I'm using Amaron Hi Life Pro DIN74L, lasted 5 years on the previous one so I'm sticking to this brand. The cons is just they claim it's the same size as DIN66L but I think it's a bit taller because the battery case cover won't fit properly. Small price to pay though for the longevity imo.

It will be hard to find a workshop that carry them. Your best bet would be buying them at authorized parts supplier and go install at any workshop.

Thanks for the response. Will ask around when the time comes. Currently there is a slight "kruk kruk" sound from the front suspension when the car goes over speed bumps. If driving very slow over these speed bumps, the sound won't come up. It's not really serious at the moment and if it deteriorates further I'll look into replacing the absorber/strut suspension set up. I presume by replacing the whole spring/absorber of the suspension, not only the ride will be firmer but the sound from the front suspension will be gone.

Not sure how much a whole set of original or OEM suspension set up which includes front and rear will cost. The alternative is Monroe OE Spectrum 2 which costs about RM2k inclusive of installation. The next level up is Bilstein B6 or B8 which costs about RM3k from 3 or 4 years ago. Not sure if prices have gone up now.

Bilstein price sure go up already. 3k was the price when I bought B8 in 2016/2017. Not to mention it's a lot firmer. I'd recommend checking the lower arm & strut mount too before buying a new set of absorber. Might be those items that's making the sound.

Ok thanks for the information. Will get the mechanic to check the lower arm and strut mount of the front suspension when I bring the car to the workshop for scheduled service the next time round which will be close to year end.

So prices of Bilstein have gone up. In fact cost of everything has gone up for the past few years. Will likely go for original or Monroe if there is a need to replace all the shock absorbers due to lower price and comfort setting. A friend who drives the Ford Focus tdci changed to Bilstein B7 about 4 or 5 years ago and told me that the ride is firmer with better handling characteristics.

hi sifus, im driving mk3.5 trend almost around 5-6 years now. having a little issue with gearbox lately especially during jam, it will jerk from 2nd to 3rd gear. anyone having similar issue?

2013 Sport Plus having christmas tree lights recently. Sent back to Ford to check and problems were ABS pump (~RM7k) and all 4 ABS sensors (~RM400 each) need replacing.

Ouch.. waiting for the Ford Bengkel to check and confirm before deciding whether to repair or sell this 10-year long serving car.

This post has been edited by kelvinftg: Apr 19 2023, 03:12 PM

Care to share what exactly is the symptom of "christmas tree lights" that prompted you to send your car for a check up? Also, may I ask what is the mileage of your car at the moment?

I presume the prices (RM7k and RM400x4) are quoted by Ford authorised service centre. Please update if you manage to get a lower price at Bengkel Excellent Auto.

I wrote here few months back that the steering rack of my 2013 Titanium sedan broke down and the cost of replacement quoted by Bengkel Excellent Auto is RM9.8k if I'm not mistaken. Replaced it with a recond set together with other parts and workmanship at another workshop, all in cost RM3k only.

This post has been edited by SportyHandling: Apr 20 2023, 09:16 AM

A few ! warning lights here and there, ABS lights, slippery traction control lights, hill assist not available warning, city stop assist not available warning. Quite colourful I would say.
Mileage is 200k+. Car only goes out of limp mode when I untick and turn off traction control but it just ticks itself back on.

So... yup. It's time. Either fix and drive for another year or sell now. Although now that you mentioned, maybe get old parts from halfcut or recond parts is a better idea since I do not plan on keeping it for more than a year anyways. Mind to PM me which workshop you went to? Much appreciated.

Wow, it looks like you have been travelling a lot. My car's mileage is 82,000km only at the moment. The Focus mk3 has very low resale value and that's the main reason I am still hanging on to it. Before Covid 19 era, I think in 2018, the second hand car dealer only offered RM17k for my car although it is in good condition no scratches and dents, and low mileage during that time about 70,000km. I think it would be close to RM10k by now, surely below RM15k.

Looks like your car's electronics are acting up. A sign of something is going to fail or has failed. In your case I m not sure if there is half cut or recond parts for ABS pump. I guess ABS sensors are only available as new. For my recond set of steering rack, I got it at a shop called Sin Yuen Auto Services (power steering rack specialist). Location is in Bandar Mahkota Cheras. I posted this on page 207 but will repost here again.

https://m.facebook.com/Sin-Yuen-Power-Steer...gaxquHpniF5uOZr



No point to spend a huge sum of money for new parts if you can get half cut or recond set since the car's 2nd hand value is so low, in my opinion. A brand new steering rack costs RM10k+, and that is almost the same as the vehicle's value. When you think about it, it just doesn't make sense to spend the money. Then again, one has no choice if you want to get the car moving on the roads. If there is no other choice, you would still have to spend the money to get the car moving.

