Switches inside the car

The Focus has different types of switches. To the right and left of the steering column, the control levers of the switches on the steering column protrude from the lining. The heating blower and interior air distribution are activated by rotary switches in the center console. Power windows (on request) operated by toggle switches. On the contrary, fog lights, additional lights, as well as heated front and rear windows - push-button switches. With a little skill, you will replace the faulty toggle and push-button switches themselves - but it is better to replace the switches on the steering column in a specialized workshop.

The ignition/steering lock also activates the anti-theft system

With the ignition/steering lock you start the engine, and also - with the ignition key removed - for a few seconds the anti-theft system (PATS). As a result of a half-turn of the steering wheel without the ignition key, the steering lock enters the groove of the latch.

In the mechanics of the lock, from experience, breakdowns rarely occur. In older cars, sometimes it happened that the contacts of the ignition switch stuck together or rusted. Unfortunately, the board with contacts cannot be replaced separately, you need to change the entire steering / ignition lock - it is better to entrust this work to the workshop. To check the anti-theft system, you should always look at the control light above the clock before you get out of the car. The anti-theft system is only ready for operation when, with the ignition off, the light flashes approximately every 2 seconds. If your Focus is having difficulty starting the engine, then note if the light goes out after about 3 seconds, or instead goes into a fast flashing mode for one minute, or stays on. In this case, the system did not recognize the key encoding. Then remove the ignition key and restart the engine after 20 seconds.

Important for data flow - do not shield the ignition key with metal

If the control lamp lights up continuously for one minute and then flashes irregularly repeatedly, the system has registered a malfunction. First make sure the ignition key is not shielded by other keys or metal parts (a bunch of keys). If this is not the source of the defect, take a spare key or re-encode the silenced instance with the original key. If this seems too time consuming, a Ford dealer will also help you.