Thread: Farewell SVT...
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Old Mar 14, 2006 | 07:01 PM
  #21 (permalink)  
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kender
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Originally Posted by Alan
Right. With the exception of the recall-happy late 1999 thru 2000 models, the Focus was a damn solid reliable car. Recalls are to be expected on a 1st model year.

if that was it then I may agree, however the 2001 and up models still had issues. the ignition locking was the biggest issue, it would lock so hard that some big dudes couldn't get it loose, and ford decided it was a good idea to put this ignition in its escape and started the f150's in 2004. Any vehicle that has as standard maintenance, inspect and replace the serpentine every 6k miles, is admitting they designed it so fucked that it needs to be watched that close. You shouldn't have to even think about the serpentine until at least 20k miles. the electrical system is extreemly under-engineered, a circuit with a 15amp fuse should have components designed to handle that 15amps plus at least a 5% margin. But ford decided in it's shitty wisdom to make the wiring handle less than 6amps, so while the circuit (under perfect conditions) normally uses 4amps, any variation in the components or wires due to the environment, or the component becoming less resistive, causes the wiring harness to melt. The harness can not handle a third of the fuses rated current draw, and it was designed like this.

If it was a freak thing, then ok, but the only freak thing when it comes to a focus is when it works without a problem.
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