Hatch release

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MarkA - 12 Nov 2005 14:58 GMT

Are there any known issues with the electric hatch release on a 2003 UK spec
focus?

Mine stopped working a couple of weeks ago, and won't release either via the
switch on the dash or by the button on the remote. It does of course still
open the old fashioned way - manually with the key.

It appears completely dead - there is no noise from it at all when pressing
either button (like it might be trying to release and failing for a
mechanical reason), so I suspect it is an electrical problem.

Would appreciate any pointers that I can easily check myself before getting
the dealer involved - even though it is still under warranty, that would be
my option of last resort based on past experiences with them ;-(

Just checked my owners manual to see what fuse it might be on as a starting
point and I can't see the hatch release listed under any of them - any
suggestions??

Thanks, Mark

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Michael Heiming - 12 Nov 2005 22:07 GMT

In alt.autos.ford.focus MarkA <mark@loadsaspam.co.uk>:

> Are there any known issues with the electric hatch release on a 2003 UK spec
> focus?

> Mine stopped working a couple of weeks ago, and won't release either via the
> switch on the dash or by the button on the remote. It does of course still
> open the old fashioned way - manually with the key.

> It appears completely dead - there is no noise from it at all when pressing
> either button (like it might be trying to release and failing for a
> mechanical reason), so I suspect it is an electrical problem.

> Would appreciate any pointers that I can easily check myself before getting
> the dealer involved - even though it is still under warranty, that would be
> my option of last resort based on past experiences with them ;-(

> Just checked my owners manual to see what fuse it might be on as a starting
> point and I can't see the hatch release listed under any of them - any
> suggestions??

Had recently problems with the remote key-fob on the right rear
door, see this thread:

http://groups.google.com/group/alt.autos.ford.focus/browse_frm/thread/67340635aa
595b8d/d47b2fef6a01fcc5#d47b2fef6a01fcc5

There was another thread which might be helpful (key-off method
to reset the system):

http://groups.google.com/group/alt.autos.ford.focus/browse_frm/thread/e9bfc61d3c
490fb8/4ddbf5a22d5888cc#4ddbf5a22d5888cc

Lately the system broke down again, the drivers door. Ordered
the door bolt containing the sensible parts, costs exactly the
same 106,? Euro the rear one does.

Now after finding the time to exchange, it isn't that obvious
like the rear ones, fearing a few hours of work just put things
together again even if it was nearly out. Now what would you
expect, since this day the system works just fine again. We'll
see how long.

The problem seems not completely uncommon, my Focus is 1999
(wagon). Do you have this double-locking system, comes AFAIK
with alarm system

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Michael Heiming (X-PGP-Sig > GPG-Key ID: EDD27B94)
mail: echo zvpunry@urvzvat.qr | perl -pe 'y/a-z/n-za-m/'

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MarkA - 13 Nov 2005 13:20 GMT

> Had recently problems with the remote key-fob on the right rear
> door, see this thread:

http://groups.google.com/group/alt.autos.ford.focus/browse_frm/thread/67340635aa
595b8d/d47b2fef6a01fcc5#d47b2fef6a01fcc5

> There was another thread which might be helpful (key-off method
> to reset the system):

http://groups.google.com/group/alt.autos.ford.focus/browse_frm/thread/e9bfc61d3c
490fb8/4ddbf5a22d5888cc#4ddbf5a22d5888cc

> Lately the system broke down again, the drivers door. Ordered
> the door bolt containing the sensible parts, costs exactly the
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> (wagon). Do you have this double-locking system, comes AFAIK
> with alarm system

Thanks for the suggestions, I do have the alarm and double locking system
(deadlocks), but this appears to work perfectly, it is just the hatch
(tailgate) release that will not operate. The fact that it will not operate
from the dash mounted button seems to rule out alarm system issues to my
mind - although I am happy to be corrected on this if someone knows
better!!

If the release is on the same fuse as the central locking (?) then this
would rule out a blown fuse and seem to indicate that the fault is with
the release solenoid as suggested in one of your links above.

When time permits, I will see what access to it is like & report back

MarkA

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Paul Gibson - 13 Nov 2005 22:10 GMT

<snip>

> Thanks for the suggestions, I do have the alarm and double locking system
> (deadlocks), but this appears to work perfectly, it is just the hatch
[quoted text clipped - 6 lines]
> would rule out a blown fuse and seem to indicate that the fault is with
> the release solenoid as suggested in one of your links above.

I had the same problem on a 2000 Focus and it turned out that a
plastic component in the lock mechanism had broken. IIRC, the key
still worked, but that too gave up after a week or so. The only way I
could open the hatch was to pull the trim off from the inside and
force a screwdriver into the rear of the mechanism and 'pop' the
catch.

I sourced a replacement mechanism from a salvage yard at a cost of a
tenner.

Signature

Paul

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Japio - 14 Nov 2005 10:02 GMT

> <snip>
>> Thanks for the suggestions, I do have the alarm and double locking system
[quoted text clipped - 18 lines]
> I sourced a replacement mechanism from a salvage yard at a cost of a
> tenner.

I've got the same and there was no 12 Volt on the locking of the hatch and I
have clean the connetor in the left of the car and spray some WD40 in the
lock on the the hatch and everething was working well.

regards Jaap

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