Hey guys! 

I've got a 55 plate Focus Titanium 2.0... had it for about 6 years now.
Its been a cracking car until about 18 months ago when it developed a weird issue.
(Not bothered me too much as I had a midlife crises and bought a convertible and a bike! but I'm done with that for now!) 

Sometimes, I'll come to start the car and the immobiliser light flashes its !Removed! off and the car point blank refuses to turn over. 
Sometimes you can try again straight away and it will start, other times you can sit there for an hour trying until it eventually starts.

I'm also seeing faults coming up on the dash such as 'speed limited mode', 'steering assist failure' and 'engine systems fault'.

None of these errors are factual... I mean when it says speed limited mode, its clearly not in speed limited mode etc.

I've noticed that these issues are less likely to happen on a hot day.
I've also noticed that sometimes shaking the car (ie physically rocking the !Removed! out of it for 5-10 seconds) will cause it to start.

A few people have suggested its likely to be either a bad/loose connection somewhere, or a bad earth.

Has anyone see these issues before?

Can anyone give me a good place to start troubleshooting this?

I have already replaced the battery (twice), and I have also removed the main earth from the battery, cleaned it up etc and whacked that back on.
No difference :(

Thanks in advance for any help chaps! :)

Hello and welcome muckerz85

The key to starting to resolve the problems are the codes. You should get them read correctly. This should give you a good starting point to work from.

1 hour ago, muckerz85 said:

None of these errors are factual.

Unfortunately they are. It does not just stick up random codes for the hell of it 

So either take it to a ford garage who can read the codes and explain them to you. Or you could buy the kit to do so your self. There is a wealth of info on here regarding fault codes. So lets start here.

Then have a look here to see if any of the fault codes your getting are listed

Also a definitive fault code list here http://www.cardiagnostics.be/-now/wds2000_bestanden/Ford diagnostic trouble codes.htm?utm_source=FordOwnersClub&utm_medium=ForumLinks&utm_campaign=referrals

Edited August 29, 20169 yr by Joss max
new link

I did have a friend stick a code reader on it a while back... it just came up "Unknown Error Code", which was about as helpful as a trap door in a submarine.
 

9 hours ago, muckerz85 said:

Sometimes, I'll come to start the car and the immobiliser light flashes its !Removed! off and the car point blank refuses to turn over. 
Sometimes you can try again straight away and it will start, other times you can sit there for an hour trying until it eventually starts.

I'm also seeing faults coming up on the dash such as 'speed limited mode', 'steering assist failure' and 'engine systems fault'.

Absolutely classic Focus 2005/2006 Instrument Cluster problem, I would say to at least 85% certainty.

Basically the main communications bus linking all the module together fails, bad solder joint in the IC usually. Then all sorts of lights come on, Immobiliser, odometer says --.-- or something like that.

Tapping the fascia around the IC might make it better, or worse.

I had this & fixed it. If it is the IC, they can be repaired, usually for under £100. I just used a soldering iron.

See: http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/applications/core/interface/file/attachment.php?id=40491

Or post here for more info.

Peter.

I have had same issue for months, more recently as I was driving the whole cluster display went bank and most morning would not start, cured by thumbed on top of cluster, I tried cleaning all engine bay earths, new battery and alternator (the latter due to low voltage reported in OBD - Forscan), even cleaning up and re-sealing the bulkhead in front of window screen wiper assy, as passenger footwell was damp. All to problem continuing and getting more frequent.

So called a Cluster repair company in Essex UK and arranged a repair, shipped for next morning delivery, they refurbished the cluster from my Focus 2007 Auto Titanium and sent it back to me the next day, works a treat! I wish I had tried that earlier

So much cheaper than going to ford, cost £130 and no need to pair up keys. Also make sure you disconnect the battery prior to removing

1 hour ago, WaterDragon said:

So much cheaper than going to ford, cost £130 and no need to pair up keys. Also make sure you disconnect the battery prior to removing

That's a tad steep, most charge between £60- to £80, my own was £60. Oh, I never disconnected the battery! Still, you have it all done now so many more miles happy motoring ahead...

Always nice to see an old tread brought back to life 🤣🤣