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Steering rack Ford Focus 3. Malfunctions, diagnostics, typical errors

Steering rack Ford Focus 3. Malfunctions, diagnostics, typical errors
30.01.2025
Articles
Reading time - 11 minutes

The third-generation Ford Focus, produced from 2011 to 2018, was rightfully considered one of the best-selling cars in the C-Class segment. At the beginning of its production, in 2012-13, it topped the world rankings, and then for several more years maintained a stable position in the top 5 of the golf class both in Europe and in the North American market. The reason for this was the original design, a global approach to production, as well as a set of modern options, one of which was the new electric power steering, which was equipped in the vast majority of Ford Focus III models.

Features, pros and cons of electric power steering

The transition from hydraulic power steering to electric power steering has become possible thanks to the development of electronic systems that control the operation of the electric motor and integrate it into the overall car control system. The use of EPS has a lot of undeniable advantages:

  • fuel economy due to the absence of the need for the amplifier to work on straight sections;
  • the ability to control and change the force depending on speed and other driving conditions;compactness and lower weight of the electric steering rack;the ability to place the amplifier without binding it to the internal combustion engine
  • absence of a hydraulic circuit;
  • easy and clear diagnostics of the unit;interaction with driver assistance systems.

At the same time, the electric amplifier has certain disadvantages. First of all, they are explained by the high technological sophistication of the components, which complicates the repair of the EPS and makes it more expensive. In many cases, the manufacturer, followed by official service organisations, declares electric power steering racks unrepairable, while specialised workshops, such as STS, with experience and the right equipment, solve «unsolvable» problems.

The design of the Ford Focus III electric power steering

On the Ford Focus III, the electric power steering (EPS) control unit is integrated into the steering rack. The control unit is located directly on the steering rack, in the lower part of the engine compartment, under the engine near the subframe closer to the driver's side. This arrangement has its advantages (compact design), but also certain disadvantages:

  • the EPS unit is located low and can be damaged when hitting large bumps or obstacles (curbs, stones, etc.);
  • It is worth noting that unlike some Audi and BMW cars, where electronic units are more vulnerable due to their design
  • the Ford Focus III EPS unit is protected by a metal housing with radiator cooling (to remove heat from the unit), which reduces the likelihood of direct mechanical damage.

    Typical malfunctions of the Focus III steering rack and their symptoms

    All power steering failures can be divided into two groups:
  1. Mechanical.
  2. Electronic.

The most common in the first category in the Ford Focus III include:

  • Rail bushing wear (the most common problem in this model);
  • lift of the gears inside the rack;Loosening of the rack and pinion fasteners to the body.
  • Corrosion and failure of the electronics caused by moisture inside the control unit;
  • overheating of the amplifier motor.

Electrical malfunctions are more common and can be divided into the following groups:

Signs of a malfunction of the Focus III steering rack, as well as cars with electric power steering in general, are knocks when turning or on uneven roads, noticeable steering wheel pull, especially at low speeds, the operation of the amplifier with interruptions or jerks, and most importantly - the appearance of an icon on the dashboard with the corresponding service message.

To read errors from the EPS unit, you need an OBD-II diagnostic scanner. It is advisable to use professional equipment, because cheap amateur devices are not always able to get information from the Ford Focus III PSCM.

The most common error codes:

C102D – torque sensor malfunction.

C1B00 – general malfunction of the power amplifier.

U3000 – failure of the EPS control unit.

The last group of errors is the most common. You need to read the type of failure to understand the cause of the malfunction. The following DTC U3000 fault type codes are relevant for the Focus III:

42 – Control module: general memory failure. Internal memory data error during validation.

46 – Control module: calibration/parameter memory failure.

49 – Control module: internal electronic (hardware) error.

48 – Control module: overheating. When internal overheating is detected, the EPS force is reduced to protect the EPS electronics. When the system cools down, the node returns to the operating state.

53 – Control module: deactivated. Indicates that the PSCM has detected an error that causes a permanent deactivation that cannot be restored during an ignition cycle.

56 – Control module: incorrect/incomplete configuration. Indicates a mismatch in the data structure in the non-volatile memory.

96 – Control module: internal component failure. It appears if the failure causes the EPS to enter emergency mode.

Service and repair of the Ford Focus III steering rack

First, let's outline a number of preventive measures that can delay the occurrence of problems or alleviate the nature of the malfunction.

Regular diagnostics. It is advisable to check the condition of the rail bushings and fasteners at every opportunity. Even minor backlash can develop into serious malfunctions. At the first sign of knocking, it is better to replace the bushings to prevent more serious wear of the rack gears.

Check the connectors and tightness of the unit. The EPS case should not show any signs of damage, and the wiring and connectors should not be corroded or oxidised.

Careful driving. It is advisable not to overload the power amplifier by turning the steering wheel for a long time in place to prevent overheating of the motor. Avoid hard contact with obstacles to avoid damage to the lower parts of the vehicle.

Installing additional protection. If the vehicle is operated in difficult road conditions (gravel, off-road), you can install additional metal protection for the engine compartment or local protection for the steering rack.

Where is the best place to repair the Ford Focus steering rack

Although official service organisations are not always ready to restore this unit and may offer a replacement, the power steering on the Focus III is usually quite repairable. The restoration process has a lot of nuances, and it is advisable to entrust it only to specialised organisations to avoid aggravating the problems.

One of the typical mistakes made by unskilled repairmen is to install an electric motor from other models of the concern (for example, from the Ford C-Max) instead of a failed one on the Ford Focus. Given the identical dimensions and connectors, these amplifiers will not work properly on the Focus, as they turn in the opposite direction.

Although the individual components of the rack and pinion, up to the electric motors and rods, are interchangeable with parts from other vehicles, the applicability of the power steering assembly is clearly limited to two Ford models:

That's why it's better to trust professionals when it comes to the selection of spare parts, so as not to waste money on expensive components.

Even such a seemingly difficult situation as moisture getting inside the EPS unit can sometimes be resolved relatively easily in practice. The printed circuit boards of the FF3 control unit are filled with silicone, so if moisture gets inside, it is primarily the connectors of the wire braids that suffer. Although this causes a breakdown in contact and errors in the unit's operation, it is still much easier to rectify the situation than in a situation where electronic components burn out due to short circuits.

To clean the contacts and tracks of the boards from corrosion, it is necessary to dismantle capacitors and other parts. As a rule, in untouched cases, the parameters of the components remain normal. But if not, qualified specialists can replace them with new ones without having to replace the entire control unit.

After the procedure for cleaning the electronic boards is completed, it is imperative to also clear the errors in the unit's memory. But there can be problems with this. Firstly, cheap scanners based on ELM327 do not always see the necessary codes. And secondly, even professional equipment is sometimes unable to remove the error. To be able to update the software (overwrite the dump) of the EEPROM, you have to dismantle (solder) the chip to read and flash it on a separate programmer.

Our advantages

 

The STS company's speciality is professionalism, many years of experience in servicing and regeneration of steering mechanisms and other high-tech car components, as well as a comprehensive and complete approach to repair. In addition, we always have remanufactured, proprietary steering racks for all car models. Our customers receive a refurbished unit that is in no way inferior to the original rack and pinion, and in terms of further maintainability even surpasses it, at a price much lower than that of a new part.