Anyone know if the Mk3 Focus has a manual method to open the boot hatch? Can't find one myself. Googled it of course but can only find conflicting/unclear info. It would seem that in the USA there is a law which mandates there be one, but have no idea if this is also fitted for other countries.

Nope.

Only non european cars have the emergency boot release.

You need to power the boot circuit to open it unfortunately.

To access the lock you'd need to strip out the hatch trim which mesns the boot needs to he open.

12 hours ago, RayC333 said:

Anyone know if the Mk3 Focus has a manual method to open the boot hatch?

Hi Ray,

are you suspecting an electrical failure of the tailgate latch or do you just need to open it without the vehicle battery installed ?

I can give you the Ford schematics for the operation of the latch if you think it is a control fault. You can intercept the release wire to the tailgate latch on connector C411 pin 6 the wire should be Yellow/Violet. Applying 12V positive to this will directly operate the latch motor. It is also possible to pick up the same wire at the BCM on connector C2280E pin 12, same colour.

I'm just being curious - is it possible to retrofit in a UK car the very sensible override handle that USA cars are mandated to have?

Yes, but perhaps you're not familiar with the purpose of the American tailgate/boot release leaver?

They are required by law in the USA (and some other countries) to prevent people being kidnapped and locked in the boot.

You could fit the release leaver to a European car with minor modifications but it would only be of any use if you were locked inside the boot 🤣

 

7 hours ago, unofix said:

They are required by law in the USA (and some other countries) to prevent people being kidnapped and locked in the boot.

I'm from Belfast - I actually knew that 😂

22 hours ago, unofix said:

are you suspecting an electrical failure of the tailgate latch or do you just need to open it without the vehicle battery installed ?

 

Hi, no not an electrical failure. I currently have the battery out of the car as it went flat due to the extended period the car's been off the road. 

A few small bolts from the VVT solenoids have disappeared down into the well of the boot and I can't  easily fish them out 🙂

I'll re-install the battery after connecting up the remaining electrical connectors around the engine then find the missing items. Thanks anyway.

Hello, I have a focus mk3 and my boot lights are not turning off when I close it, so I’ve took them out, this is a common problem where the boot release doesn’t work, would I need to replace the boot catch with another one? I’ve tried spraying it with a lubricant to see if it works and it’s still the same 

thanks