2003 Ford Focus

http://Toyota.autoboardz.com/2003-Ford-Focus-Drive-Cycle-Help-needed-related-ftopict204332.html (2003 Ford Focus Drive Cycle question- Help needed related ..)
I went to get my state inspection done. The focus failed the inspection, about 5 readouts were not ready. I was told by the tech that I needed to complete a drive cycle, usually 30-50 miles, to reset the car and get the readout. I asked a tech at a ford dealership, he said about 40 miles also. ..
« TOT I know, but I'm curious, is that similar to our British MoT, where a vehicle has to be annually tested for roadworthiness and emissions? Cheers Ivan »

http://Toyota.autoboardz.com/Focus-2003-gauges-pegged-ftopict215969.html (Focus 2003 gauges pegged to zero)
Gents: Vis: 2003 Ford Focus hatchback 2.0L/std-trans. After 6000 issue_free miles on my (used) 2003 Ford(~47000 miles), my primary dash_gauges have all pegged to zero. Otherwise Focus functions above expectations - good performance, braking, all lights/radio etc working. Dash_gauge failure occurr..
« If it were a Mazda Miata I could tell you exactly which ground wire cluster to clean, as this sounds like a bad ground of some sort. »
« Mike: A ground problem is very believable to me ... yesterday evening the gauge_package 'flipped' back to working. The Focus had done nothing all afternoon , but sit in the blazing JAX sun. How wou.. »
« On my Miata, there was a cluster of 5 or 6 ground wires that were positioned in a place under the hood that was guaranteed to collect debris and stay wet resulting in rust and corrosion. I have n.. »
« Mike: In my wayward youth I knew such things about a certain 1970 TR-6 ... but it's been forever since I foraged auto electrical systems. While a snarfed_ground may be the issue I have noticed/teste.. »

http://Toyota.autoboardz.com/Transmission-slippage-ftopict216805.html (Transmission slippage)
2003 Ford Focus SE Wagon, Auto, 69000 miles. Last Saturday while driving ~65mph, I felt a thump and then I lost drivetrain power in "Drive". It seemed as if trans just shifted to neutral. No warning lights came on. After stopping vehicle, I shifted it to "2" and drove it slowly home. Later Saturda..
« could be a transmission shift solenoid read more about "4F27E neutrals on the 3-4 shift" »

http://Toyota.autoboardz.com/2003-Focus-ZTS-Brake-light-failure-ftopict218299.html (2003 Focus ZTS - Brake light failure)
I have a 2003 Ford Focus ZTS. The third break light is working fine but the other two are not. I have checked the fuses, everything seems fine. I assume the brake switch is working fine because of the 3rd brake light working correctly. Tail lights light up with the headlights on and turn signal an..
« 1) Yes, make sure the stop light bulbs are good. Someone complained about the exact same problem a while back. It turned out that both bulbs were bad! 2) There have been a few reports of the wiring .. »
« Thanks for the reply. I found the message you were referring to yesterday and although I looked at the light bulbs and they looked fine, I had an extra new bulb in the trunk and tried it. It worked!.. »
« Unless you check them daily, how do you know when the first one failed? Chris -- Remove prejudice to reply. »
« I check them often. I don't want to get a ticket. Reflections off of office building windows work best. Not to mention I changed one bulb a year ago, which also makes the timing odd since one bulb i.. »