Ford Focus 3. Puddles and spots appear under the car
Often, driving away from a parking lot, a motorist notices wet spots in the place where his car was parked. Are such spots an indicator of a car malfunction, and where to look for the cause of the leak?
Where do spots under the car come from?
Before signing up for the service, you should try to determine the cause of the leak yourself - it is possible that it is just condensation.
Different systems in the car operate due to different fluids - brake, coolant, as well as engine and transmission oil... And the spots under the car can be any of them. There are many reasons why this or that fluid flows out, ranging from a leaky closed container and ending with a leak from the brake system.
How to determine the cause of the stain
The surest way to determine what kind of liquid has flowed out of the car is to pay attention to the stain itself, to its color, consistency and smell. If the stain is formed by a clear and flowing liquid, then it is water from the conditioner; a rapidly evaporating almost transparent liquid with a characteristic odor is a fuel; a brown and flowing liquid with a special odor is a sign of a leak from the brake system; non-spreading and non-evaporating liquid, from transparent to brown, is an antifreeze; and the oil has a viscous consistency and is lighter in color if it is new, and darker in color if it is old.
The second step is to determine the cause of the stain formation. If it was possible to establish that the leaked liquid is, for example, antifreeze, then the problem should be looked for in the radiator. The cause of antifreeze leakage can be the leakage of the cooling system pipes, as well as cracks in the crankcase or other damage to the radiator.
If the stain has all the signs of washer fluid, then the problem is a leaking windscreen washer reservoir. This malfunction can be easily eliminated by removing the tank and sealing the hole, or replacing it with a new one.
If the spot under the car is leaking fuel, the cause may be a leak. fuel system: Cracked hoses or pipes, or leaks in the gas tank. With such a problem, it is recommended to contact specialists who eliminate the leak using the "cold welding" method.
If the stain has signs of oil, then there may be several reasons: leakage of the crankshaft oil seals, gear axle shafts rear axle car or primary-secondary shaft of automatic transmission. You can try to fix the leak yourself by pouring a special additive (additive) into the oil, which will tighten the leak. However, this method may not work - moreover, among motorists there is an opinion that additives cause irreparable harm to the power unit, and, although they give an instant effect, they will only temporarily delay the inevitable trip to the car service.
Another reason for the appearance of oil stains under the car is to leak through the gaskets of the engine pan, gearbox or rear axle. To eliminate this cause, tighten the fasteners - bolts and nuts. Other methods are applying sealant to the old gasket or replacing it with a new one.
One of the most dangerous leaks is brake fluid, which can cause you to lose control of your vehicle and lead to an accident. In case of this malfunction, the car should be immediately taken to the service using the services of a tow truck.
Therefore, underfloor staining during parking can be caused by a serious malfunction and should not be neglected. First of all, the owner of the vehicle should determine the type of leaked liquid by the type and smell of the stain, and, based on the information received, inspect the place of the car from which this liquid is supposedly flowing out.
Condensate from a car air conditioner
If your car is equipped with an air conditioner, in most cases it is it that is responsible for the wet surface. At the same time, the location of the condensate puddle under the machine can be determined quite accurately - at the exit of the drainage tube. This is a normal phenomenon that occurs in full accordance with the laws of physics from the school course. Any air conditioner is a closed system with refrigerant circulating under pressure through a piping system from one component to another. Where does the water come from? And from the air, which needs to be cooled. When its temperature decreases, the water vapor present in it condenses and is directed into the engine compartment. Condensation forms only when the air conditioner is operating, so you can notice a puddle only after a very short parking. And the most important thing is that the puddle formed under the car as a result of the operation of the air conditioner does not leave marks after drying - no stains, no smell. Often, car owners learn about this phenomenon months and years after purchasing a car. However, the lack of color and smell does not allow us to confidently assert that there is nothing to worry about. Water can be contained, for example, in a washer reservoir or accumulate in various cavities of the body (for example, the hood has special drainage channels for draining fluid) and flow out from there when the car is parked.
Puddle under exhaust pipe
Condensation water can also form at the outlet exhaust gases from the pipe. And this is also quite common, especially if the size of the puddle is small. Condensation usually forms when the air is heated by exhaust gases, which have a relatively high temperature even at the outlet. But if the car is equipped with a catalytic converter, then small puddles will appear constantly, since this device chemically converts some harmful substances. present in the exhaust, relatively harmless, including water. In any case, you should not worry, except for the safety of the exhaust pipe, which is exposed to corrosion.
Leaking transmission
Two options are possible here. If you have an automatic transmission, a spot of pronounced red color and an equally bright odor is formed, which is unlike anything else. The transmission fluid itself has a high viscosity, so it is absorbed into asphalt or concrete extremely slowly. Finally, you can make sure that the puddle of oil under the car has flowed out of the box at the location of the puddle - exactly in the middle of the car. This problem should be promptly eliminated, that is, replace either the leaking shaft seal or the gasket on the transmission housing. If this is not done, over time, the transmissions will begin to slip, and as a result, one day you will not be able to budge at all.
Power steering is running
For the operation of any hydraulic equipment, which is also the power steering, a low-compressible fluid is required. In automotive power steering, a fluid is used that has a predominantly yellow tint. If it has not changed for a long time, then its color will migrate towards caramel or light red colors. The consistency of the liquid is moderately viscous and greasy, the absorbency is good, the smell is practically not felt, at least from long and medium distances. Usually, the fact that there is little fluid in the power steering tank is evidenced by the characteristic squeal of the pump pumping fluid through the system, as well as difficulties with turning the steering wheel. The cause of this defect usually lies in the critical wear of the seals located on the steering rack. If you postpone their replacement, the case may end up with a complete loss of vehicle control, so draw your own conclusions.
Windshield washer flows
Since “anti-freeze” is the most frequently changed consumable in a car (apart from fuel), even inexperienced motorists are very familiar with this liquid. True, its identification can be difficult due to the wide variety of compositions (colors can vary from green to orange, representing almost the entire spectrum of the rainbow). But the characteristic smell cannot be confused with any other. If you still doubt that the puddle of water under the car in summer has exactly this origin, you can establish this experimentally - just turn on the washer. This is enough to determine both the color and aroma of the washer. Although in the summer, of course, you can use ordinary water instead of "non-freezing". Carefully inspect the washer reservoir and hoses going to the hood - they may have defects, due to which wet spots are formed under the car.
