Focus MK1 - 10th Anniversary, Keys & Immobiliser

[@glenmason1876]

Hi Andrew, I passed my test in 1979, my driving instructor was a ex hgv, and coach driver, he taught me everything about driving, double de clutching, driving in snow, motorway driving, also a lot of tips, not just to pass the test, but to look after your car, clutch wear, brakes etc, today this does not exist, they teach you how to pass the test only, in my opinion the test was harder then, although there was no theory test

[@usuallyfixingtinkering]

Ex-hgv drivers alone are the best drivers to teach others :) My instructor was really old-school, taught me to drive as opposed to just passing, big issue now on the roads How many people avoid motorway driving? If you can't drive at speed in a controlled manner, hand your license in, only exception is if you are of a certain age.

[@David_H-73]

Congratulations on Having a car for 10 years the longest I have managed is 5. I passed my test first time (just) even though I stalled twice. My instructor changed from a mk3 diesel Fiesta to a mk4 petrol Escort a week before my test and I hadn't got used to giving it some gas to set off. I bought some of those key fob badges for my Fusion key I had to trim it slightly to fit and use superglue.

[@usuallyfixingtinkering]

I had to do the same with the badges, they look great with them. That must have been frustrating, my instructors mk3 focus changed the day we did the test, I was worried the new car would jinx things. Turn out it was lucky!

[@Mrmartins345]

Congratulations on your 10th year. I passed in 1993, 30 years this December. Your focus is a fantastic example the paint work looks better than showroom.

[@usuallyfixingtinkering]

oh I wish, on one side its showroom, the other not so (getting done soon). Wow 1993, year I was born lol that was a very long time ago now :)

[@adamjow8405]

Congrats on the 10th anniversary. Time certainly flies by. I passed my test in August 2013 so I've got that anniversary coming up soon as well.

[@usuallyfixingtinkering]

time does fly remember it like yesterday!

[@paulridley3184]

Hi andy my Bristol st keyring is in immaculate condition as its always been kept in the folder i have also had my focus for 10 years i bought it in April 2013 i passed my test on i would say the 2nd one as the 2nd one was cancelled outside the test centre due to examiner being ill congrats on your ten years ps i also have the business card of the salesman that first sold the car 🙂👍

[@usuallyfixingtinkering]

Hiya Paul I have lost your contact details, just wanted to say thankyou for the keyring and coaster... it's something that you've beat me too! Explain later in a live stream. Ah you have the same keyring - I can't believe I found this on ebay, what a find for a car registered at Bristol street motors! Thanks buddy and that's a nice bit of paperwork to go with the car, just the little details here and there :)

[@Joey_B]

5 years since passing my test and 5 years with my focus!

[@usuallyfixingtinkering]

congratulations, 5 years seems a long time to own one car these days!

[@Drew-Dastardly]

Providing you have at least 2 RFID keys then you can program more to the PATS system yourself (4 max IIRC). I had a basic key with the chip and the full remote key. Knowing if I ever lost one key alone then I would be facing huge dealer costs to reprogram I purchased a remote key blank I got cut and a 2nd hand ebay remote fob from a Transit or Mondeo. They were a lot cheaper than Focus for some reason. The reason was the chip wasn't the glass bead but a plastic type not compatible. I did get the glass bead from a key specialist for very cheap to replace it. All 3 keys work great, I give the basic key to my MOT tester. Apparently you can also completely reprogram the PATS with a great program called ForScan with an ELM OBD2 programming dongle.

[@usuallyfixingtinkering]

I've been told it's possible to reprogrammed the PATS using forscan and a dongle. I assume that most owners don't have two keys but the procedure otherwise is actually very simple if you have two :) I didn't know the mondeo used a plastic type, correction I am aware on 2004 Mk1s there was a switch to plastic chips but maybe it was a whole Ford switch?!

