Ford Focus Main Fuse Blown

Ghuraba · 16 Jan 2009 at 11:00

Hi there

I recently, yesterday, replaced the bezel that turns on the main beam, front & rear fog lights on my Ford Focus 1.8 Zetec MK1 1999. MY local Ford dealer told me originally I had to replace the complete bezel fitted at the right of the steering wheel, the physical switch that turns on the main beams and fog lights. As the front & rear fog lights didn't work at all. So I bought one on eBay £12. They fitted it and it worked for a few hours. But when I tested the fog lights later on in the evening it blows the main fuse which results in no power to the car. I repalced the fuse and tested it again and it blew a second fuse when I turned on the fog lights again.

So I took back to Ford today and was told they will have to do a diagnostic check £70. The part has no warranty with Ford they just did the labour. But I can't see it being that as there msut have been a reason why the previous part was not working either.

Any ideas? Should I just go with this diagnostic check? I don't have to turn the fog lights on but M.O.T. time in April it will fail without the lights working

Thanks

Michael

Ricochet J · 16 Jan 2009 at 11:20

Wouldn't a Vagcom be a cheaper long term alternative for the same purpose?

BeatMaster · 16 Jan 2009 at 11:34

Ricochet J said:
Wouldn't a Vagcom be a cheaper long term alternative for the same purpose?

Does a Vagcom work on Ford's? :confused:

Would be interesting to know

Firestar_3x · 16 Jan 2009 at 11:37

Nope Vagcom is as its name would suggest, Volkswagen Audi Group is for brands that fall under that group only, i don't think the diag in the focus is all that anyways, VAGcom will tell me voltages and what wire is working etc. Its bound to be a stripped wire touching earth on the foglights, best bet is to start taking things apart and having a poke around starting with the foglight itself.

Ricochet J · 16 Jan 2009 at 11:44

Ahh, thanks Firestarter. I didn't know VAGcom stood (standed?) for that. I thought it was a machine that can be used on any car.

Demon · 16 Jan 2009 at 11:49

Firestar_3x said:
Nope Vagcom is as its name would suggest, Volkswagen Audi Group is for brands that fall under that group only, i don't think the diag in the focus is all that anyways, VAGcom will tell me voltages and what wire is working etc. Its bound to be a stripped wire touching earth on the foglights, best bet is to start taking things apart and having a poke around starting with the foglight itself.

Agree.. for a main fuse to be blowing, it has to be an almighty short to ground somewhere in the positive feed to the Foglights..

Firestar_3x · 16 Jan 2009 at 11:53

It simply has to be, i can't see the relay side of thing (switch side) causing this problem, this should blow a smaller fuse, for the main fuse to be going it has to be something in the engine bay main fuse box to back of foglight.

Dangerous Dave · 16 Jan 2009 at 16:45

BeatMaster said:
Does a Vagcom work on Ford's? Would be interesting to know

If you have the latest version of vagcom you can use it as a generic OBD or OBD-II reader on other cars and clear codes etc. I have not tried it myself however people have reported it working on other brands OK. It however doesn't offer the advanced functions it can do on VAG cars.