Brake fluid leaks
This is one of the most unpleasant leaks in a car, as brake failure has the most serious consequences. It is possible to diagnose this problem, but the fact is that the brake fluid is similar in its characteristics to the fluid poured into the power steering. This is not surprising since it is also a hydraulic fluid. Thus, color and odor in this case will be unreliable markers, which means that it is important to determine the location of the leak. If the puddle under the car is located in the front right (with right-hand drive) or on the left in the area of the steering column - most likely, we are dealing with a fluid leak from the power steering. Brake fluid It is far from always localized in the area of the wheels - it can leak where it is suitable, even in the cab in the area of the brake pedal, or in the rear of the car.
Note that on modern vehicles, the loss of tightness of the brake system is a rare phenomenon, moreover, there is a light on the instrument panel that lights up when the pressure in the line drops. But on older machines, such a defect is not uncommon. The most common cause of leaks is defective hoses that need to be replaced with new ones.
Antifreeze flows
Except for engine oil leaks, antifreeze leaks are perhaps the most common defect among all of the above. The color of the coolant may be different, but on dark asphalt or concrete, it is far from always possible to unambiguously judge the shade of the spot. Most often, the smell of antifreeze is slightly sweet, and in consistency it differs little from water, that is, it is absorbed quickly and evaporates just as quickly. A puddle of antifreeze appears in front of the car, and if you enter the car from this side, it will be difficult not to notice it. Typically, a leak appears due to defects in the radiator pipes, as well as leaky pipes located at the rear of the radiator. With a critical decrease in the level of antifreeze in the system, a light will light up, indicating overheating of the power unit - in this case, you cannot continue driving - you should add antifreeze and eliminate the cause of the depressurization of the cooling system. You can get to the nearest service station or garage by putting a homemade harness on the branch pipe at the leak. Holes in the radiator tubes are also treated, but with the removal of this node.
Engine oil leaks
It is this fluid that is most often found under the car. And not only because it leaves a characteristic mark - the loss of tightness of the lubrication system is considered commonplace even on the most modern machines. The color of the oil can vary from light to nearly black, depending on age and condition. The smell in most cases gives off a little diesel fuel or gasoline. But this is not fuel - it's just that the power supply system and the lubrication system work so closely that, to a certain extent, there is a diffusion of these technical fluids... Due to the high viscosity engine oil has a low absorbency, after it dries, you can see rainbow stains, typical for gear lubricants. The most common reasons for the formation of an oil puddle under the car are a defect in the GB gasket of the power unit, loss of tightness in the front crankshaft oil seal. Their replacement is fraught with certain difficulties, therefore a considerable number of drivers prefer not to solve the problem in a radical way, but to top up oil as it leaks. What is more profitable is up to you, but sooner or later you will still have to change the gasket or oil seals.
Fuel leak
Often, this problem is not immediately detected, since gasoline is also. And diesel fuel evaporates quickly enough. But a pungent and recognizable smell helps to unambiguously identify this liquid. All that remains is to localize the leak and eliminate the defect. Most often, the problem lies in defects in the fuel hoses, less often in the presence of holes in the tank itself. In the latter case, it is strictly forbidden to eliminate the defect on your own: gasoline vapors are an extremely dangerous thing, but they remain in fuel tank, no matter how thoroughly you wash it. The problem is solved in a car service through the use of "cold welding".
From the history of the modelBY CONVEYOR: since 2011 |
The iconic model in the third generation is frankly spoiled by dubious changes - from a decrease in clearance and space in the cabin to the use of a robot with dry clutches, whose reputation was already tarnished. At the same time, Focus 3 is still quite liquid in the secondary market.
Apparently, the manufacturer drew conclusions. instead of a whimsical "dry" robot. The manufacturer has all the trump cards to return the Focus to the status of a people's car. In the purchase: an automobile plant in Vsevolozhsk and the production of successful Duratec 1.6 engines in Yelabuga.
- To the address paintwork no special complaints. In this regard, the Focus 3 is middling among its competitors.
- According to the corporate tradition the engine control unit located on the inside of the front left wheel arch liner. Even with minor accidents with a blow to this zone, not only the module itself suffers, but also the connector on the expensive wiring harness. It is necessary to carefully monitor the condition of the fender liner: over time, it can deform - and water during washing will get on the connectors of the unit and the harness, causing them to corrode.
- Sandwich from radiators of the engine and air conditioner located very close to the front of the machine and quickly becomes clogged with dirt. It is advisable to flush the heat exchangers at least once a year. In addition, the engine radiator is rather flimsy. During the warranty period, it is often changed due to a leak. For example, it is enough to lightly hit the bumper when reversing off the curb to crack the radiator.
- Cars manufactured before 2013 have water leaks into the trunk. It penetrates through the seals of the interior ventilation valve, which is integrated into the side of the rear body panel. Dealers changed the assembly to a new one according to the technical bulletin and sealed it. Usually, though, sealing was enough.
- On many modern Ford models rear bumper over time, it begins to chafe the edges on the corners of the trunk lid. Adjusting the bodywork does not help. The bumper is fixed with just a couple of clips and plays actively when driving at high speeds. The manufacturer limited himself to sticking a protective film to the edges of the lid in hazardous areas on vehicles manufactured after 2013.
- Windshield with heating, it still cracks when the temperature drops. The manufacturer has not saved him from unnecessary "taunting".
- When choosing a used car, pay attention to condition of doorways and hood. Rubber seals rub them down to metal. Due to constant friction, rust does not appear, but this is still a good reason to bargain.
Appeared in motor range Focus at. Cars in trim levels that include such a unit are very expensive, so there are few of them on the roads. Since this motor is also put on, the statistics are richer here.