This post has been edited by SportyHandling: Apr 22 2023, 07:34 AM

Got this illuminated engine light and got it checked this morning. Turned out the O2 sensor is faulty. Just found out that there are 2 types of O2 sensor, ori and China. Has anyone here replaced the O2 sensor with the China version instead of original version?

The quotes I got are as follows, with workmanship.

Workshop 1
Ori RM460 (frt)
China RM 860 (frt)

Workshop 2
Ori RM5xx (frt)

Update in case anyone is interested. Went to Al-Isra to replace O2 sensor but ended up replacing the front absorber since they ordered the wrong part which is for Fiesta. Since I was at the workshop, I thought I might well just let them replace the front absorber since the replacement is long overdue.

For the O2 sensor, all are original and not from China. Only the one workshop quoted for both original and China, and this workshop has been banned by me for overcharging for parts and also unethical business ethics.

Price for O2 sensor (Bank 1 Sensor 1)
Al-Isra (Ampang) = RM800
Bengkel Excellent Auto = RM580


Some photos of the replacement of front absorber at Al-isra. Chose the original version as was informed that there are many complaints for the Monroe after they were fitted onto the car. The Monroe absorbers are cheaper than the original absorbers.

The old front absorbers in poor condition:-





New absorber replacement (original) :-




The guys at work:-

For Mk3 owners, would like to check if the steering rack of your car is still good after all these years? As some might have known, I replaced original steering rack of my car last year with a half-cut since a new one is too costly (RM10k+). Just earlier this week, the steering wheel gave me problem again as steering assist malfunction and the steering became very stiff halfway when I was driving which shocked me. So this half-cut steering rack only lasts for about 9 months only and I need to replace the steering rack with another half-cut which costs me RM2.7k earlier this week.

If the steering rack fails every year, looks like the cost of maintenance of this car isn't getting any cheap, apart from the inconvenience of sending the car to the workshop. This recent breakdown of the steering rack is giving me 2nd thoughts of selling the car away sooner. I just replaced the absorbers just 2 weeks ago with the intention of keeping the Ford Focus for say another 8 to 10 years but I'm not so sure now.

So back to the original question. Has anyone had any issues with the steering rack of your Ford Focus? Seems like it's a common problem with the Focus mk3? When I asked the steering rack specialist, he said it all depends on luck. He replaced the steering rack on many Fords and all of them last more than 1 year. When I was at the workshop, I saw another Ford Kuga just came in with a tow truck, also with steering rack issue.

Also, apart from the steering rack, the dry shaft cover on the front left side of the car was found to be worn or damaged after inspection. I was advised to replace it as it may cause more serious damage which may lead to big repair bills if left unattended, according to the mechanic as the whole thing (not sure what is it) may drop from the undercarriage. He said there are few cases already the part gave way causing big repair bills.

Cost of the part is cheap, plus labour all in to replace the dry shaft cover is only RM150. It's the steering rack that concerns me now as it's not only costly but the danger and amount of hassle which come along with the big repair bill since the half-cut steering rack doesn't last very long. Even new original steering rack on my car only last about 8 years before it fails to function.

Apart from the steering rack, can Mk3 owners share other parts which you have replaced when it fails to function? In my case:-

1. Steering rack - RM10k+ (new), RM2.7k - 3k+ (half-cut)
2. O2 sensor bank 1 sensor 1 - RM480 - 800 (original Germany)
3. Dry shaft cover - RM150

For steering rack, I've already spent RM5.7k so far. Not sure what other big bill items which will fail in due time. Touch wood.

Has anyone replaced the steering rack of the Ford Focus mk3 with NEW steering rack from the service centre? If yes, how much does it cost and how long it has been installed onto your car? I would appreciate some information on this.

This post has been edited by SportyHandling: May 10 2023, 01:03 PM

I manage to claim the steering rack from SC

But after warranty ended, I change my speed sensor almost every year until I sold off the car

This post has been edited by Old1030: May 11 2023, 08:47 AM

Thanks for the response. If claiming for steering rack at the service centre within warranty period, I presume your car would be less than 5 years during that time when the steering rack failed. If that's the case, surprisingly it failed so soon. The steering rack on my car failed last year when it's 9 years old. Lucky for you then as the steering rack may be one of the most costliest part to replace if getting NEW.

