Ford Focus Dash Blanking Plates

jmc160

Hey all,

Following on from my previous posts about our car shopping dilemmas, my lovely wife and I have bought a lovely 56 plate Ford Focus Estate. It's fantastic! (Thanks to all who recommended Focuses and gave us info on their experiences )

Now, I'm planning to fit a 3.5mm aux input to the standard stereo so we can use our MP3 players without having to get one of those 'orrid FM transmitters, and I've noticed something I'm not quite sure about..

Under the stereo on the dash is the controls for hot and cold air - the standard 3 dials. Under that there are four square blanking plates. If you can imagine them number 1 through 4 as if reading left to right, number 3 is the screen heater button and 1,2 and 4 are blank. However 1 and 2 have wiring harnesses clipped into the back of the plates. I have no idea where the wires go as i don't currently have the keys to get the stereo out and don't fancy ripping the dash apart completely. They can't be doing anything, as they're just clipped in to blank plates that don't do anything.

I'm wondering if they do serve some kind of purpose of I was to obtain the right button and clip them in. Can anyone shed some light on what they might be for, and if this is possible? Or would they require extra parts fitting to make them do something?

Thanks in advance

J

molerat

What does the handbook show those switch positions as ? I very much doubt that you could just fit the switches and something will work. The cabin loom will be there but the bits at the other end won't.

stef73

Heated mirrors and heated seats were i think options on the ST Focus these will be the buttons

Sandoval

You don't really think it would be as simple as putting buttons in these blank spaces and suddenly things not fitted to your car will start working do you!?

ukjoel

Sandoval wrote: »

You don't really think it would be as simple as putting buttons in these blank spaces and suddenly things not fitted to your car will start working do you!?

Not as stupid as it sounds. Used to be when things were coming to end of line bits were chucked on all over the place but if one element of the higher spec was missing it was sold as lower spec with ablanking plate often fitted.

This was years back but do remember reading a post recently about someone fitting a stalk to a vauxhall and it activated cruise control as it was automatically fitted into all of the cars but if you didnt pay for it the indicator stalk was left off.

However in the particular case your right - wiring looms installed in all the cars are the same but if they arent connected to anything then it wont do much

jmc160

Sandoval wrote: »

You don't really think it would be as simple as putting buttons in these blank spaces and suddenly things not fitted to your car will start working do you!?

Well shucks, I dunno, I guess that may have been why I asked the question. I don't spend all that time typing and posting on forums for my health!

A couple of years ago I had a Saab 9-3 and that's exactly how it worked. If I wanted cruise control, I took it to the service centre, got the sterring wheel control stalk fitted and had the computer reprogrammed and hey presto, I had cruise control..

If I'd have saved the money for the heated seats before it died, I would have taken it to the service centre, had the controls fitted and that would have been it. The radiators were already in place under the seats.

I've never had a Focus before and the car we had in between the Saab and the Focus already had all the extras I wanted, so why should I assume this wouldn't be the case?

:beer::cool:

jmc160

molerat wrote: »

What does the handbook show those switch positions as ? I very much doubt that you could just fit the switches and something will work. The cabin loom will be there but the bits at the other end won't.

For some reason, I didn't even think to check the handbook

So apparently, they are (from left to right) Stability control (ESP) switch, Heated windscreen switch, Heated rear window switch, and airbag deactivation indicator.

I guess I'll just use the one on the far right, as it has no wires behind it at all..

Thanks all for your help!

BillTrac

jmc, I did post earlier but seems to have disappeared..

anyway, the cables may be at the switch position but the items won't be at the other end ie heated front screen, heated seats etc

Generally the aux socket on a Focus is in the glovebox in the upper left hand corner. My 56 Zetec didn't have one although my 09 Zetec does.

The cable may be in the dash area somewhere within the loom, but if not you can add one.

If you go to the Ford Focus Owners Club website www.ffoc.co.uk you can find out how to do lots of things to your Focus...(just hope no-one thinks I am from ffoc and this is spam as this is the second time this afternoon I have pointed somewhere there...:rotfl:)

It was through them I found a garage to service my car at much less than the stealership prices, owned by a Ford trained tech who keeps my warranty intact

jmc160

Awesome, I'll take a look. Thanks! :beer: