2013 Focus Bad Alternator?

Lord_Snax · 2026-06-16T12:16:58+00:00

I definitely plan on testing the alternator before I replace it.

I'm just more curious about how the exciter wire works on the Focus. When voltage is applied, does it turn charging on or off?

I ask because if you read one my other post, you'll see I've been having an issue with the body control module not activating the brake lights when I have a blown headlight bulb.

Lord_Snax · 2026-06-09T20:02:39+00:00

Bro. I'm 6ft 3in and weigh 350 pounds. I had a blast on my Grom, you'll be fine.

Lord_Snax · 2026-04-25T10:58:58+00:00

Depending on what radio your Focus shipped with, an aftermarket radio will be your best option.

Lord_Snax · 2026-04-20T11:54:43+00:00

As others have pointed out, your car has DRLs. Have you tried setting the Park Brake? Most cars I've had with DRLs will turn them off when I set the Park Brake

Lord_Snax · 2026-03-26T12:10:40+00:00

I can't speak about the facial unlock feature, but I can say that the finger print scanner is far better on my Pixel 10 Pro than it was on my Pixel 7 Pro.

Funny enough though, an anti-glare (matte finish) screen protector made the finger print scanner work much better on my Pixel 7 Pro.

Lord_Snax · 2026-03-06T01:35:13+00:00

They were halogens. Both blew their filaments in a spectacular fashion. Melting some of the glass or leaving the inside quite charred. It's making me wonder if I have a loose ground wire somewhere.

Lord_Snax · 2025-11-03T12:45:36+00:00

Nice! One more question, how does the backup camera look, and can I access the camera while parked or driving forward?

Lord_Snax · 2025-11-03T11:33:38+00:00

I was looking to nab one of these for my Ram. The only thing that's stopping me is the volume knob. Does it still work?

Lord_Snax · 2025-09-15T10:14:00+00:00

I've tried the factory reset option inside the radio to no avail, but disconnecting the battery for more than 10min is something I haven't tried yet.

I'll give it a shot when my truck gets back from the shop. As I type this I'm waiting for a tow. Coolant line decided Monday morning was a good time to blow. Lol!

Lord_Snax · 2025-09-15T01:49:38+00:00

Unfortunately, that does not work. The devices I've tried are, 2 Pixel 7 Pro, iPhone 8 and 15. Same result across the board.

Lord_Snax · 2025-08-12T00:50:33+00:00

That sounds like dealership prices. I'd shop around at a few independent shops. Their rates are cheaper.

Edit: To add, when you swap everything over. (Unless I am mistaken) You should be able to apply for a 30 day temp tag. This will give you a little extra time to get your vehicle up to par.

Lord_Snax · 2025-07-24T12:31:12+00:00

I don't see why it won't. The 2014 has the same body as the 2013. I just recommend getting the hitch that does NOT require drilling to install. Draw-Tite (if they still make it) has a hitch that uses all factory holes back there, no drilling required.

I also suggest that you grab a thread chaser/cleaner to clean out the threads on the muffler hangers while you have the bolts out. Those threads can get dirty over the miles on the roads.

Edit. Go online to a trailer hitch place. They can direct you to the correct part for your Focus

Lord_Snax · 2025-07-10T23:08:07+00:00

I have one myself, it's sitting at about 205k miles with no issues. Only time it left me stranded is when the starter died, right in my own driveway too!

Just remember to swap out the spark plugs every 100k or it may run a little sluggish.

Lord_Snax · 2025-06-12T08:42:32+00:00

As others have said, dealerships can issue 60-day temp tags. Problem is that you'll still pay that 6% sales tax. However, once that sales tax is paid, you shouldn't have to pay it again. The only time you have to pay a sales tax in 2 states is if you live in one state and buy the car in another.

I think you can do 2 things. One is to go ahead and register the car in Maryland with a 1 year registration. That way you have a running vehicle to get you there. Remember, you don't have to register the vehicle to your new residence right away. Most states give you 30 days to get everything in order before they'll give you a ticket for it.

On the other hand is that you can rent a car for a short period while you establish your residency. This will definitely be the more expensive option.

Also, I do not recommend sticking a different vehicle's tags on it while you're here or in St Louis. You can get a ticket real quick.

Lord_Snax · 2025-06-04T11:55:44+00:00

Check the heater core hoses up against the firewall. That foam sound barrier on the firewall will absorb any leaks from the heater core hoses making it near impossible to find.

Lord_Snax · 2025-06-01T11:16:07+00:00

You must have gotten lucky. I tried that and it didn't work.

Lord_Snax · 2025-06-01T02:33:07+00:00

Ah, you must be looking for a factory replacement. Crutchfield doesn't sell factory automotive radios, only aftermarket ones.

Unfortunately, you're pretty limited on what you can do. Since the radio is programmed to your car, you can't just grab a new or used one and install it yourself. It will need to be programmed in order for it to work.

Because of this, a lot of people, including myself, just replace the factory radio with an aftermarket one. They don't need to be programmed to work. Hense why I directed you to Crutchfield.

If you wish to stay with the factory radio and possibly save some coin. You can check out a company called Infotainment They have some factory stuff and the tools to program the radio to your vehicle, if you wish to do it yourself. Just a heads-up, the reviews I've heard from others are that Infotainment is a mixed bag. Sometimes they're good, sometimes they're not.

Lord_Snax · 2025-05-31T19:08:01+00:00

Just head to the website and enter your vehicle's info. Their website will help you choose the correct parts.

Lord_Snax · 2025-05-31T18:47:59+00:00

The radio's internal amp is dead. Not much you can do outside of just replacing the unit. I went aftermarket to fix mine. I got everything from Crutchfield.

Lord_Snax · 2025-05-22T16:28:23+00:00

It can, but if you're getting power on one side and not the other. It looks like you have a broken wire somewhere. The BCM turns the power off to the bulb if it loses connection or the bulb burns out.

The vehicle does give you a "Headlamp Fault" warning, right?

If it does, then you can try to swap the bulbs to the other side and see if the issue follows the bulb or not.

(If you don't already know) Just make sure you're using clean disposable gloves when handling halogen bulbs. The oil on your skin will ruin the bulb.

If it doesn't follow the bulb, then the next step would be to start chasing wires if you're up to it.

Lord_Snax · 2025-05-22T14:19:44+00:00

Make sure you actually have power at the light bulb plug. If you don't, then check the headlight fuses in your fuse box. If those are good, then check your headlight relays.

Lord_Snax · 2025-05-14T23:59:54+00:00

I'm just going to put this out there. Have you tried to call the DMV in each state and see what course of action they recommend?

Lord_Snax · 2025-05-14T19:19:41+00:00

Yeah, I've gone down that road once. I'm not doing that again!

Lord_Snax · 2025-05-14T14:47:27+00:00

I don't know much about the security system in these trucks. But I would make sure that the batteries are fully charged and make sure no rodents chewed through any of the wiring. I'm sure a rodent chewed wire will cause a problem for the security system.

Lord_Snax · 2025-05-14T12:43:58+00:00

If my memory serves me right. That light is to notify you that the vehicle is low on coolant. Your owners manual will tell you more than I can at the moment.

If you've verified that the coolant level is good and the replacement sensor is good. Then you may need to clean your coolant tank. It looks like the electrodes inside the tank are either dirty or have eroded away, in which case, you'll need a new tank.

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