Miscellaneous Hacks

Name	Description
Auto-Lock disable / enable keyless while running	This hack lets you de-activate automatic locking doors, and allows you to use your keyless entry to lock and unlock your car while it's warming up and running on cold winter days...or anytime, for that matter
Programming new keyless remotes	This is how you add more keyless entry remotes to your focus!
Inner Tie Rod Replacement	Tie rod bent? You can do it yourself without taking apart the whole front end of the car like the shop manual instructs you to do!

Make your keyless entry remote unlock all doors wi	This will allow you to make the keyless entry unlock all the doors with one press of the unlock button. If your focus already does this, it will also allow you to force it back to 1 Press unlocking the driver's door only, with the second press unlocking the other doors.
Replacing Air Filter	Replacing the air filter regularly is a necessary part of your car's maintenance. Replacing the air filter with an aftermarket replacement, such as an ITG Foam Filter, or K&N Oiled Gauze filter, can also yield minor performance and efficiency gains.
Instrument Cluster Test and Diagnostic Mode	The Ford Focus instrument cluster can be put into a test mode, displaying diagnostic information.
Seat Belt Minder Disable	Tired of the seat belt chime activating while you're sitting in the car waiting for someone? The ford owners manual tells all. Here's how to disable it.
Front Wheel Lug Stud Replacement	Breaking off wheel lug studs seems to be a common problem on the Focus. The fronts seem more prone to breaking, and they're easy to replace. Here's how!
Removing / Replacing Alternator (Zetec)	Removal of the alternator may be done when you need to upgrade to a higher output alternator, or to install an underdrive pulley such as the AEM or Focus Central Kit, which requires replacement of the alternator pulley.
Rear Seat Trick: Cargo Mode	This hack turns everything behind the front seats into a cavernous cargo area. It works for all Foci, but to a lesser extent on the sedans. It is great for the ZX3, ZX5, SVT, and Wagons though!
DPFE Sensor and EGR Information	DPFE sensor failure is a fairly common problem on the Focus, and as more and more older foci get more and more miles, the failures are becoming a lot more common. The symptoms are a "stumble" and what feels like an erratic loss of power when cruising around at partial throttle. This article addresses DPFE and EGR concerns, and is a compilation of information that has been posted on the Focaljet.com forums on the subject.
Tie rod replacement	This is a highly unofficial way to change out a bent or damaged tie rod, but cheaper and easier way than recommended by Ford.
Checking and re-wiring the coil pack harness wires	On many Focuses, the heat under the hood makes the coilpack harness brittle. This leads to cracking insulation and eventually corroded, frayed, and broken wiring. This can cause the car to run very rough, and might even cause a small electrical fire!
Jacking: Raising and supporting your Focus	It's often necessary to get your car off the ground so that you can work under it. Here's how!
Identifying your engine	Some Focus owners are having trouble identifying their engines. When troubleshooting problems and shopping for aftermarket parts, you must know what engine you have under the hood. Here are some ways to tell which engine you have.
Handbrake adjustment	The emergency brake, e-brake, hand brake, or whatever you wish to call it, sometimes gets to feeling loose, where it will no longer hold the car steady in your driveway or provide any semblance of "emergency" stopping power. It's easy to tighten, though. Here's how.
Remove the door trim	For audio work or some other hacks, you must completely remove the inner door panel. Here's how!
Door latch fix	On some Foci, the door latch starts to act flaky. The outer handle will either become reluctant to snap back into place or will completely fail to open the door. Also, the door may not latch properly without slamming it several times. These are both caused by the same problem, and it's easy to fix yourself!
Tie Rod End Replacement	The bushings in the tie rod end go out after a while on almost any car. It's only a matter of time. Here's how to replace the tie rod end without paying for expensive installation labor
Accessory belt squeal fix	Several things can make the accessory belt squeal on the Focus. Here are some things you can do to find out what's wrong.
HVAC Selector / Temperature Knob Hack	The environmental control knobs for selecting the vent and temperature are connected to the HVAC core by thin steel cables (similar to bicycle brake and shifter cables). They eventually break. Try this clever trick to adjust your HVAC in a pinch.
Mk3 Instrument Cluster Test and Diagnostic Mode	The Ford Focus instrument cluster can be put into a test mode, displaying diagnostic information. This updated procedure works on North American Focus from model year 2011 onward (Mk3)
Troubleshooting relays	Relays allow a low amount of current (like a switch inside your car) to drive high-current applications, such as headlights, fuel pumps and air conditioner compressors. Here's how they work and how to test them.
Using tow straps	Tow straps are ropes or webbed straps with metal hooks on the end. They come in handy if you need help getting out of a bind (such as a ditch or a snow bank). Attaching them to the Focus can be tricky.
Jump starting	If you get stranded or happen across someone with a dead battery, a jump start is often enough to get the stalled car back on the road, even if temporarily.
Coolant tube replacement	The plastic coolant tube on top of the radiator of 1st generation Foci is prone to failure. Fortunately, it's easy to replace.