[Petek]

Hello there from a lurker...

I have had a 53 plated Focus C-mAX for a year now, and whilst I am very happy with its roominess and handling, I've had a number of niggly problems that I wonder whether anyone else has experienced:

(1) (Perimeter?) alarm that goes off randomly or every time a crisp bag blows down the street....
(2) Groaning from front n/s wheel arch when steering....a mechanic friend of mine has checked this three times, and can't find any issues....it's just a bit disconcerting...
(3) Pulling to the left, especially on the motorway; again, all wheels have been balanced and alignment done on three separate occasions in last 12 months....

P

 

[Richard G]

Not had any such problems YET!!!!

You say the N/S arch area has been checked
Does that include the CV joint gaiters for any slight splits or cracks just in case the CV joint is sticking
Does it pull to the left with braking in case the caliper isn't fully coming off and are the front brake pads worn to the same amount N/S & O/S

And as an absolutely silly check have you tried swapping the front wheels around to see if it then pulls to the right?

 

[Petek]

Thanks for the response Richard.
The guy checked suspension, not sure if he checked gaiters; I'll ask.
No pull on braking at all, pulls up nice and straight even with hands off steering wheel. You just notice it on the motorway when you loosen grip on the wheel, it starts to drift left quite alarmingly....
I'll also try the front wheel swap...
Again, many thanks for your help

P

 

[Richard G]

I had another thought
Is the steering rack centered at straight ahead for the wheels. Has the tracking ever been altered?

I don't know if it's the case for the C-Max as for a bus I once had to deal with but there the power assistance started to take effect because the equivalent of the rack wasn't centered

 

[Geoffers]

I had a similar problem a few years ago, not on a C-Max but when I changed the tyres from left to right the problem moved with it. - Reason difference in tyre manufacturer giving a different rolloing resistance I presume.


Geoffers

 

[dazzer]

tyres is asuggestion ,if theres any uneven wear between the two fronts or they are not true like bulges or lumps in them .even just the tyre pressure can affect it ,which is more noticable with lower profile tyres.plus the rubbish cambers in uk roads.if there are two different brands of tyres or have been changed one at a time this can have an effect.

 

[snurdette]

My steering groans and is most noticeable when I am turning full circle in my culdesac.  Don't like odd noises and haven't had it checked.  Thought it may be a Ford thing.  Souns like I am driving car round a slippery show room floor not tarmac,

Margaret

 

[Richard G]

May just be the surface or the tarmac
Does anyone else in the road notice the same sort of sound?

 

[Dan]

I would second the tarmac for the post above - our local Tesco car park is the same and you can hear everyones car do it as they make tight turns.