The EcoBoost 1.5 turbo engine, built on the basis of its atmospheric cousin 1.6, is much quieter than its progenitor. Like all engines with direct injection, it is prone to rather quick clogging of the fuel injectors and the formation of deposits on the trays intake valves... A similar thing happens on a naturally aspirated 2.0 engine, but with an EcoBoost unit this happens less often and in milder forms. The nozzles are successfully washed on an ultrasonic installation, but this is not cheap pleasure, since when removing and installing injectors, it is necessary to replace disposable gaskets and O-rings.
The rest of the EcoBoost 1.5 isn't a hassle. To date, no significant problems with it have been recorded even on the Kugi. But on all-wheel drive crossover the motor is loaded more significantly than on the Focus.
put only on "pre-reform" cars. This motor differs from its predecessor, which worked on. The most important innovation is direct injection with all its advantages and disadvantages. In general, the engine did not show any serious problems in terms of mechanics. He does not suffer from oil consumption and timing chain lengthening.
The main sore of the 2.0 engine is the rapid clogging and coking of the intake valve plates. It would seem that an ordinary malfunction of direct injection engines. However, the Focuses often came to dealers with an error signaling that the air-fuel mixture was too lean due to clogged injectors, after only 30,000 km. Fortunately, injectors are successfully saved by flushing on an ultrasonic installation. Unfortunately, there is nothing to remove deposits on the valves. All methods of cleaning them without opening the motor are expensive and not particularly effective.
Another characteristic feature of this motor is increased vibration. Dealers experimented with different calibrations software, but they did not overcome the defect, and the manufacturer does not recognize it as a defect at all. Moreover, the new motor runs smoothly, vibrations occur with mileage. Perhaps the cause is deposits on the intake valves.
Increased vibration will reduce the life of the right engine mount. Usually, its rubber filler breaks down after 50,000 km. It is important to monitor the condition of the lower support, which, when worn, causes even more vibrations. By the way, the right support is often killed by servicemen when they remove the gearbox and tilt the engine strongly. This also applies to the 1.6 engine.
Periodically, on the 2.0 engine, dealers changed the injection pump due to wear. There is also pump leakage. Gasoline seeps through the valve cover into the oil pan, causing the oil to dilute. In addition, fuel leakage leads to errors caused by improper air / fuel ratio.
Sometimes the noise of the nearby absorber purge valve is taken for the knock of the high pressure fuel pump. It emits an unpleasant clattering sound, although it works properly. The valve is replaced with a new one, and the noise disappears.
A 2.0 engine, like a 1.6-liter unit, often has a valve cover leaking. However, for a more powerful motor, the consequences can be more serious. Oil enters the nearby tee of the cooling system and actively corrodes its gaskets - until antifreeze leaks.
He is perfectly familiar from the previous Focus and has a good reputation. Motors of different boost levels (85, 105 and 125 hp) are almost identical. In addition to the corresponding software versions, they have a different set of attachments. The mechanical part of the motor as a whole is not satisfactory, but it was marked by some annoying shortcomings.
After about 30,000 km of run, the engine starts to run much louder, that is, frankly rattles, especially during a cold start in winter. Noise source - piston group... However, this does not cause increased wear on the elements and does not constitute a defect.
With a planned replacement of the timing belt (every 120,000 km), it is important to carefully inspect the cooling system pump. Often by this time it starts to leak. If you miss the moment, the antifreeze will corrode the hinged belt.
On pre-styling cars, the phase shifter control valve on the exhaust camshaft often leaks. It is located on top of the valve cover, and a jet of oil hits the engine shield. The main thing is to notice it in time. Pressurized oil flows out through the dead valve very quickly, and the engine can "grab" oil starvation.
On the "pre-reform" Focuses at the 1.6 engine, the valve cover gasket is leaking. She usually starts to snot after 100,000 kilometers.
Another feature of the 1.6 engine is not the most outstanding generator resource and. The voltage regulator relay fails at the generator. An indication of the lack of charging appears on the dashboard, although a voltmeter connected to the battery terminals does not record this. The reason lies in the internal malfunction of the relay, which is connected to the "brains" of the motor on a separate bus. Dealers change the assembled generator, and specialized firms successfully restore the unit. The starter relay quickly wears out. Unofficials will change it for a reasonable price.
Duratec 1.6 on "pre-reform" cars was marked by frequent leaks of the rear crankshaft oil seal. The two-liter unit also suffers from this, although less often. The manufacturer has issued a service bulletin for this problem. When installing the oil seal, the oil pan must be removed, otherwise the new seal will soon begin to leak along its lower edge. Fatigue of the factory oil seal occurs approximately after the second maintenance. It is given by traces at the junction of the engine and gearbox. Although it happens that the oil seal of the input shaft of the "dry" PowerShift robot or both cuffs at once flows like this. And because of this, oil mist gets on the clutch discs and their forks, significantly reducing the resource of the nodes.
Since April 2016, domestically produced 1.6 motors have been installed (they are produced by the plant in Yelabuga). To date, no problems have been noticed behind "our" engines that distinguish them from foreign units.
Developed by the PSA concern. It was available only for "pre-reform" Focuses. For the entire time of the presence of this modification on the market, few cars have been sold, so we will focus on more extensive statistics on the behavior of this motor on.
The engine is considered to be quite successful against the background of competitors. Serious mechanical failures are uncharacteristic for him. In case of forced repairs, you can use French spare parts, they are often cheaper, it is easier to find them. The fuel equipment (high pressure fuel pump and injectors) is sensitive to the quality of the fuel, but still it stably withstands a mileage of 150,000 km.
If you often drive into questionable gas stations, the injectors may require flushing after 50,000 km. The first manifestation of their clogging on the Focuses is an unstable start of a cold engine. Before it warms up, it works extremely unevenly and may even stall several times. The manufacturer has issued a technical bulletin on this matter. He prescribed several cans of fuel additive added to the tank. In the experience of dealers, the effectiveness of this method is 50/50. Alas, dismantling the nozzles from a diesel engine and flushing them at the stand is expensive and conceals a number of pitfalls.
Dealers often come to Focuses with a melted fuel filter cap equipped with a heater. A similar situation is familiar from French models armed with this engine. The kit includes a new cover and connector (it suffers too). Melting is detected visually and has nothing to do with any specific mileage or age of the car. Some customers required the repair kit twice during the warranty period.
