Question 1

Will a Ford Focus radiator work on a 2002 Ford Cougar?

Accepted Answer

Even if you could get the radiator from a Focus (and you haven’t told me what year Focus) a radiator designed to cool a small four-cylinder engine probably wouldn’t have the capacity to cool a larger, V6 engine as found in a 2002 Ford Cougar. Perhaps it would work at moderate speeds in cool weather, but a freeway drive in high ambient temperatures would very possibly see it fail to cope. You’d also need to ensure that the radiator suited the transmission fitted (a radiator for a manual car can be different to one for an automatic). From what I can see, the radiator to suit a 2002 Cougar is, in fact, interchangeable (on some level) with that of a six-cylinder Ford Falcon from 2002 to 2008. Perhaps that would be a better idea, but I’d still be running a tape measure over both cars and taking careful note of where the mounting points are. Or, simply buy the radiator that’s designed to fit the Cougar.

Question 2

The front passenger tyre on my 2006 Ford Focus fell off. Are the axles on the 2002 and 2006 Ford Focus interchangeable?

Accepted Answer

Not really sure what the axles have to do with a tyre that has jumped ship, but perhaps you mean the whole front wheel and tyre assembly came adrift. If so, you’re lucky not to have crashed or hurt yourself or somebody else. If this was caused by a broken axle (also called a driveshaft) then perhaps that’s the basis of your question. However, the answer is probably no; the driveshafts from a 2002 and 2006 Focus are unlikely to be interchangeable. Even though the engines and gearboxes form each of these two Focus models were similar, the later car was 141mm wider, which almost certainly means it had longer driveshafts than the earlier car. But if a replacement driveshaft is what you need to get back on the road, I wouldn’t have thought finding one from a 2006 Focus (the same as yours) would be such a problem. Parts recyclers are likely to have plenty of these cars in stock, and specialist driveshaft shops can be a great source of spare parts also.

Question 3

I need a new front driver's door for my 2014 Ford Focus, will a 2012 or 2016 Ford Focus door work?

Accepted Answer

Ford used the same body on its Focus from 2011 until the model was replaced in 2018. On that basis, the front door from either of the cars you’ve listed should fit your car perfectly. You don’t even need to worry about finding a door from a sedan or hatch as opposed to a two-door Focus, as Ford didn’t offer that model in Australia in a two or three-door (which would have had longer doors). Even the sportiest Focus, the ST, was a five-door hatchback. Ford did give the Focus a mild facelift in 2015, but the styling changes were restricted to the front and rear, with the doors not altering at all. Finding a second-hand door shouldn’t present too many problems the Focus sold in reasonable numbers and many ended up in recycling yards. You might even strike it really lucky and find the door in the same colour as your car which might negate the need to have it painted.

Question 4

Will headlights from a 2005 Ford Focus interchange with a 2000 Ford Focus?

Accepted Answer

There’s a distinct line in the sand here. If the 2005 Ford Focus you’re referring to was a late Mark 1 Focus, then yes, the headlights should interchange with an earlier Focus as both cars were more or less the same. At the time, Ford was making use of what was called its `Edge’ styling philosophy which was all hard lines and sharp angles. However, for the Mark 2 Focus which came along in May 2005, Ford had softened the styling considerably, and the headlights of an early Focus will definitely not fit the Mark 2 model as they are a totally different shape. What puzzles me most is where you managed to obtain a 2000 Focus as the car was not introduced into Australia by Ford until late 2002. The car did exist prior to that, but not in this country. Perhaps you’re buying headlights online from an overseas seller. If that’s the case, make sure they’re for a right-hand-drive Focus as they’ll physically point the wrong way if they’re for a left-hand-drive car. They’ll also be technically unroadworthy if that’s the case.

Question 5

Should I sell my 2004 Ford Focus to the wreckers?