I'm not sure what is speed sensor. In my case the O2 sensor failed for the first time this year. This part is still bearable as it costs less than RM1k. However, I don't expect it to fail every year since all electronic parts in my car did not give me any problem during my 9 years of ownership except the O2 sensor which failed this year. Once an electronic part is replaced, I would expect it to last at least 5 years if not more, so in your case the speed sensor failing every year is surprising.

The 2nd failure of the steering rack on my car has somehow taken away some confidence from me. I'm not sure how the steering rack fails on other owner's cars but in my case, the failure can happen in 2 ways. The first time it failed was when I started the engine the message came up and the steering wheel became very stiff and cannot be turned. Once the engine is switched off and restarted, the message will go away and the steering can be turned again. It happened several times until eventually the steering wheel cannot be turned anymore even the engine was restarted multiple times. The 2nd type of failure is much scarier and more dangerous. The message will come up halfway when I was driving on the road and suddenly the steering wheel became very stiff and cannot be turned easily. I have to use all my strength to turn the steering wheel and steer the car to the emergency lane and stop there. After restarting the car, the steering wheel will be back to normal but the message came back again after 5 to 10 minutes when driving on the road with the steering wheel becoming very stiff. Eventually the steering wheel cannot be turned anymore.

IT's very dangerous for the steering rack to fail when the vehicle is still moving on the road. I really lost confidence on the car and are now phobic about the steering rack failing again in this manner, touch wood. I don't think I will keep this car very long now after this episode. If I had not replaced the front absorbers which cost me RM2k, I would have sold the car sooner. Now, I don't think I'll keep this car for more than 5 years.

May I ask how did your steering rack fail?

This post has been edited by SportyHandling: May 11 2023, 07:45 AM

Speed sensor, is at tire, got 4 of them at each tire, if I not wrong, sometimes they called it ABS Module,, if this failed your ABS light will On

Nope, I claim my steering rack just outside my warranty period ended,, its just that I able proof to them that I already highlighted the issues several time, before that during service. The problem is that its will come and it will go,, intermittently ,, when at SC, the car behave very well
Its failed with same symptom like yours, when its happened its like you are driving a old vehicle without hydraulic assist

I sold off my FoFo at the 9th year of ownership,, during that period
1. Battery failed - 1st year of ownership, the replacement battery lasted until year 8
2. Speed sensor - failed twice during warranty period, I work at manufacturing industry, dusty place, they told me its because of that,, then after warranty period ended, many many time change,, lucky this thing is cheap, at shopee, less than RM150
3. Rear trunk Struts / Hatch - Failed after warranty, can buy OEM / custom China for less than RM200, I even got this spare and give that spare to the one who bought my FoFo
4. O2 sensor, failed during warranty and outside warranty
5. Clutch - change during warranty

I am lucky because I manage to sold of the car at reasonable price directly to buyer,, if you trade in this car, the price will make you cry

This post has been edited by Old1030: May 11 2023, 09:11 AM

Thanks. Appreciated. Battery doesn't cost much, I just replaced it earlier this year so that's not an issue. Good that you managed to claim steering rack from service centre. It's new so it will surely last long. It's very dangerous to be unable to control the steering wheel when driving on the road when it suddenly becomes very stiff. Personally I regard this as a serious safety flaw for the steering rack to fail in such a manner. It's very dangerous.

Good that you managed to sell the car directly to a buyer at a reasonable good price. I am aware the trade in price to 2nd hand car dealers now will be very low. As I mentioned earlier, before COVID I was offered RM17k. Now, I am sure it will be RM10k or maybe less 8k. Even a steering rack costs more than the trade-in price of the car. Haha! I believe the 2nd hand car dealer will need to make a profit of at least RM10k from the sale of used cars so the trade-in price will be low. Say trade-in price is RM10k, they will sell the car at RM20k or slightly more.

Original FOMOCO Battery price at around RM700, I bought this one at year 8, this will last you longer

I sold off my car at RM25k at year 2020, few weeks before lockdown

Good to know. I changed the battery twice already, all Century batteries. Since I don't plan to keep this car for long, will go with Century. It can last 2 to 3 years. FOMOCO can last 8 years, incredible.

RM25k is a good price.