Dealers also encountered cases of oxidation of the connector and the position sensor of the variable turbine performance mechanism, accompanied by the appearance of a corresponding error. This distinguished the Focuses and Kugi with a variety of runs, regardless of age. Dealers are not involved, so they change an expensive assembly.
Only paired with the EcoBoost 1.5 motor. it joint development companies Ford and GM. At the heart of the 6F35 is the infamous 6T30 / 6T40 box, which was installed mainly on the Astra of the previous generation. However, Ford released its development to the market later than colleagues and initially etched the unit. The output turned out to be a successful box, devoid of significant drawbacks of the GM unit, including a small resource of the valve body and its valves, as well as the destruction of the retaining rings brake drums, entailing the complete destruction of the machine.
The 6F35 assault rifle has proven itself well on Kugah and Mondeo. The owners turned to dealers because of the rapid contamination of the oil due to the specific operation of the torque converter lock-up mechanism. Due to the wear products of the friction linings, the liquid turns noticeably black already by the second MOT. To extend the service life of the gearbox, it is important to at least partially change the oil every 45,000 km. At the Focuses, a similar effect and breakdowns have not yet been noticed, but few cars with this box have been sold either.
It is paired with 1.6 and 2.0 gasoline engines. As with machines from other manufacturers, this type of box causes a lot. Most of the complaints are related to low clutch resource, as well as twitching and jerking when shifting. The PowerShift dry robot's reputation is even worse than its DSG counterpart.
The manufacturer is working to improve the reliability and resource of the unit, but things are going slowly. The situation with jerking and jerking has practically not changed, but the service life of the clutch has increased significantly. If on the "pre-reform" Focuses (especially before 2013 release) replacing the unit almost every 30,000 km was common, then after restyling the number of such calls during the warranty period has significantly decreased.
In a "dry" Ford robot, the clutch forks and the input shaft oil seal are quickly worn out. Moreover, the leak of the cuff accelerates the death of the forks. More dirt gets under their anthers, and they begin to wedge, killing the clutch discs even faster. The LUK kit, which includes a clutch, forks and an oil seal, has appeared on the market. It is a set of original spare parts, the price is about 25,000 rubles.
The crunching sound when turning the steering wheel is caused by dirt and moisture entering the thrust bearings of the front shock absorber struts... The upgraded elements with improved protection began to be put on the conveyor from the beginning of 2014. Front and rear shock absorbers are rarely changed, they usually last at least 100,000 km.
Neutralizers are extremely sensitive to fuel quality. This applies to all modifications of the Focus in the "pre-reform" performance. Substandard fuel provokes the appearance of an error signaling the low efficiency of the converter. Upon visual inspection, damage to its cells is not detected; usually, their local melting occurs in hidden cavities.
Oxygen sensors are also demanding on the quality of gasoline. Blatant counterfeiting causes the appearance of a white coating on the measuring part, as well as on the spark plugs and neutralizer honeycomb. This is typical mainly for pre-styling focuses, on the updated ones this is rare. However, even on fresh cars oxygen sensors may require replacement. Due to low-quality gasoline at any run, an error may appear, indicating a slow reaction of "lambda". There is no notorious white bloom on them, but they can no longer be returned to a full life.
In addition, on the "pre-reform" Focuses with 1.6 motors, the rear oxygen sensor wiring touches the heat shield of the converter and burns. Due to the short circuit of the wires in the harness, one of the fuses flies out, which is also responsible for the power supply circuit of the radiator cooling fan.
On pre-styling Focuses, an insidious leak of the windshield washer motor sometimes occurs. Dealers have seen a lot of cars with this kind of trouble. Through the wires of the harness, the liquid reaches the body electrical unit located in the passenger compartment. In the best case, corrosion occurs on the connectors on the side of the module and wiring, and in the worst case, the liquid enters the unit and takes it out of standing. As a result, the car electrician begins to live his own life. In 2013, the manufacturer released upgraded washer motors - with an additional seal on the side of its connector - and a corresponding technical bulletin dedicated to replacing damaged elements. Wire harness and repair connectors are also available as separate parts.
SELLER'S WORDFord cars have always had good liquidity in the aftermarket, and even the disastrous Focus 3 was no exception. Surprisingly, all of its modifications are selling pretty well. The outsider in this pool is cars with an 85 hp engine, in poor configuration. These also find their buyer, it just takes time. Focuses go perfectly in the Titanium configuration, and even with robotic box... It causes a lot of criticism, but people are not particularly scared, although many are wary of robots. There are very few tricks with a motor on the market, statistics on them are scarce. But if you focus on older models, for example, Mondeo, interest in such a modification is high. Versions with an EcoBoost 1.5 engine have already appeared on the secondary housing, they are dismantled very quickly: the presence of a classic machine is captivating. The level of prices for cars of the second and third generations is another proof of the failure of the "third" Focus. For example, the Focus 2 produced in 2008-2009 is in good condition, with a 2.0 petrol engine and automatic transmission, it stands as its follower born in 2012 with a similar engine. I advise dealers or entrust this business to proven pickers. After all, the high liquidity of the car arouses increased interest among criminal structures. |
TOTAL
Ford focus 3 is a prime example of a used car, whose health and behavior directly depend on its modification and year of manufacture. If you still cherish the dream of buying such a used Focus, it makes sense to consider exclusively updated cars, which have eliminated children's sores and increased the reliability of individual units. And it is better to bypass the tricks with a "dry" robot.
Even before the restyling, the third "Focus" was updated more than once on trifles, gradually getting rid of childhood illnesses. Studying the car, you might think that the car has a lot of these diseases - however, it does not happen once at a time. For example, our friend "trickster" Denis did not have any of the most common problems, but exotic difficulties arose: the leaky radiator of the air conditioner was changed twice, since for the first time the defective part was replaced with ... exactly the same defective one. However, judging by the histories of the model's most serious illnesses, Denis got off with a little blood. For details and explanations, we traditionally turned to the managers and mechanics of dealerships.
