Ford Focus 07 - Headlight electrical fault

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Tue 21 Dec 2010 16:11
Ford Focus 07 - Headlight electrical fault - c.elliott

Hi we have a bit of a problem with the driver side headlight. We have now gone through 4bulbs in 12months on one side. The last time it went the bulb actually came back on for a day before ceasing to work altogether. I'm wondering whether this is maybe a regular electrical fault with our model or if we're just unlucky? I would have thought a 3 and a 1/2 year old car is very young to be developing electrical faults?

We have the lights set auto generally so they are on more often than I'd probably do manually but that wouldn't explain the it being one particular side.

Car is booked into the dealer on Thursday but I don't have a lot of confidence in them. Last time we got them to change the headlight bulbs neither were put in properly and both failed within weeks so you could say it's only really 3bulbs in 12 months. This is the only garage who can fit us in before Chistmas. However I've been told about a good specialist auto electrician nearby so am wondering whether I should just get a new bulb for now and take it to them after the holidays (they can't fit us in until 5th Jan).

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Tue 21 Dec 2010 22:47
Ford Focus 07 - Headlight electrical fault - Ben 10

Why can't you change the bulbs yourself. It's pretty simple. I have an 07 and an 06 and changed the headlight bulbs on both. Not difficult at all.

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Wed 22 Dec 2010 10:16
Ford Focus 07 - Headlight electrical fault - Waino

My Focus bulb changing experiences are limited to my wife's '52 Focus Chic, and I certainly wouldn't describe bulb changing as easy unless a) you're a gynaecologist or b) you've had plenty of practice.

Our bulbs were blowing at approx 6 monthly intervals and I was advised, on here, to use decent quality 'branded' bulbs. I must admit, I had been using a cheap variety from my local friendly motor factor and 'Ring' didn't prove any better. I have since used a couple of branded bulbs from the Ford dealer and have had no further problems (touch wood!).

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Wed 22 Dec 2010 12:33
Ford Focus 07 - Headlight electrical fault - Ben 10

There is a screw on top.Two recessed clips one top and bottom, release those and pull whole headlight assembly out. I can change any of the bulbs and replace back in place in 20 minutes. Its all a matter of having a go. There is no way you can remove the cover for the bulbs by hand, there isn't enough room.

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Thu 23 Dec 2010 11:02
Ford Focus 07 - Headlight electrical fault - c.elliott

My husband and I had a go at changing the bulb first time around but the whole light fitting has to come out and we made a pigs ear of it. He recons if he can watch them do it once he'll be able to do it next time. Bulb changing isn't the issue though, it's the fault I'm concerned about.

Our focus is currently on hire purchase and we intend to buy it at the end of the term in a couple of months so I was really looking for any indication that this might be a regular fault or whether it's the start of anything more sinister. I've had previous experience of imtermitted electrical faults in a previous car and I don't care to repeat the experience as it cost a fortune and never actually fixed the problem resulting in me eventually selling the car as I completely lost confidence in it. That started off simply as what appeared to be an idicator switch and progressed to the point that it would cut out without warning on a regular basis. I suspect and hope we just have a simple problem with the focus as it's been perfect otherwise but once bitten and all that.

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Thu 23 Dec 2010 09:41
Ford Focus 07 - Headlight electrical fault - Roly93

My Focus bulb changing experiences are limited to my wife's '52 Focus Chic, and I certainly wouldn't describe bulb changing as easy unless a) you're a gynaecologist or b) you've had plenty of practice.

Our bulbs were blowing at approx 6 monthly intervals and I was advised, on here, to use decent quality 'branded' bulbs. I must admit, I had been using a cheap variety from my local friendly motor factor and 'Ring' didn't prove any better. I have since used a couple of branded bulbs from the Ford dealer and have had no further problems (touch wood!).

Headlamp bulbs were very difficulkt to do on the earlier Focii but this has changed on the new shape Focus we have an 09 plate and the headlight bulbs look easy to do.

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