I am a Design engineer for Ford Motor Company, so needless to say I have access to the very CAD that the focus is made from. I also contacted the original designers/engineers on this program when Focus first came to America. These guys are actually from Germany. Remember Focus began as a European vehicle. They have different requriments and different milestone and dilverables to the customer including driveability which is why the normal ZX3 focus has a COMPLETELY different traction control than the SVT. The SVT traction control is based off the original European traction control which does not turn off under 20 mph. It uses a combination of brake application and slight throttling adjustments to do the job. The current ZX3 and other Focii are based off of Ford's Advanced Trac system that we see in the lincoln LS, mustang, exlporer etc... This system does turn off under 20mph BUT it doest not respond the same way the European traction control does. They operate on completely different circuitry. So what does this tell you? If you have a normal ZX3 this mod is probably not necessary, kinda cool to have the ABS disabled, but thats it. For an SVT owner this is a great mod but you also have to realize, that this will increase the input shock load into your system as the tires will hop and skip and do all kinds of bad stuff for launch if you do not know what you are doing. So if you are the type of person who likes spinning em up, leave the traction control on. If you are an experienced driver and know how to handle your car, leave it off...its as simple as that. Do not listen to rumors of the brake bias being affected or anything, first of all you have a front wheel drive car WHO CARES WHAT THE REAR TIRE BRAKE EFFICIENCY IS?!? Second of all, the original programmers for the TC circuitry said brake bias was NOT implemented into the original programming...they had to make sure the vehicle could operate perfectly if the fuse had blown. Effectively, we are creating a blown fuse on the touch of a switch. Oh and I give the admin full permission to turn my site into a HOW TO. I have NO issues sharing this info or anything, just throw my tag on it and I'll be happy If it's going to make other people smile when the car doesnt throw back in your face when you launch or bog off the line, than we should definitly turn it into an official how to. Once again here is my site....also I am not liable for ANTYHING you do with or to your car Use your own discretion.
audiojunkie wrote: Ok so how do I know what fuse to pull is it 46 on all foci
If you have a TC switch on your ZX3 just turn it off, if you dont have a switch you dont have TC so dont worry about it, this mod is for SVT owners only. Or you can do like a Celica owners do and throw a NOS sticker on your car to get that extra 5 hp off the line...LOL. Or perhaps changing to Green coolant, that usually gets them another 5 ft lbs of torque. Whats amazing is that the lugnuts on my Focus require more torque than most Honda's can produce.
If it's going to make other people smile when the car doesnt throw back in your face when you launch or bog off the line, than we should definitly turn it into an official how to. Once again here is my site....also I am not liable for ANTYHING you do with or to your car 