Steering rack knock
The topic of knocking steering racks is considered the most burning issue for "focus guides": this problem was inherited from the second generation Focus and makes itself felt indecently quickly: literally in the first thousand kilometers, the backlash in the assembly (a manufacturing defect that caused the problem) turns out to be unpleasant tapping when driving even small irregularities. It is worth noting that the attitude of the officials to the problem was initially ambiguous: the craftsmen either could not find the source of the knocks, or they said that such knocking was in the order of things and does not affect safety in any way. However, when the ice broke and the replacement under warranty began, the relief turned out to be temporary: after all, the same new part was put in place of the old one, which, as expected, began to knock after several thousand kilometers.
As a result, an initiative group was organized in the community of car owners, which sent a collective letter to the manufacturer. According to the officials, this had an effect: in 2012, the manufacturer began to deal with the problem in a serious way. Together with the supplier, we analyzed the structure of the rail, after which the assembly was revised. Dealers were also sent additional instructions for diagnosing knocks in the front suspension, and if a rail malfunction is detected, the part under warranty is changed to an upgraded version.
Drop in thrust and motor triplet 1.6
Ford Focus has always boasted an unusually wide range of engines - here you have both gasoline and diesel, and the power spread is almost twofold, for every wallet and driving style - choose what you like best! Before restyling, the 1.6-liter gasoline engine on the third-generation Ford Focus was offered in three power options - 85, 105 or 125 hp, and after restyling it was decided to abandon the lowest-powered version. The 105-horsepower version turned out to be the most ailing of this basic trinity: with the onset of cold weather, the owners began to notice problems with starting, instability of idle speed, triple action and loss of thrust behind it. What is especially unpleasant is that this happened at extremely low mileage: on the Internet you can find videos in which the tachometer needle of a newly started car frighteningly jumps up and down next to the odometer, showing at most 3 - 5 thousand kilometers.
As the officials explain, the collected statistics of requests showed that this problem is typical for cars produced in the period from December 2010 to November 2011 and is caused by an unsuccessful version of the firmware of the engine control unit. The "blues" of the engine, according to the manufacturer, was explained by the premature formation of carbon deposits in the combustion chamber.
To solve the problem, the manufacturer issued a service bulletin, which ordered to update the engine control program to an updated version, as well as to clean the combustion chambers from carbon deposits. This procedure was carried out free of charge for all owners of 105-strong "Focus", who contacted the dealer with a corresponding complaint. Officials assure that since the end of 2011, the new firmware of the control unit eliminates such a problem.
Powershift twitches
Like its "colleague on the shop" DSG, Powershift received a lot of criticism, and in Europe a few years ago, because of this robot, the reliability rating was lowered for two Ford models at once. Russian owners Ford Focus box could annoy mainly coarse switchings, which are excluded for the preselective box by definition. But if a robot starts to change gears worse than a student who first sat behind the wheel, this usually does not lead to anything good.
The fight against the "robot" was fought on several fronts at once. At first, the officials tried to get by with little blood - they attributed the tremors to the peculiarity of the box's operation and, at best, suggested that it be "retrained". However, this did not help everyone. Then the problem of current oil seals and slipping clutches surfaced - in dealerships they say that by the time of restyling, the manufacturer managed to cope with these troubles - by about the end of 2012, the oil seals were modernized, and the clutches were strengthened. It would seem that this has solved the problem?
Not really. One more, perhaps the most widespread problem of "Powershift" was the unsuccessful firmware of the control unit. It was she who often lost a common language with the engine, provoking jolts, vibrations and unnecessary gas rotation while driving. According to dealers, the manufacturer updated the firmware versions several times, and the "brain" of the gearbox was updated for free upon request from the owner. The latest firmware version provides comfortable and stable switching - at least, as the officials say, the number of requests with this complaint has decreased markedly.
Seals of axle shafts flow on versions with mechanics
"Yesterday for the 2nd time I changed the oil seal of the right axle shaft under warranty. And this is for 15,800 km. The first time it leaked before a long trip for 9,000 km. And if the first time, the oil seal was a little wet, then this time already there were specific streaks, "- says Vyacheslav in the social network Drive2.ru.
A manual transmission may seem structurally simpler and more reliable than an advanced Powershift robot, but cars with manual transmissions are also quite capable of throwing problems at the focus of the driver: "snotty" drive oil seals turned out to be a typical phenomenon for the Focus 3 on the "handle". According to the statistics of calls to dealers, oil seals of the right drive suffer most often, although such a nuisance can also happen on the left side. Officials reassure: Ford found out about the problem quickly, measures have already been taken. This childhood illness turned out to be a large-scale but temporary defect: when installed on a conveyorthe oil seal did not fully get up on its own seat and could even get minor damage, not providing the necessary tightness because of this. According to the dealers, there were no problems with the warranty replacement, and the problem has already been eliminated on cars of the last years of production.
Windshield cracking
“I’m standing in a traffic jam, then bam - I’m looking at the glass - an almost even crack on the glass, no chips, no bumps!”, - says the user etty from the focus-club.com forum. Stories from the owners of the third-generation "Focuses", written according to the plot "bam - and a crack" - is a fairly frequent phenomenon. This often happens when using a heated windshield in cold weather, but many owners complained that cracks appeared without any prerequisites at all. Official dealers confirmed frequent cases of treatment, however, according to them, in the overwhelming majority of cases there was some kind of mechanical impact - often the employees of the service centers found small chips (which were practically invisible, according to the owners). The warranty for Focus windshields is purely symbolic - 1,500 kilometers. However, at the end of the warranty, the dealer can make a very lucrative offer for glass replacement.
Of course, the owners of competing classmates can gloat and be in complete confidence that they have definitely made the right choice and bought the most reliable and problem-free car. But there are no ideal cars - and the fact that your favorite model has not yet appeared in this section means only one thing: we just haven't gotten to it yet.
The fact that Ford does not stand aside from technical progress, moreover, is actively introducing its inventions into production cars, cannot but rejoice. The most striking confirmation of this is the 3rd generation Ford Focus, which beat its main platform rival Mazda3 in 2011.
At that time, the Japanese just started developing a line of SkyActive chassis and engines for future generations, and the designers of the American brand have already "fought" on all fronts, introducing new motors, transmissions and a number of options into their brainchild that the "matryoshka" dreams of to this day. ...
