ZX3 Rear Seat Entry Handle problem - Focaljet

**cladmonitor** · 05-06-2001, 03:43 PM

About 1 month ago I was going out with a couple of friends to go fart around at a local club when one of the guys that were getting in the back asked me where the handle was. When he stoped mid sentence and said "Here it is." and picked it up out of my back seat and showed it to me. Apprently the desingers are extremely retarted when it comes to the strength of metal.
They took a aluminum Dowel (1/4 in Radius) and devided it in half all the way down then took a metal screw and ran it into the gap to hold the handle in place. Like any aluminum the screw pushed the gap apart. Aluminum does not like to bend so of course it statted to crack eventually broke off.
_______
_____| <---Dowel Side
|_____ <--SCREW--
_______| <---Dowel Side

I went by 4 dealerships they all told me it was not under my extended warentee.. (I was about ready to call Fords Corprate office when I stoped by Mossy Ford. Mossy quickly recognized the problem and said it is a free of charge fix. The service writer told me this has been a common issue and even under the normal warnetee would be fixed.

Good right, no bad. They fixed it. It took 4 days becase it required the seat to be replaced after the fabric was damaged..

All is ok now works great and they even changed the design. Now the just driddle a hole in the dowel with a metal insert on the handle. But it is not a Recall.. So dont run in and demand a fix if it aint broke.

------------------
SRT Motorsports srt.n3.net
My ZX3 Page! zx3.n3.net
- - - - - - - - - - - -
"They make It We Race It."
-Black 2000 ZX3 zx3.n3.net/pict.htm
-Custom Intake & Breather zx3.n3.net/filter.htm
-Stock Exhaust Mod
-U/D Pully http://zx3.n3.net/ud.htm
-Black light Interior

**Blis** · 05-07-2001, 02:32 PM

Same thing happened to me...
Good to see that some dealerships will fix it for free. Can you please give me some info from the receipt, so I can take this to my dealer and make sure that it is free.
Thanks...

**bongod** · 06-12-2001, 06:46 PM

I'm
considering purchasing a ZX3 with the S2 package from Mossy Ford and I
wanted to ask you your opinion on their quality of service. To me its worth
spending a little more money to buy from a dealer who will also be able to
handle any problems i might run into... and to be honest, after reading so
many problem reports on these message boards, i'm reconsidering buying a
focus altogether. Thanks for your help!

**jim01ZX3** · 06-12-2001, 07:50 PM

I've been down this road...

I've had both handles break and, fortunately, mine were replaced under warranty...

------------------
My Focus!
jim@bonczek.net
Team FocalJet Mid-Atlantic
MidAt Calendar

**Jared** · 06-12-2001, 08:29 PM

my rear driver's side seat in my ZX3, the latch that locks down the top of it is jammed, thats under a recall and will get fixed soon, but THEN, the other day I go to fold down that seat, and the damn seat back came off of its hinges!

**nilo** · 06-12-2001, 08:52 PM

I had my the handle break the 1st week I had the car.. I, too, was not very impressed with the design of that handle. The aluminum rod just snapped like a chop stick. (umm...I think a chop stick would have been stronger). Took it to the dealer and they put it under warranty. Only problem was that it took only 3 trips to get it fixed because they kept ordering the wrong part.
Finally got it fixed after 3 weeks

------------------
NiLo
2000 Infra-red ZX3
5-Speed, ABS
Mods: K&N drop in Filter, BMW Exhaust Tip
Future Mod: H&R cup kit

**Blis** · 06-12-2001, 10:16 PM

Since someone brought it up...

Update

I told them I broke one of with my hane (yeah right, really strong here... ) and they said they will order the parts and do it under warranty...

So, I have to call them up and set up an appointment... They said that they will need to send it to the upholstery(sp?) shop because they basically have to tear the setas up.

BTW, mad props to Chapman Ford in Philly. They always treat me right, and honestly, after that treatment, I don't mind going there for more expensive service (compared to other shops, like breakes, oil...).

**jinstall** · 06-13-2001, 02:56 PM

Luck you I have to buy mine! It broke the first week I had the car. I was working in the back seat went to step out when my shorts caught the handle and "snap"! Went to Ford and they said they have to order it from the US and it will take 4-6 weeks! So now I have a sharp plastic edge rubbing on my seatbelt. Man sometimes I hate living in Germany

**projectzx3** · 06-16-2001, 09:29 AM

mine broke too .. about a month ago. im waiting for 30k service and ill have it fixed then.

