In alt.autos.ford.focus Walter Blackman <walt2741@adelphia.net>:

Take the car to some "lousy" Ford dealer?

No problems with my 1999 Focus and A/C, the car is just as
reliable as any other Ford, quite a few, I owned. From reading
here, it seems as if European Focus are general much better
quality then those made in north America. Makes you wonder what
are the reasons?

- Better third party parts?
- Better/more knowledgeable Ford worker/management over here?
- Just for the reason the Focus was AFAIK developed in Europe
 (Ford Germany)?
- All of the above?

A shame Ford made the latest Focus model look as any other car,
while the first Focus had a more or less unique design.;(

Most likely a direct result of you not using the a/c regularly.- the seals
have dried out and the gas escaped.

Ford is not liable.

The owners handbook states quite clearly the A/C should be exercised at
least once a fortnight to keep it in good order and the seals moist.

Tim..

A 2000 Focus with only 6500 miles has obviously sat around for long periods
of time. You can expect many problems due to seals drying out, corrosion
etc. It's not Ford's fault, any vehicle will have this issue. Cars are not
designed to sit unused.

I have a collection of  GM & Ford Older cars ( circa + 30 years) all with
A/C. They sit around and are only run a couple of times a month.
The GM do not seem to loose Freon as the system they use is  screwed
together fittings. The only weak point in GM systems is the lip seal on the
compressor.
The Fords are always loosing Freon as the system they use is crappy, cheap
design. Its made up of press together fittings with O-rings. The O-rings dry
out and leak if the system is not used on a regular basis.The Fords'
actually leak when the system is used on a regular basis any how.
You just need to get it recharged and leak tested and use it all the time. I
leave my A/C on all the time and just adjust the fan speed and temperature.
In the winter or when its cold out the system only kicks in occasionally,
enough to keep the seals moist.
Hope this helps.

Have 2000 Focus zx3....only 6500 miles.
Today, air conditioner selector light went out.  Air conditioner does not
work.  Only used air conditioner four or five times.  Any suggestions?  Any
unannounced warranties by Ford?  Never had this type of problem in low
milage car.  It seems that Ford made a lousy car.
Any suggestions?

Well, the new Focus manual clearly states (with a warning sign) that
the air condition must operate at least 30 minutes every month. I
assume something similar must be written in the previous model manual?

-Nick

go get a charge kit from either Wal-Mart or an auto parts store.  you will
find the low pressure port in front of the right front wheel.  what I did
was to turn the wheels all the way to the left and then unscrew the front
half of the inner liner.
when I recharged it I used the kit with the sealer.  One year has gone by
and it is still cold.  took all of 10 minutes to do and cost about 15 bucks.
have fun