So has the legendary Ford still conquered the undisputed leadership in the segment? Yes, at first it may seem that way, but why don't the owners of the 3rd Focus shout about the obvious advantage of the model? Maybe it's the weak points?
Duratec is here, Duratec is there
To the general disappointment of all Focus fans, the 3rd generation civil cars did not receive Ecoboost turbocharged engines. Under the hood of the model were placed mainly "aspirated" Duratec with a volume of 1.6 liters (with a capacity of 125 and 105 hp), in terms of characteristics and design, more reminiscent of a relic of the last century than a look into the future. An even greater surprise among motorists was caused by an 85-horsepower engine, released after a certain period of time after the start of sales of the 3rd generation Focus. At the same time, the phase change system has not disappeared from the gas distribution. 
All variations of the 1.6-liter engine have a software "strangulation", but the lucky owners of the 125 hp versions. after a run of 120-130 thousand, they grieve about the need to remove "offal" from 2 catalysts. It is for this reason that the owners of such a car need to take the quality of fuel extremely seriously (the exhaust system is also equipped with 4 oxygen sensors, which means that they have 2 times more chances of breakdown than weaker engines).
In addition, the entire line of power units is subject to one "disease" - deposits in combustion chambers, which invariably leads to uneven operation and difficult starting of engines. It is worth noting that this problem manifested itself in all its glory even during the warranty period of operation, after which new control software was installed on the car, and the "illness" passed.
Another problem of the 3rd generation is considered to be oil leakage through the solenoid valves of the phase change system, but replacing these elements can solve it.
Phase change valve leaks are a big problem in many models
The 2-liter GDI chainset, developed on the basis of the Duratec 1.8, is also worthy of detailed consideration, but the Japanese from Mazda made the direct intake and phase change system for it. But most importantly, it was the 2-liter engine that turned out to be the most reliable, with the least number of weak points. There is, of course, a small percentage of malfunctions of fuel injectors and injection pumps, but similar problems occur in most cases due to untimely or poor-quality maintenance. This engine is especially sensitive to oil change, which is optimal every 9-10 thousand km.
But the entire line of gasoline units has a common weak point in the form of the right support of the internal combustion engine, which in rare cases travels more than 50 thousand km (and the original part costs about 11 thousand rubles). This "draconian" pricing policy of Ford leads to a search for analogues, and the best option in this situation would be to buy an original from Volvo, with a more tempting price tag.
The original internal combustion engine pillow is expensive and often leaks
Diesel on the 3rd generation is extremely rare, maybe for the reason that it is an order of magnitude more difficult to properly maintain engines of this type than gasoline versions? But upon detailed study, it turns out that there are relatively few problems with such a unit, because such motors are equipped exclusively with PowerShift (wet clutch), by analogy with Galaxy, Kuga, Mondeo and S-Max.
And again the same problems
Ford designers decided not to equip the 3rd generation of cars with CVTs, which had not been officially installed on cars intended for Russian market, but also the traditional "machine" Foсus did not receive. Looking at the situation, one gets the impression that Ford is excited about sales. original parts at Volkswagen with DSG, and decided to supply us with Focus equipped with robots.
The clutch is the weakest point of robotic transmissions. However, the main culprit is the control program, which sacrifices the resource of nodes for the sake of comfort of movement.
In fact, this step is aimed at maintaining global trends, even despite the fact that VAG engineers to this day cannot cope with the "childhood illnesses" of their gearbox equipped with 2 clutches. Yes, Ford tried to take all the problems out of PowerShift, but unfortunately to no avail.
The beginning of the "adventure", as a rule, consists in periodic software updates for the PS, and some are even more fortunate, because it becomes necessary to replace the TCM unit.
The TCM unit also sometimes fails.
Starting "trembling", which can also occur when shifting gears, means the need to eliminate the leakage of the engine crankshaft or the input shaft of the gearbox, followed by flushing the clutches and adapting. If this is not done in time, then the owner will have to change the clutches, which are quite expensive.
The appearance of a metal rattle at the time of shifting or the absence of several gears signals a wedge of the pressure fork, and this ailment is "treated" only by replacing the part.
In the event that problems with jerks when switching PS are not solved by flashing, the clutches must be replaced, because there is no other way to get rid of this trouble.
The PowerShift box itself is rarely asked for repair.
Interestingly enough, there are tons of buyers in the aftermarket looking to get their hands on a 3rd Ford with a traditional automatic transmission. This, of course, plays into the hands of dishonest businessmen who present PowerShift as a simple "box" and keep silent about the problems with the reliability of the gearbox.
But if you have already become a "happy" Ford owner Focus III with PS - do not get discouraged, because with proper care, this transmission will behave predictably. The main thing is to follow a few basic rules of use:
- Do not accelerate too quickly;
- Use manual mode more often;
- Switch the selector to the "P" position when standing in traffic jams;
- Track new software versions for PowerShift.
Fortunately, she is devoid of all these "diseases" mechanical transmission, for the trouble-free operation of which you only need to monitor the oil drips through the oil seals of the drives (mainly the right one). Although, for the sake of fairness, it should be said that AMT is also not without this drawback.
Leakage in actuators is inexpensively repaired. The main thing is not to wait until the transmission loses oil. In general, watch out
Steering rack - "disease" for the sake of progress
The innovations that have affected the global auto industry did not pass by the 3rd generation Focus, and first of all it concerns the electric power steering (most likely, in the new models, you can forget about the traditional power steering). Although, here, too, significant improvements were required, since some of the owners were faced with "auto steering" in the wrong direction and even with a decrease in the efficiency of the functioning of this mechanism. In the overwhelming majority of cases, dealers offer to change the EUR and at the same time the steering rack, which can upset the motorist without the assistance of the amplifier.
The EUR, "sick" with auto steering, will have to either be treated or changed. Otherwise, driving is dangerous
In general, rack problems have been known even before, and even on other non-Ford models. It consists in the rapid wear of the plastic sleeve of the steering shaft, which is accompanied by knocks when turning the steering wheel. The new rail solves the problem only for a short period, but a steel bushing turned by a skilled craftsman is considered the best way out of this situation.
