# 2001 ford focus **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [October 11, 2008, 2:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-ford-focus/20608 "2008-10-11T14:23:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jkelly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/22d042/32.png) [@jkelly](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jkelly)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 2:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-ford-focus/20608/1 "2008-10-11T14:23:19Z")
my car is possessed!!!the gauges on the consuke have a mind of their own. i will be driving and all of a sudden all needles will bury, they jump and somethimes acts as if it is shut off and just being started, meanwhile i have been driving for a half our. the check engine light comes on and off, same with the battery light…please help ---
**Author:** ![galant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/77aa72/32.png) [@galant](https://community.cartalk.com/u/galant)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 4:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-ford-focus/20608/2 "2008-10-11T16:59:58Z")
Probably a weak battery +/- weak alternator. Have the code for the check engine light read, the battery and the alternator checked for free at autozone/Kragen or a similar store locally. Ignore this for a bit longer and pay for the tow truck! ---
**Author:** ![Manolito](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/manolito/32/3070_2.png) [@Manolito](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Manolito)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 8:47pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-ford-focus/20608/3 "2008-10-11T20:47:28Z")
I know nothing of Focus displays, but my first suspect would be a loose ground connection on the back of the dash display. This problem is fairly common on '90s vintage 3-series BMWs. I once left a main dash ground wire loose after replacing a stereo in a Volvo, and I had all kinds of spooky problems until I found it. Has anyone done any work inside your dash, such as installing a new stereo? ---
**Author:** ![jkelly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/22d042/32.png) [@jkelly](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jkelly)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 10:38pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-ford-focus/20608/4 "2008-10-11T22:38:13Z")
no noone has done any work inside the dash, it just started all of a sudden while i was on my way to work one day…thanks for the help:) ---
**Author:** ![jkelly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/22d042/32.png) [@jkelly](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jkelly)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2008, 10:44pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2001-ford-focus/20608/5 "2008-10-11T22:44:39Z")
ok will get right on it thank’s so much