Focus Speedo

[maximus]

I've just got myself a 2001 Focus and its all good apart from the speedo.

I've noticed first thing on a morning when the cars a bit cold that the speedo sometimes sticks at zero for a bit and doesn't work. It then pops back up and works perfectly. It only does it once first thing on a morning and hasn't done it on an afternoon when I'm going home.

Does anyone have any idea what the problem is?

[BigDaddy]

I find it hard to start work on a cold morning too.

[MikeHoyer]

I had that the other day actually (2000 Zetec). I was very worried, obviously you can get some idea of speed, and I was checking the rev counter, and thinking "how much is this gonna cost me?!", and suddenly it was going again. You could ask on ffoc.co.uk (Focus owners club), there's some good techy advice amongst the "what bodykit and massive wheels should I buy" threads.

[BigDaddy]

Just thinking back, I have an idea that my Falcon did this and it was alternator related.

[maximus]

Cheers for the advice I'll check out the FFOC. I must stress that its not actually at start up, its when its been running and driving for a little bit the problem seems to occur, yet its only on a morning. It did it again today but not for long. I'm not overly concerned as its not a huge problem, and the its hopefully covered under warrenty from the garage I bought it from anyway i think.

I hope (and doubt) its not the alternator, nothing else is wrong with the car, yet it is an odd little fault thats happening!

[RTH]

It is one of the few common faults on a Focus.
It's an electronic speedo you will need a new sensor, - fits on the top of the gearbox, quite a tight push in fit quite difficult to get the old one out.