[@Tadasskr]

Few notes to add GEM (Generic Electronic module) was added after facelift, before that it was PATS (Passive Anti-Theft System) and Central Timing Module. Also if you have USB OBD 2 dongle you might program key with ForScan program. Its not much for paid version that allow you to program modules or access immobilizer.

[@usuallyfixingtinkering]

Same thing no difference just the name change :) I've heard a few people have done that but personally I wouldn't get much use to justfify paying for forscan.

[@JohnHonda101]

I'll be celebrating 40 year anniversary of passing my test in August.

[@usuallyfixingtinkering]

Congratulations! Did you pass first time or was a few attempts? What was the car more interestingly!

[@JohnHonda101]

@@usuallyfixingtinkering I passed first time in a MK1 Fiesta Popular plus.

[@nicoconnell7619]

H i mate just a quick update on my focus mk 1 problem from the live stream I took the car to my local garage on Thursday (1st June 2023) and they said try putting the old pcv valve back in so i did that as the new valve looked bigger than old one and still make a difference. So today i got AA out to have a look he revved it to 3k revs for about a min or so but whilst he was doing that a tint of blue smoke was coming out of exhaust. After that we took it for a spin and the car was fine so touch wood hope it stays that way and im guessing something must have been blocked and now its cleared itself.

[@usuallyfixingtinkering]

that is really odd, monitor what's going on and see what happens because I'm at a loss there!

[@nicoconnell7619]

@@usuallyfixingtinkering I will do whats the facebook group called for the mk1s focus ?

[@usuallyfixingtinkering]

@@nicoconnell7619 focus mk1 Preservation Group :)

[@AgathaAndAnything]

Wait until you passed 36 years ago….. 9 lessons 1 test.

[@usuallyfixingtinkering]

I think I did it in 25 lessons which I thought was good until I saw this lol!

[@fpngames4403]

Where can i find those badges on the key( blue oval ford badge)?

[@usuallyfixingtinkering]

You can find them on ebay if you search

[@fpngames4403]

@@usuallyfixingtinkering Oh, one more thing Andrew and it's very important. My temperature reading on the cluster used to be going up and down, it stayed in the middle, then it would go all the way down, fortunately it never overheated tho. I changed the thermostat, this improved things but after 2 days, it still does this( going all the way to the middle, then dropping back down).After 10 minutes or so, it stabilizes and stays in the middle in it's working temperature. I have a focus 2004 mod, zetec se 1.6, the collection edition, hatchback. Do you know where the coolant temperature sensor is on this car, because i suspect that's the case. Also, do you know which of the two types of sensors this car is compatible with? If I'm not mistaken, the facelift model has a different type then the pre facelift. Thank you in advance man, you're a focus encyclopedia!!

[@alexandreb.1101]

Seeing the spec of that car (auto gearbox, heated seats) seems to really call for the rare factory nav system to be added, like the Travelpilot 👀 Btw ive passed my exam 6 years ago, and been driving my current car, a W203 Mercedes, for 3

[@usuallyfixingtinkering]

Nice one! Oh the blanupunkt travel pilot is a nice rare touch! I'd grab one if they weren't so expensive, be lucky to get one for less than £100!

[@alexandreb.1101]

@@usuallyfixingtinkering sometimes the odd cheap one does show up in Poland (Allegro) or Lithuania (RRR) but it can be rather hard

[@alexandreb.1101]

@@usuallyfixingtinkering in the meantime I found one in Lithuania for 30 quid but guess what...display is full of dead lines. Getting 2000s electronics in good condition is getting harder and harder

[@usuallyfixingtinkering]

It is indeed this is fairly common to happen but... it's more repairable than the really new electronics!

[@JohnHonda101]

I have a Bristol Street key fob on my MK1 Focus RS.

[@usuallyfixingtinkering]

Nice one, got mine on ebay really lucky, my car was registered there :)

[@JohnHonda101]

@@usuallyfixingtinkering I have had Focus's since 1999, My current one is a 2023 1.0 Hybrid ST line and the RS.

[@enchantress7940]

Happy 10 years

[@usuallyfixingtinkering]

😁