Ford Focus Dashboard failure

[taffyboy]

i recently experienced the same problems that a few other people had, my dashboard completely died a few months ago,but the car ran perfectly ok.
after a week of driving without any idea of what speed i was doing or how much fuel i had left i decided to have a look myself.
i know nothing about cars but after taking the dashboard off (which was pretty easy) i found that it was connected by a plug and socket arrangment similar to a scart which you connect your dvd to yout tv, thid looked like it was a little bit loose so i disconnected the dashboard re connected it making sure that the connection was secure and violla it has worked fine ever since.
jus going back a bit, when i first purchased the car approx 6 months ago, the fuel dial did not work and the previous owner was told by a Ford garage that it was the fuel sensor that needed to be replaced at a cost of �300.00!, the fuel dial also now works.

[phizzy]

good on ya' - it certainly puts a nice warm glow in your tum' when you manage something like that - treat yourself to a lucky dip on friday's euro out of money saved, - you never know !

[ugdend]

I have a similar problem, but just with the fuel gauge.

I'm looking to do the same as you and check the connection on the back - quick question ....

IThe dashboard cover (in front of the instrument cluster) seems to be attached to the steering column by a rubber flap as well as the screws and clips.

Do you just pull this rubber flap off and was it easy to get back on ?

[taffyboy]

The rubber flap was not attached to the cluster (probably the previous owners doing), but i didnt have any problems getting the cluster back on.
be a little carfull with the locking clip on the plug as it is a bit fragile
Let me know how you get on and good luck

[ugdend]

cheers taffyboy.

The rubber flaps not on the instrument cluster ( i haven't got tha far yet!!). It attaches the panel in front of the instrument cluster to the steering column. I've spoken to soneone at Ford who says it just pulls off, but it looks tricky to get back on.

Thanks for the advice on the plug.

[Stuart2008]

I too had a problem with the Ford Focus cluster problem, fuel gauge showing full when I knew it was around 1/4 full.
Read various posts including Watchdog (tv prog), which gave details of spraying WD40 or similar on the rear of the PCB. I have now done this and the gauge looks to be working, need to keep an eye on the level to see what happens, also have a gallon of fuel in the boot should it be reading wrong and run out on me.
It's very easy to take the cluster out and put back in, I have taken pics of each stage if anyone needs them just e-mail me. [email protected]

Stu