Guide - Focus Mk1 Isofix Retrofit

[Dougal]

Hi all

I had done some investigation into retrofitting an ISOfix bracket to my Ford Focus Mk1. Research revealed a lot of confusion as to what did or didn't fit.

ISOfix was not fitted as standard in the Ford Focus Mk1 model, however, the mounting holes do exist under the rear seats to enable retrofitting,

This post is a quick guide for the easy retrofitting of an ISOfix bracket to a Ford Focus Mk1, in this case, a 2003 model. The ISOfix has been fitted to the near side (passenger side) in the case of this guide.

What do you need?

To complete this fit, you will need the following:

• Ford ISOfix bracket

• T40 Torx/Star drive (male socket)

• T50 Torx/Star drive (male socket)

The Ford ISOfix bracket is available from Ford dealers at a cost of around £16. You will be told they don’t exist for the Mk1 and the part is for the Mk2. It does however fit. The following image shows the part number on the bag.

The bag will contain the ISOfix bracket, two T50 torx/star screws and two plastic ISOfix seat guides

Step 1 - Decide where the bracket is going.

There are mounting points to both the rear of the left and the right seats (not the middle).

Pull up the base of the seat on your chosen side.

Step 2 - Removing the rear seat

The fitting of the ISOfix is much easier if you remove the back section of the rear seat on your chosen side of the car.

Fold down the rear seat.

The rear seat can be removed by releasing four screws (which connect to a hidden mounting plate). There are two screws in each corner of the seat base. You will need a T40 Torx/Star drive (male socket) to release these screws.

Once the four screws have been removed, the seat back can be slid (not pulled) from the mounting plates.

Step 3. - Removing mounting hole gromits

Once the seat back is removed, you will be presented with the car base and two black gromits (see image below), These are the ISOfix bracket mounting points. To make room to work with, carefully move the seat beyond the seat belt buckle connector as shown below. This holds the seat out of the way.

Using a flat head screwdriver, carefully prise the gromits from their position.

Step 4 - Mounting the ISOfix bracket

Take the mounting bracket and T50 screws from their packaging

Offer the ISO bracket to the correct position, by lining up the ISOfix bracket screw holes to the screw holes in the bodywork

Note that the square hoops of the ISOfix bracket should be at the bottom.

Screw in the T50 screws using a T40 Torx/Star drive (male socket) until tight.

Once fixed, give the bracket a tug to ensure it's tight to the bodywork.

Step 5 - Reinstalling the seat

Gently bring the seat back over the seat belt buckle connector and offer the four screw holes back onto the seat mounting plate. The mounting plate rotates, so ensure they line up before you pick the seat up.

Line up the screw holes and fix with a T40 Torx/Star drive (male socket) until tight.

Push the seat back to it's reclined position until you hear a click, and pull the seat base back down and you are almost done.

Step 6 - Installing the ISOfix base guides

The black ISOfix base guides are used to both help you, and protect your upholstery when installing and removing your ISOfix base.

The Ford supplied guides simply hook on top the square loop of the ISOfix bracket. You will need to push hard against the upholstery to get the guide to hook it on.

Be aware that you will need to remove these if you drop the back seats when transporting large items.

The Ford supplied ISOfix base guides appear much more robust than the ones supplied with my ISOfix seat base (Maxi-Cosi Easyfix). The seat supplied guides just pop off as soon as they area attached, where as the Ford supplied remain intact.

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I hope this guide is of use to some people looking to retrofit ISOfix to a Ford Focus Mk1

All things considered....................This is a simple 20 minute DIY job with the correct tools.

Craig.

[jamesm182]

Nice guide there Craig thanks for sharing :)

[Carrie1989]

Hi Craig

would this fit my 2002 fiesta then? 

 

Thanks

Carrie