the fluid level light. 

The ‘old’ original cluster went funny in 2013, flickering dials, speedo LED  died etc. I revived it for 8 years with a squirt of contact spray. Apparently, that was a common occurrence with circa 2002 models as the solder on the circuit board ‘greyed out’ and led to the failure. I obtained a ‘newer’ cluster, manufactured Dec 2003. Everything worked fine, except the ABS light and handbrake light is on, depicting a major failure of the ABS. Well I suppose it would by default, if there no ABS.

I’ve had the original cluster mended, all fine except the ABS light does illuminate for 2-4 seconds to show the ABS self-test has taken place so it’s failed the MOT. Well that’s not going to happen if there’s not ABS to test, I presume.  The hand break light come on if you engage the handbrake, so that works OK. It’s never failed a MOT with a ABS / slash ABS self-test problem, so I think it doesn’t have ABS.

We call the old girl the ROTAVATOR, as it has the same working parts! 58k miles in 20 years, can’t be bad, part of the family.

Thanks again, great site!

No ABS!!!!!

Lessons learned:

1.       No ABS, so no self-test, so no 2-4 second of illumination of the ABS light when ignition is on at 1

2.       No sensor wire to each wheel brake (disc and drum). Can be seen / not seen by putting front wheels in full lock, but you may need to get down under car to see for sure.

3.       If you can’t get under to examine, remove screw/bolt (10mm) to left of fuse box. With a bit of persuasion it will lift up, you’ll not see an ABS unit below it. (No need to disconnect wires to fuse box).

4.       If you’re installing a newer dashboard cluster and the ABS and Handbrake lights illuminate, it’s because there’s not ABS unit,  rather than a fault with the ABS.  But it will be regarded as a MOT failure.

5.       If you’re looking for a replacement cluster, make sure the two letters of the part number, in CAPITALS  are the same.

Heart felt thanks to the owner, contributors and members of this fantastic site. In the nicest possible way, I hope to not have to mither you again for a good while!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

antilock_brakes.pdf