Ford Focus headlight motor - changing

A Haynes manual is unlikely to go into the detail of changing a headlamp mo tor as the 'official' repair is usually by replacement of the whole lamp.

No, but I've seen plenty of headlamp motors and they've been built in to th e headlamp. However, they've all been replaceable too by virtue of how they 're constructed but I don't know if you can buy replacement motors new - yo u might need to weigh up looking for a motor from a smashed lamp or just re placing the whole affair from a scrappy or eBay.

I'd wait until you dismantle the thing before assuming that. It could equal ly be the motor, wiring or position feedback mechanism.

Mathew

as the 'official' repair is usually by replacement of the whole lamp.

headlamp. However, they've all been replaceable too by virtue of how they're constructed but I don't know if you can buy replacement motors new - you might need to weigh up looking for a motor from a smashed lamp or just replacing the whole affair from a scrappy or eBay.

be the motor, wiring or position feedback mechanism.

I assume they will be the same as my Cmax? I have a spare set of LHD headlights I swap when driving abroad and I've just had a look at them. One screw (torx and slot combination head) and disengage 4 plastic tabs to remove headlight from the car and then prise off the electrical connector. Remove the rear cover as if changing a bulb. Four more plastic tabs Motor is in between the bulbs. Turn firmly about 60 degrees and release the motor. Slide out the ball head from the socket that moves the lamp assy. Motor has a 3 wire connector. I'm not sure that there is any feedback on these lights as they are not auto levelling, just a simple up and down dash control.

hth

Bob

Thanks to you both.

{Bob} Looks as though there are two standard type bolts holding the light in, one hex head with inset posi/philips screw driver slots which screws into the wing, and a hex head nut which screws into the front cross brace plus I may have to remove the plastic front grille to get the unit out (hope not but it looks straightforward).

Main thing is that it looks as though the two bolts I can see are the two bolts I need to remove.

I can source a replacement from a breaker for around £35 or less including delivery. [I used which finds breakers then tries to get you to ring the breaker via an expensive 0701 number to pay for the service. One helpful breaker rang me and gave me his normal land line number. Unfortunately, one of the more expensive ones - £35 including VAT and delivery. However I now have guide pricing. I would prefer a local breaker if possible.]

Useful to have it confirmed that everything is all in the one unit - I was reluctant to start tearing stuff apart without guidance because IMHO usually BAD THINGStm happen when I do that.

{Mathew} I'm pretty sure it is the motor or the wiring - had someone work the roller switch in the car and I could hear the near side motor moving the lamp but no sound from the offside. I will take out and investigate before ordering a part.

Cheers

Dave R

I've just check my son's 56 plate focus and it is virtually identical to my 54 plate Cmax. One screw and possibly only 2 plastic tabs.

Maybe your focus is an earlier model?

Still could be a wiring fault though. Maybe plug the working light/motor into the plug on the defective side before spending on a motor.

Bob

If it's the same as a Fiesta (at least, my previous one), you can easily get to the motor by unclipping the front glass, but none of the parts are sold separately - it's a whole new headlamp unit. Damn annoying as the glass simply unclips from the front. I had to replace the whole unit twice when the glass was smashed by stones. Second time, I bought a cheaper unit without a motor, and just swapped the glass over.

You might be able to find someone who has had to do the same, and still has the old unit with the motor.

Is this the bit you need?

John

I'm sure there are no bolts or screws as I once managed to remove the offside one on my 2001 Focus by mistake when I was trying to remove a dud headlamp bulb by touch!

It looked identical to the one in the E-bay link and I'm sure that the only thing that stopped it coming right out was the connector and wiring harness.

Terry Casey wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@news.eternal-september.org:

Possibly failed due to lack of use.

Pardon?

Who said it failed?

I removed it by mistake, so I put it back. There was nothing wrong with it.

It was the headlight bulb that had failed ...

Thanks. Looks as though it should be, also new and cheaper than most quotes from breakers.

Cheers

Dave R

Thanks.

Are you suggesting that you can get it out just by taking the square cover off the back of the housing and rooting around inside? Much as Bob describes, but without having to take the housing out of the car?

Cheers

Dave R

This must have been 8 or 9 years ago, so you'll have to rely on my memory for this but I grabbed it by mistake, twisted and pulled and it definitely disengaged from the reflector and came out of the lamp housing.

After that it was loose in my hand but, as I said, I never removed the connector to remove it completely. However, there was nothing else stopping it as I recall.

It was bitterly cold at the time and my memory is of fiddling about with it for ages persuading the adjuster to re-engage with the reflector as I put it back ...!

I wouldn't like to try it on the nearside with the battery blocking the rear access, though ...

Just a quick update. Probably more complex than for the later Focus because this was the first of the Focus range.

I've now got the headlight out. Not one bolt, not even two, but a third hidden one under the wheel arch. Should be fun to get back in. You also need to take the centre grille out so you can get the headlight out diagonally. However once it is worked out then it comes out easily, just needing the power connector unclipped.

After that you just take the 4 torx screws out and the back panel off and you can then easily access the motor. Wiggled the connections but still no sign of life so I have ordered another one. Hopefully here in a couple of days.

Thanks to all who have helped.

Cheers

Dave R