The new steering rack on the Ford Focus is obscenely expensive. Fortunately, the node can be relatively inexpensively repaired and at the same time deprived of its weak point forever
The most problematic place in suspension Ford Focus 3 rear shock absorbers are considered overly sensitive to overloads and after 50,000 mileage, they begin to pass fluid through the stem seals.
The rest of the suspension parts are quite reliable and hardy, and calmly "nurture" more than 100 thousand, although the stabilizer struts, front hub bearings and front shock absorbers "surrender" to this milestone. But the silent blocks withstand more than 150 thousand km with dignity, which, together with hardy elements rear suspension(more than 200 thousand km.) is a very worthy indicator.
The rear multi-link in conditions of adequate driving will be docile and quiet for a long time
The same can be said about the picky brake system, in which such common troubles as the knocking of the calipers and the creaking of the linings were not noticed. The lifespan of the front pads on a car with 1.6 liter units is about 40 thousand, while the clutches on a two-liter car are about 1.5 times less.
Sudden cracks
The body of the 3rd Focus as a whole does not present unpleasant surprises, well, except perhaps, except for a heated windshield, which costs a lot of money and can be scratched or cracked from completely harmless influences. That is why the owners of the 3rd generation often complain about cracks on the windshield that suddenly appear in severe frosts.
A crack in the glass - causes pain for the owners and prepares for unforeseen considerable costs
Another "surprise" will be poorly working locks, mainly due to the skewed door hinges (sometimes uneven gaps between these body elements can be observed with the naked eye). The main culprit for this can be considered the notorious domestic assembly that has left its mark on the quality of the Focus III.
The most vulnerable point of the Focus 3 body is front bumper... Few manage to keep it intact
With regards to completely harmless moments, we note the periodic fogging of the headlights at the Focus, as well as the rare change of the "Ford" badge located on the trunk lid (the coating is peeling off).
Cheapness is not a sign of poor quality
Complaints about the cheapness of materials in the interior of the 3rd generation Focus are mostly groundless, because the interior of the car retains its original appearance for a long time. The only exceptions to the rule are the front seats, which need covers, as well as the gearshift lever, from which the coating quickly slides off. Cabin air vents also require careful handling, as fragile plastic can crack. Squeaks in the cabin, as a rule, occur in the areas of door cards and the center console, which means that it will not be easy to eliminate extraneous sounds.
The cabin of the 3rd Focus has become quieter than in its predecessor, and the materials are better, but creaks still appear
A fairly common "sore" in Focus III is chain damage electrical mechanism opening the trunk and the subsequent failure of the button. True, the manufacturer was able to take into account this shortcoming and provided dealers with improved wiring harnesses.
Trunk won't open? Time to change the wiring harness
Lovers of high-quality sound complain about fragility tweeters located at the door of the car. Determining this malfunction does not take much time, since nasty squeaking sounds are heard even at minimum volume.
A trifle, but unpleasant
Another feature of the model is associated with rain sensors, because they can suddenly work on a fine day and be inactive when precipitation falls.
Should you buy a used third Focus?
Yes, the list of disadvantages of the 3rd generation Focus is considerable, but the model cannot be called an outsider in the class. The power units are quite reliable here, the chassis is very strong, and there are not so many expensive problems with auxiliary equipment. 
The most obvious "headache" for Focus owners can be considered robotic PowerShift and the lack of a worthy alternative to it. Perhaps, in this way, the manufacturer wanted to cash in on the sale of parts or reduce the cost of production? True, it doesn't make it any easier for us.
In any case, the work on the creation of the Ford Focus III has been truly enormous, although in practice it is the innovations that have been introduced that give the greatest number of failures. But let's not forget that progress follows trial and error, and no one expected high reliability, such as from the ultra-conservative Toyota Corolla, from the Focus.
Typical state of Focus with 100 tkm mileage
After the first "hundred" Focus III, as a rule, is quite fresh and ready for another marathon of the same, but this is only under normal service conditions. There are already problems with this. Many owners, seeing the prices of spare parts, inadequately save on the purchase of spare parts. Therefore, brake discs worn out to death, a huge crack in the middle of the windshield, a leaked engine pillow or Chinese spare parts are more likely the norm for it. Most of the sellers consider it necessary to correct the mileage, especially when it comes to robotic cars. Interestingly, with the "deceased" PowerShift box There were not many cars, I think, all due to the fact that it is almost impossible to hide the defect even from a blind buyer. 
The Ford Focus 3 is a car with a not-so-good reputation, but at the same time it is on everyone's lips. Everyone has heard about this engineering miracle from an American manufacturer at least once. On the territory of Russia and the CIS countries, it is often called "credit nausea", since most of all it is purchased on credit by people who need simple car for relaxing commutes from work and home. Of course, you will not get much comfort from operating it, but the price of the device is pleasantly surprising.
Advantages and benefits of Ford Focus 3
- Attractive appearance;
- High indicator of engine reliability;
- Ground clearance - 165 mm;
- Free service at authorized dealer 3 years;
- Comfortable driver's seat. The back does not get tired even after 12 hours of continuous driving;
- The salon is finished with quality materials. Soft plastic was used to make the center panel. The steering wheel has finger recesses to make it more comfortable. The interior is decorated in a sporty style;
- The steering wheel has a heating function;
- Good sound insulation. The roar of the engine, wheels and wind whistle are not heard in the cabin;
- Availability additional systems... Standard: Electronic Stability Control, anti-towing, help in case of emergency braking. The top version is equipped with innovative functions: parking assistance, automatic deceleration, tire pressure monitoring, and more;
- The hodovka has been modified and modernized. The suspension practically does not feel pits and bumps on the road.
- Fuel consumption is moderate: a 1.6 liter engine in the city - 8 liters, on the highway - 5 liters, a 2.0 engine in the city - 9.5, on the highway - 5.5 liters per 100 km;
- Economical oil consumption. For 16 thousand km on the dipstick dropped by one millimeter.
