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Ford Focus 2008 Problems

Are you having problems with your 2008 Ford Focus? Let our team of motoring experts keep you up to date with all of the latest 2008 Ford Focus issues & faults. We have gathered all of the most frequently asked questions and problems relating to the 2008 Ford Focus in one spot to help you decide if it's a smart buy.

Can I get replacement air conditioner pulley/bearings from a salvage yard?

You could scour wrecking yards (as they used to be known) for the bits and pieces you need to replace, but you would potentially be buying parts with the same – or more – wear than the ones you already have. Some things, like rubber belts, globes, tyres and filters, you just can’t trust unless they’re brand new.

Pulleys and their bearings are considered service items meaning they will eventually need to be replaced. When that time comes, the best advice is to replace them with good quality replacement parts, as that’s the only way to make sure the same problem won’t reoccur in a short space of time.

Be wary, too, of really cheap replacement parts you can order online from no-name suppliers. That’s not to say cheap parts can’t be good parts, but quality is sometimes pretty sub-standard and you won’t know that until you’ve paid for them to be fitted and they’ve subsequently failed. And getting your money back from an online seller can be next to impossible in many cases.

Is there an issue with the fuel tank in my 2008 Ford Focus?

I'd say you're looking at two different problems here, neither one of which involves the actual fuel tank (which is, indeed, 55 litres). The first problem is more likely to be the calibration of your fuel gauge that is out. If the gauge isn't reading accurately, it will tell you the tank is emptier (or fuller) than it really is. Your car is actually doing what most fuel gauges do, which is to be a bit pessimistic, suggesting there's not as much fuel still in the tank as there really is. You could have the gauge recalibrated, or simply know that even when the needle is at empty, you've still got a buffer zone of fuel remaining.

The fuel consumption, meanwhile, is another issue and it's true to say that 20 litres for 140km of driving is too thirsty. A basic tune up might help, starting with fuel filters, air cleaners and spark plugs. But don't ignore things like correct tyres pressures and whether there's a roof rack fitted; these things will affect fuel economy more than you might imagine. And never under-estimate the affect driving style has on fuel use. A driver who smashes the throttle from every green light will soon start using more fuel every kilometre.

Will the transmission from a 2008 Ford Focus fit a 2018 model?

They might both be Ford Focuses, but they're a couple of generations apart meaning that they are not only physically different, they also used different transmissions to each other. Even if, by some miracle, the older gearbox would bolt to the newer engine, the car still wouldn't have the correct electronics to make the transmission work properly.

Even if the transmission in question was a manual which requires much less in the way of electronic control, the unit in the 2008 Focus was a five-speed, while the later car used a completely different six-speed. Even things like the clutch and flywheel would be incompatible. You'd probably even find the gear-shifter for each transmission enters the cabin in a physically different spot, meaning the interior trim would no longer fit.

Ford Focus 2008: Broken window regulator

Have the dealer give you the part number and name of the part required and see if you get it Ford in England or Germany, or even an independent parts supplier.

Used Ford Focus review: 2005-2011
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Used small cars review: 2007-2010
You can save a motza on a late-model used car, because the first owner has already taken the biggest hit... usually 30-50 percent, in depreciation. Ideally, you want to be the second owner, and hang on to the car for a few years, to maximise the value you get from your motoring dollar. We've picked our top five used
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Used Ford Focus reviews: 2002-2015
Ewan Kennedy reviews the Ford Focus as a used buy.
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Ford Focus 2008: Lack of manual cars

More than 80 per cent of cars sold in Australia are now automatics and that share is still rising, fast. When companies are looking to cut cost and complications from their line-ups, it's easy to drop a manual that few people want. Between X-Trail and CR-V I give The Tick to the Honda.

Ford Focus Cabriolet: Does it have problems?

The folding hard top roof is a great idea, but it's also quite a complex and difficult thing to make work reliably. Classic Ford fans will be aware that the company had a folding hard top in its '57 model in America, and getting that roof to work the way it was designed is very hard. Obviously they have made considerable progress in the last 50 or so years, but it is still a very complex piece of gear to get it to raise and lower smoothly, and seal properly. Anyone thinking of buying a car with such a roof should look carefully at the operation of the roof before they buy.

Used Ford Focus review: 2003-2013
Despite being a huge success in Europe the Ford Focus hasn't enjoyed the sales success it deserved in Australia. Ford Focus finally first reached Australia in September 2002, several years after its European launch and continues to this day. It comes as no surprise that Ford Focus is truly European in the way it
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Disclaimer: You acknowledge and agree that all answers are provided as a general guide only and should not be relied upon as bespoke advice. Carsguide is not liable for the accuracy of any information provided in the answers.
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