Modification and tuning of the Ford Focus 3 dashboard (2011-2014)

• Level 1-. This is the lowest level panel with a small monochrome display. Its distinctive feature is the presence of a key to reset the average fuel consumption (mileage) between the temperature and the amount of petrol in the tank. There is no on-board computer as such in this line, and there are no steering wheel keys to control it either.

1. tachometer; 2. speedometer; 3. fuel consumption and mileage reset button

• Level 1. Mid-level panel. It has the same appearance and display as the previous one. The main difference is the presence of a more advanced on-board computer (with ECO mode), which is controlled from the steering wheel keys.

4. Monochrome display of the on-board computer

• Level 3. his is a high-level panel that was installed on expensive trims of Focus 3 cars, mainly in conjunction with the RP7 multimedia package (Sync 1, 1.1, 2, 3). The panel features a large colour display of the on-board computer and a large number of options for graphical information displayed on it (lane tracking, road signs, etc.).

5. Colour display of the on-board computer; 6. LED indication of various vehicle systems; 7. Indicator of information messages

All three modifications of the dashboard are interchangeable and can be installed in absolutely any car configuration.

Now let’s talk about what can be changed. First of all, when it comes to upgrading (modifying) the dashboard in Focus 3, you need to understand for yourself what exactly you want to get from this process. There are several options: from the usual cosmetic upgrade to the introduction of new functionality in your car from a higher configuration.

Let’s look at the issue in more detail.

1. we have Level 1- on board. There are two types of modifications: cosmetic, which is performed by simply replacing the factory instrument scales with custom ones (which is often done on low-series panels in order to change the scales with miles to the same ones, but with kilometres) and hardware and software, which will result in a full-fledged on-board computer, the same as in the Level 1 dashboard. One peculiarity in this case is the need to install the on-board computer control buttons in the steering wheel to be able to control the functions of the updated dashboard. The on-board computer itself is activated via the dashboard firmware.
2. we have a Level 1 with an active on-board computer. In this case, there are 3 options for improvement at once: replacing the scales, flashing the panel to activate additional functions (relevant only for pre-rest cars produced in 2011-2014), such as a digital speedometer and a second trip computer, and replacing the dashboard unit with a high series Level 3.
3. With the high-series dashboard, the scope for experimentation is as wide as possible. Here we have the following options: replacing the scales and/or arrows, flashing in Rest or activation of additional functions, flashing custom software (new thumbnail car in body colour, background image, new salutation, Ukrainian language), and also – replacement of the dashboard on a similar, but from Escape (Kuga) or Focus ST/RS, which is sometimes appropriate when implementing blocks or functions from these cars in Focus.

Note: in case of physical replacement of the dashboard, it is imperative to adjust the vehicle mileage and the basic configuration of the dashboard to avoid errors in the vehicle’s self-diagnostic system. Mileage in Ford dashboards can be freely increased with any OBDII adapter from the list of recommended ones, so it is highly advisable to look for an upgrade part with fewer km than your car has. To write the configuration, we use FoCCCus or FORSCan software.

It is especially worthwhile to dwell on the replacement of scales, as this is the first thing that comes to mind when you want to replace the scale of an analogue speedometer from the American standard to the European one. Such replacement of the standard scales is possible only within the same car generation. Dashboard scales cannot be installed on the rest of the dashboard and vice versa, as they have different graduations, which will lead to an error in the speedometer readings.