Hello everybody, My car has recently been in an accident, luckily no-one was hurt but unfortunately it was bad enough for the airbags to be deployed which is possibly going to be so expensive to replace as to make the car "a total loss", we will see. Anyway, since the accident i have not managed to get the car started again, i have been told that i need to find the inertia switch, but I CANT FIND IT! I have checked all around the drivers footwell, taken off the plastic trunking to reveal all the electrics next to the pedals, had a look in the boot and around the fuse box on the passenger side...nothing.

I am no mechanic by any stretch of the imagination so any advice would be really appreciated, is there a chance that this model doesn't even have an inertia switch? In which case what to do?

I would like to get the car started before the insurance people come round to inspect the car and give me a value for it.

I've really enjoyed this car, i would love to be able to keep it on the road, and i worry that the insurance company are going to be too quick to right it off and give me a poor valuation.

Ford Focus, 2003, TDCI.

Kind regards

Corks.

Right hand side of the drivers footwell.

There's a notch in the centre of the panel.

The button is there.

Hi Resident Lawman

We've looked on the right hand side of the drivers side and there is a bunch of wires but nothing that looks like a switch. We're stumped!

Corks

Its defo there mate blacb button on driver side right kick panel

On some versions there was a visible slot with the button behind it.

Definitely behind the lower A pillar panel (by accelerator pedal).

Two screw covers to remove then remove the screws.

Remove the door seal next to the panel and pull the panel off.

If the cut off has tripped the button will be in the raised position.

Press down to reset then turn the ignition key to II then back to I to reset the system and prime the fuel pump.

The car should start normally.

Make sure you do not have a fuel leak prior to resetting and starting.

Are you sure you don't have a slot like this?-

Hi, our car has what you have all described but the when we took off the panels we found a bunch a wires but no switch. We also have the panel as you described Resident Lawman but there is no switch. We took photo's to show you but I cant seem to get the media attached. :(

Corks

Thats because its a diesel. Petrols only have the switch, as they are the cars that blow kaboom when they have a fuel leak and a risk of spark, diesels dont have the problem :)