Expert: Cleggsan - 8/30/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hello, I've recently decided to put an old after market CD player in my Ford Focus with the Fascia. I have an 03 player Ford Focus Zetec 1.6 and the cd player was working fine. I have since tried attaching a patch lead to enable the steering wheel controls to work with my Panasonic cd player. However, since this; the cd player doesn't seem to have any power however, if I turn it on it will tell me I have an hour and this is the same when the engine is started which it shouldn't say if the engine is started anyway. Also, the petrol gauge now takes forever to kick in and show me how much petrol is in the car. Any advice?

ANSWER: Check here for basic information on wiring for focus.  You did not give a model year but you can find other years down the right hand side of the page:

http://www.modifiedlife.com/car-stereo-radio-wiring-diagram-2003-ford-focus/

You must check the wiring between the car and the radio unit.  I am guessing you do not have all the 12v lines connected to the right spots.

Hope this helps.



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for your reply. What I'm confused about is it was working, then I removed the aftermarket cd player to install this additional lead and put it back in and it wouldn't come on. Swapped it for the original cd player provided by Ford, think it's the CD 6000, can't remember off the top of my head but, that only comes on if I turn it on and only gives me one hour only regardless of whether the engine is started or not which isn't right and the petrol gauge takes a very long time to kick in which is unusual. My car is a Ford Focus 03 plate 1.6 Zetec. I've even tried using the old wiring harness before I received this one with the steering control ability but had no luck. There's no difference when driving though, it's just playing up with the dash and the cd player. I'll have a read on the website you've provided but, I think this may be something more behind the scenes as I can't see anything incorrectly connected.

Thanks for your help though.

Answer
Thanks for the clarification.  I don't know how the petrol gauge got involved with this; that is why I suggested you check wiring.

Does the petrol gauge work properly when the player is disconnected?  If it makes no difference whether player is connected or not the gauge problem may be independent matter.  Did you check all the fuses?  There are two fuse panels in the Focus; one under the bonnet and one inside under the dash by the steering column area.

If you cannot make progress on the radio installation I suggest you get another opinion from Ernesto who is also on Allexperts and has much hands-on experience with these kinds of installations.  He is at:

http://www.allexperts.com/ep/835-69262/Audio-Systems/Ernesto-R.htm

Cheers