Accepted Answer

The problem you have with this particular make and model is that it’s really not worth very much even in good working condition. Cars like yours with engines in good condition change hands for about $3000 (sometimes less) so replacing the engine would almost certainly cost more than the car is worth. That said, if you can find a cheap second-hand engine (that’s been tested so you know it works) and you can find a workshop who can do the changeover for the right price, you might squeeze a few more years out of the car without blowing your budget sky-high. And at least then you know what you’re working with; buying another cheap second-hand car could land you in the same spot in a few months or even weeks’ time. That, of course, only applies if the problem with your engine is of the terminal mechanical kind. Has the engine been assessed by a mechanic? It could simply be that a new set of spark plugs will bring the car back to its old, four-cylinder self. Selling the car to a wrecking yard will only get you the vehicle’s scrap value – maybe $200 or $300 dollars. And a private buyer is unlikely to offer you any more than that on the basis of a cheap car with a blown-up engine. Meantime, the price of newer second-hand cars has gone up lately with limited supply the main problem, so maybe a quote on fixing what you have is the first step.

Question 6

What is the best dog-friendly car?

Accepted Answer

If you like the idea of the Honda but don’t want such a physically large package, take a look at the Honda Jazz. Yes, it’s probably one size down from your current Focus, but its interior is very spacious for its external dimensions. It’s also the car that has probably the most versatile interior in terms of flexible seating arrangements with a rear seat that folds, slides and tumbles. It also has normal ride height (as opposed to the jacked-up stance that SUVs boast) so your dog may find it easier to jump in without hitting anything. Beyond that, you really need to visit dealerships and check for yourself that rear doors, rear seats and general layout suit your very specific canine requirements.

Question 7

Will a 2004 Ford Focus 2.0 manual clutch plate work in a 2009 Ford Focus?

Accepted Answer

Although both the Ford Focus from 2004 and 2009 were both offered with a two-litre petrol engine, those engines were actually different in terms of their mechanical specification. With that in mid, it’s very unlikely that the clutch from the earlier car would be compatible with the later version. A quick search also revealed that the replacement clutch kits for each version of the Focus you’re dealing with carry a different part number which is a pretty good indication that there are differences between the two.

Question 8

Which generation Focus can I use to replace a window on a 2016 Ford Focus?

Accepted Answer

The Mark 3 Ford Focus was sold here from 2011 until 2018, so, on the surface, pretty much any car from that range should be able to offer up a replacement front window. But it’s not that simple. The rear window could be a bit more specific, because the Focus was available as a four-door sedan and a five-door hatchback, so the rear doors on each of these variants could be different. Other potential incompatibility issues could crop up between the very early version of this car which was built in Germany, and the later version (which you have) which was built in Thailand. There’s another catch in this apparently simple task, too: For the facelift in mid-2015, Ford was chasing greater interior refinement and, to achieve that, switched to thicker side glass. That means you need to find a window from a post-2015 car as the thinner glass of earlier models will probably be incompatible with the rest of the window hardware in your car.

Question 9

Where is the fuel filter located in my 2010 Ford Focus?

Accepted Answer

For the 2010 model, Ford switched from a replaceable fuel filter located just in front of the fuel tank under the car, to a 'lifetime' filter which was part of the fuel pump. The fuel pump itself, meanwhile, is located inside the fuel tank, so that’s where the filter lives as well. Despite being a lifetime filter, contaminated fuel and other factors can require the filter to be changed and the good news is that the filter can be replaced independent of the actual fuel pump. That bad news is that the tank needs to be removed from the car to access those components, so it’s not a cheap, simple job.

Question 10

Can I use a 2001 Ford Focus motor in my 2002 Ford Focus?

Accepted Answer

The Ford Focus wasn’t released into Australia until late 2002, so it’s very unlikely you have a 2001 model unless it’s been privately imported. At which point, all bets are off in this regard as different markets had different models which may or may not be swappable. But if the two cars are the same model of Focus and aren’t either side of an upgrade, facelift or model change AND provided they used the same engine from the factory (1.8 litre or 2.0 litre) then you should be able to repower one with the other’s engine. The problems would start if one was a 1.8 and the other a 2.0 when you might find that wiring looms, computer software, sensors and even engine mounts might differ from each other, making the swap much harder than it should be. Don’t forget to inform your insurance company and your local registration authorities of the change of engine number.

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