2005 Ford Focus electrical problem

JEREMYROUNKLES

MEMBER
2005 FORD FOCUS

Electrical problem
2005 Ford Focus 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive Manual 100k miles

I have a 2005 ford focus. In the past several months I have had the battery and the alternator replaced. The car seems to have a bad ground somewhere. There are times when you will go to start and have no power. Sometimes while driving you wil hear a clicking sound under the dash and the headlights will flicker. If you change to high beams there will be no lights. Anytime the clicking sound appears the car will have no power once the ignition is turned off. Jump starting will get the car started back up 100% of the time. The problem is intermittent. Is this a bad ground from when the alternator was installed? Could it be an ignition switch?

1 Reply

RACEFAN966

MECHANIC
5,029 POSTS

Ok the alternator is the ground for itself through the mounting bolts. Now with that said you mentioned that you hear a clicking. Behind the dash at the right side at the base of the A pillar is the PCM and it controls the alternator. It does so with the help of the micro processor in the instrument cluster this is what turn on the charge light. The ground for it is also at the right a pillar. I would check that ground and check the ground from the battery and make sure the cable ends at the battery are clean. Let me know what you find.