Good evening all.

My first post so appologies if I make a few mistakes.

I have a 2017 Focus Ecoboost 1.0 ST-Line which appears to have the Fake engine / symposer.

I've been looking for the location of the symposer from the top of the engine bay near the battery and near the firewall but cant seem to locate it.

I've read other posts on the ST forums that have the electronic version located in the boot but this also isnt the case.

Im not certain if this is the MK3 or 3.5 and have contacted my ford dealer but they dont seem to want to help (dont mind paying).

Ive purchased a Forscan compatable ODB2 and can see the ACM module but only one option is showing (value 030) when others have many.

Has anyone else located the symposer or electronic feng (fake engine noise) or know a good dealer who would be willing to take a look in the west midlands.

Kind regards

This is the GUIDES forum. Please repost the question in the FOCUS forum.

https://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/forum/2-ford-focus-club/

I wasn't aware of the 1.0 engine using the sound symposer?  Are you sure there is not an engine fault making an undesirable noise instead?

43 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

I wasn't aware of the 1.0 engine using the sound symposer?  Are you sure there is not an engine fault making an undesirable noise instead?

Same here

 

13 hours ago, GMan2025 said:

Im not certain if this is the MK3 or 3.5

MK3.5

 

13 hours ago, GMan2025 said:

Ive purchased a Forscan compatable ODB2 and can see the ACM module but only one option is showing (value 030) when others have many.

What OBD connector are you using?

 

13 hours ago, GMan2025 said:

have a 2017 Focus Ecoboost 1.0 ST-Line which appears to have the Fake engine / symposer.

 The early 1.6 Ecoboost on the Mk 3 had the simple tube to firewall type symposer. 

There's the suggestion in this thread that Mk 3.5 ST-Lines have the fake noise, though not clear which engines that applied to:

https://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/129947-artificial-engine-noise-cabin-amplifier/

The 1.0 can be quite "growly" anyway, and it's possible someone may have installed a replacement panel filter (e.g. K&N) or other intake mod.

20 hours ago, GMan2025 said:

Ive purchased a Forscan compatable ODB2 and can see the ACM module but only one option is showing (value 030) when others have many.

Has anyone else located the symposer or electronic feng (fake engine noise) or know a good dealer who would be willing to take a look in the west midlands.

There has never been a physical sound symposer system on the Focus MK3/MK3.5 with 1.0 EcoBoost engine.

Only the Focus MK3 1.6 EcoBoost and ST 2.0 EcoBoost did have a physical sound symposer. On the Focus MK3.5 the physical sound symposer was discontinued and on certain engine types/trim levels replaced by the artificial engine noise through the audio system.


The Focus MK3/MK3.5 ACM has very limited configuration options. This is perfectly normal. A Kuga MK2.5 ACM for example has much more configuration options. I have seen before that replacing the ACM was the only way to get rid of the artificial engine noise. 

9 hours ago, DaveT70 said:

Same here

 

MK3.5

 

What OBD connector are you using?

Thank's for getting back to me.  I've bought two OBD's both produced the same effect. The latest purchase is mentioned on the forscan website for compatability and its the "Vgate vLinker FS OBD2 USB Adapter for FOR-Scan HS/MS-CAN Auto Switch".  It works and can see the ACM module but can only see one entry. 

Starting the fact I have a mk 3.5 might be related.  I will take a look again tomorrow and grab a screen shot.  Will also go hunting for the physical symposer if the rain holds off.

Thank you. 

2 hours ago, JW1982 said:

There has never been a physical sound symposer system on the Focus MK3/MK3.5 with 1.0 EcoBoost engine.

Only the Focus MK3 1.6 EcoBoost and ST 2.0 EcoBoost did have a physical sound symposer. On the Focus MK3.5 the physical sound symposer was discontinued and on certain engine types/trim levels replaced by the artificial engine noise through the audio system.


The Focus MK3/MK3.5 ACM has very limited configuration options. This is perfectly normal. A Kuga MK2.5 ACM for example has much more configuration options. I have seen before that replacing the ACM was the only way to get rid of the artificial engine noise. 

Thank you for your help. Very interesting and informative. 

It's a shame I cant get a Ford dealer who knows about this.  I know the ST had a box in the boot that could be unplugged for the feng side (could this be the ACM or just an amp?).  I've also read that others have turned off the Enhanced engine sound option in the ACM but these were MK3 users,  I'm going to take another look tomorrow to try and rule out the physical symposer.

I have taken out the audio unit from the centre console and driven round with it disconnected but the v8 growl is still there. Will keep this post updated for others later.

In case anyone else asks it does have either a feng or symposer. I have changed the air filter and the engine is lovely and quiet outside. Also driven another Focus which is a nice silent drive.

Thanks everyone for your help.

Thanks again for everyones input on this. I hope this thread may help others that read.

From what I can tell the V8 growl (which sounds just like the youtube videos of others with FENG) may well just be exhaust noise. From what I've read the ST-Line uses the same exhaust as the ST. The strange thing is the growl seems to come from the engine bay in front, and also a deeper sound in the rear. Never had a boy racer exhaust but would expect the sound towards the rear.

Outside of the cabin it's nice and quite.

I'm going to look at replacing the middle and rear box, after I take some advice from an ecxhaust specialist who's going to think I'm loco.

If you watch a ST video on youtube it does soun the same.

Will let you know the result.

The ST-Line does certainly not have the same exhaust as the ST.

The ST (2.0 EcoBoost) exhaust is considerably larger in diameter and has a much larger twin pipe center exhaust with a large single tip that covers both pipes. With a MK3 ST in front of the house and having owned a 1.0 EcoBoost for many Years I can safely say that the sound of the 1.0 EcoBoost does not even come close to the ST sound.


Apart from that the 1.0 EcoBoost ST-Line has the exact same exhaust system as every other trim level with this type of engine. Being just a trim level, there is nothing special about the exhaust system of an ST-Line.

The 1.0 EcoBoost has a very specific 3-cylinder sound which many people associate with "sporty". This sound however is just a characteristic of an engine with an uneven amount of cylinders. A different exhaust is not going to change that.