05-06-2001, 03:43 PM	#1
cladmonitor Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: San Diego, CA USA Posts: 63	ZX3 Rear Seat Entry Handle problem About 1 month ago I was going out with a couple of friends to go fart around at a local club when one of the guys that were getting in the back asked me where the handle was. When he stoped mid sentence and said "Here it is." and picked it up out of my back seat and showed it to me. Apprently the desingers are extremely retarted when it comes to the strength of metal. They took a aluminum Dowel (1/4 in Radius) and devided it in half all the way down then took a metal screw and ran it into the gap to hold the handle in place. Like any aluminum the screw pushed the gap apart. Aluminum does not like to bend so of course it statted to crack eventually broke off. _______ _____\| <---Dowel Side \|_____ <--SCREW-- _______\| <---Dowel Side I went by 4 dealerships they all told me it was not under my extended warentee.. (I was about ready to call Fords Corprate office when I stoped by Mossy Ford. Mossy quickly recognized the problem and said it is a free of charge fix. The service writer told me this has been a common issue and even under the normal warnetee would be fixed. Good right, no bad. They fixed it. It took 4 days becase it required the seat to be replaced after the fabric was damaged.. All is ok now works great and they even changed the design. Now the just driddle a hole in the dowel with a metal insert on the handle. But it is not a Recall.. So dont run in and demand a fix if it aint broke. ------------------ SRT Motorsports srt.n3.net My ZX3 Page! zx3.n3.net - - - - - - - - - - - - "They make It We Race It." -Black 2000 ZX3 zx3.n3.net/pict.htm -Custom Intake & Breather zx3.n3.net/filter.htm -Stock Exhaust Mod -U/D Pully http://zx3.n3.net/ud.htm -Black light Interior

05-07-2001, 02:32 PM	#2
Blis Administrator Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 3,069	Re: ZX3 Rear Seat Entry Handle problem Same thing happened to me... Good to see that some dealerships will fix it for free. Can you please give me some info from the receipt, so I can take this to my dealer and make sure that it is free. Thanks...

06-12-2001, 06:46 PM	#3
bongod TEAM Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: San Diego, CA, USA Posts: 129	Re: ZX3 Rear Seat Entry Handle problem I'm considering purchasing a ZX3 with the S2 package from Mossy Ford and I wanted to ask you your opinion on their quality of service. To me its worth spending a little more money to buy from a dealer who will also be able to handle any problems i might run into... and to be honest, after reading so many problem reports on these message boards, i'm reconsidering buying a focus altogether. Thanks for your help!

06-12-2001, 07:50 PM	#4
jim01ZX3 Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Allentown, PA \| Jim Posts: 2,461	Re: ZX3 Rear Seat Entry Handle problem I've been down this road... I've had both handles break and, fortunately, mine were replaced under warranty... ------------------ My Focus! jim@bonczek.net Team FocalJet Mid-Atlantic MidAt Calendar

06-12-2001, 08:29 PM	#5
Jared Moderator Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Allentown, PA Posts: 15,805	Re: ZX3 Rear Seat Entry Handle problem my rear driver's side seat in my ZX3, the latch that locks down the top of it is jammed, thats under a recall and will get fixed soon, but THEN, the other day I go to fold down that seat, and the damn seat back came off of its hinges!

06-12-2001, 08:52 PM	#6
nilo TEAM Member Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Troylet , NY, US Posts: 804	Re: ZX3 Rear Seat Entry Handle problem I had my the handle break the 1st week I had the car.. I, too, was not very impressed with the design of that handle. The aluminum rod just snapped like a chop stick. (umm...I think a chop stick would have been stronger). Took it to the dealer and they put it under warranty. Only problem was that it took only 3 trips to get it fixed because they kept ordering the wrong part. Finally got it fixed after 3 weeks ------------------ NiLo 2000 Infra-red ZX3 5-Speed, ABS Mods: K&N drop in Filter, BMW Exhaust Tip Future Mod: H&R cup kit

06-12-2001, 10:16 PM	#7
Blis Administrator Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 3,069	Re: ZX3 Rear Seat Entry Handle problem Since someone brought it up... Update I told them I broke one of with my hane (yeah right, really strong here... ) and they said they will order the parts and do it under warranty... So, I have to call them up and set up an appointment... They said that they will need to send it to the upholstery(sp?) shop because they basically have to tear the setas up. BTW, mad props to Chapman Ford in Philly. They always treat me right, and honestly, after that treatment, I don't mind going there for more expensive service (compared to other shops, like breakes, oil...).

06-13-2001, 02:56 PM	#8
jinstall [FJ] Addict Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Manassas/Ft Belvoir VA Posts: 12,985	Re: ZX3 Rear Seat Entry Handle problem Luck you I have to buy mine! It broke the first week I had the car. I was working in the back seat went to step out when my shorts caught the handle and "snap"! Went to Ford and they said they have to order it from the US and it will take 4-6 weeks! So now I have a sharp plastic edge rubbing on my seatbelt. Man sometimes I hate living in Germany

06-16-2001, 09:29 AM	#9
projectzx3 Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Parkville, Maryland, USA Posts: 1,867	Re: ZX3 Rear Seat Entry Handle problem mine broke too .. about a month ago. im waiting for 30k service and ill have it fixed then.

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