The entire concept of Ford models is designed for practicality and convenience for owners at a low cost. The main body types of Focus: sedan, hatchback, station wagon. The 3rd generation Focus is much improved compared to the 2nd. Most of all this is associated with the use of systems:
- Parallel parking assistance;
- Traffic sign recognition;
- Help when starting from a place;
- Monitoring driver fatigue;
- Automatic high beam control;
- Torque control;
- "City Safety" (collision avoidance, which only works at low speeds);
- Lane departure warnings;
- Informing about the presence of a car in the "blind" zone.
In general, the car has acquired more electrical filling. A six-speed PowerShift transmission with two dry clutches has also been introduced. Many changes have also been made to the engine line.
This model has a sports version (ST), as well as a version with an electric motor (Focus Electric).
By European standards, this car is able to protect the driver and passengers from almost any collision. If we talk about car safety in numbers, then an adult passenger is protected by 92%, a child - 82%, a pedestrian by 72%, active safety cars are estimated at 71%, which together gives Focus 3 5 out of 5 stars on the systemEuro NCAP.
Weaknesses Ford Focus 3:
- Engine;
- Transmission;
- Steering;
- Body;
- Chassis;
- Electrician;
- Assembly.
Let's take a closer look:
Engine.
In general, Focus'a 3 engines are quite reliable, if you do not forget to carry out routine maintenance (change oil, filters, etc. on time). The only exception is the 1.6-liter engine, which has one problem - when cold starts, it starts triple... Exacerbates the sensor malfunction situation idle move, because of which traction often disappears. Sometimes it happens that the engine simply starts to stall due to this problem. The reason for this is the formation of carbon deposits in the combustion chamber.
Of course, the company could not ignore this, and they quickly fixed this error by releasing a new engine firmware called "PCM". The owners who installed the new control module confirmed that it really helps and the problem with starting the engine and rpm disappears.
Transmission.
PowerShift is a transmission that Ford owners are proud of. But alas, it also has its drawbacks. If you often and for a long time stand on such a box in traffic jams, you can notice the appearance of "kicks" and jerking at the start, which afterwards can change to a rattle of metal when switching speeds and strong jolts during acceleration
Of course, the company did not forget about this problem and solved it. Just like with the engine, they released the control unit firmware module, which has so far only reached European owners, and the residents of Russia have to ride like this for now.
Naturally, mechanical box transmissions are more reliable than automatic (with an experienced owner), but at the same time the manual transmission also has a small defect. This marriage comes from the factory and consists in the fact that due to the peculiarity of the box design, the lip of the gland is damaged before it hits the bracket, after which the gland, which is not installed tightly, begins to break and leak. The right oil seal suffers the most and must be constantly monitored. If you bought new car, this problem will overtake you after 4000-10000 km. mileage.
Steering.
- EPS electric booster.
When driving, the steering wheel begins to get heavy, from which at high speed this can lead to unpleasant consequences. If you turn off the car and start after a while, the problem will go away.
All these shortcomings are due to the electric booster motor. The big disadvantage is that the motor comes complete with a steering rack, so when replacing it, you need to change the entire rack, and this is not very cheap.
There is also a problem in which the car is blown to the side. This also occurs due to the defect of the electric amplifier and is solved by updating the firmware.
Steering rack
The steering rack, even in new copies, has one sore. The problem arises on runs from 3000 to 7000 km, and consists in the presence of a characteristic low-noticeable knock. All this is due to the design features of this mechanism.
The trouble is, Ford isn't tackling the problem and isn't looking for a solution. Therefore, only replacing the rail will help you, but often this does not heal the car.
Chassis.
What the 3rd generation Ford Focus can boast of is definitely its suspension. But even a chassis like Ford has "Jambs"... They begin to appear in winter, which is associated with a creak from the stabilizer bushings. Also, while driving on uneven roads, a strange knocking begins to appear under the hood of the Focus, the cause of which is not yet known.
Electrician.
There is also a problem with the rain sensor. It often happens that the sensor does not work during rain, and when it is not there, it can spontaneously turn on. There are also problems with heated side mirrors.
In the car, the assembly of the cabin suffers, the plastic itself, itself, is not particularly high-quality. Cracks are most common in the seat belt area, the radio tape recorder area, air vents and the frame of the salon rear-view mirror. The rattling of door plastic is also common, even at the slightest speed.
Typical disadvantages of the 3rd generation Ford Focus:
- The doors are not fitted to the car body of a very high quality, somewhere the gaps are very large, somewhere corners stick out, etc. Of course, you can still put up with this and it does not carry anything bad, but an unpleasant aftertaste remains.
- Fogging of the headlights of the car, due to which there is an incorrect illumination of the road. Also, this will blind other cars, which is unsafe. This is especially noticeable if xenon is installed. The problem disappears after replacing the plugs with holes (ventilation) in the rear of the headlight.
- Daytime running lights often flicker, which manifests itself in cold weather and disappears when heated. The company has been solving this problem to this day.
- Of course, it is worth mentioning the paintwork, which in the Focus 3 is not very strong. Over time, while you are driving and meeting with small pebbles, your paint quickly deteriorates, and it can reach the point that it will wear off not only to the ground, but also to pure metal.
- Because the car does not have a special seal under the hood, the engine quickly throws mud on dirty roads. To resolve this issue, you just need to periodically flush the engine compartment.
- A weak windshield, which in cold weather becomes vulnerable to rapid heating of the passenger compartment, which is why it often cracks. This is very unpleasant, since it can only be solved by completely replacing the glass.
- Door locks are not working well.
- Rapid paint wear (it happens to the ground), at the point of contact between the hood and its seal.
- Weak vehicle sills, leading to rapid corrosion.
Conclusion.
According to the reviews of the owners of this machine, ambiguous conclusions can be drawn. Some say that this car is one of the best in its class, while others, on the contrary, talk about the advantages of its closest "brothers" (KIA RIO, VW POLO, etc.). In general, the car can be called worthy of attention, although it does not have a very pleasant reputation. For our money, we get an average, good and inexpensive car for every day. Of course, it has its drawbacks, but other cars also have them, and often even in larger quantities, although their price is sometimes much higher than the Focus 3.
P.S .: Dear owners of this car model, if you have noticed frequent breakdowns of any Focus parts, then let us know in the comments below.
What problems of the Focus have you personally encountered?
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