2008 (facelift) Ford Focus Install

**Asad** · 06-08-2010, 04:57 PM

(Taken from digital-car.co.uk)

Hi,

I looked around for a while to see examples of installs for my new(ish) car - a facelift Focus 2008. But I couldn’t actually find anyone who had done it before. My previous install was posted here (will update links to photos):-

http://www.digital-car.co.uk/forum/s...ead.php?t=6866

My new install is pretty much finished, so you wont have to wait months to see the final product!!

Unfortunately my previous MG was involved in an accident and I had to purchase a new car. I already had a car pc and a motorised single din screen. This setup worked well for me in the MG, and I was looking to use the same stuff in my new car. However, as the Focus had the potential for a double din installation, I decided to go with a different set up for my screen.

Before all that, I wanted to update my pc case. I bought a Mo-Co-So case around 3 years back, so it did not have any of the extra connectors on the outside of the case:-

I purchased some new parts from Mo-Co-So again (great service) which included a new screen in a double din case, GPS module and new case ends to give me holes to mount my new connectors.

At this point, I started to make looms and install the connectors, LEDs and switches as required. I wanted to be able to disconnect the entire PC if I had to, so I made this as easy as possible. This involved making a new Mobo header to connect with the new LEDs and Switches:-

While I was “preparing” the Case, I wanted to upgrade the speakers in the car to get better sound. Again, information about this was very scarce on the internet. So much so, that I found that the 5x7 speakers that I bought don’t fit!

This is the car:-

First things first, I removed the door card to have a look at the speakers:-

As you can see, the speakers are not 5x7s…

In fact, they are pop riveted in place!!

Anyway, I decided to take em out anyway:-

I scratched my head on what to do with the speaker, and noticed that they were 1 piece:-

Of course, the next idea was to cut the speakers out completely!:-

You can just make out where I cut the legs:-

And ripped out the cone:-

Now I had the speaker out, and a frame left:-

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The size looked kinda right, so I went on to my next idea:-

These are JBL 16.5cm speakers out of my MG that I had to hand, and they pretty much fitted perfectly in the frame (bar the speaker surround tabs):-

Once again, I put my dremel to use and cut out 4 small slots for the tabs, and cleaned up the back end:-

Now, the speaker was a perfect, snug fit:-

Next stage was the wiring. I wanted to use the original ford plugs and sockets:-

Speaker side

Car loom side

As I had cut most of the speaker, I had to get a bit creative with the speaker plug:-

And using a brace:-

**Asad** · 06-09-2010, 02:50 AM

So now that the speakers were done, I wanted a way to be able to remove the speakers in the future easily. Pop rivets would have to be drilled out, so I decided to use some nuts and bolts and some JBWeld:-

I let it set overnight, and put the speakers in place the next day:-

The JBL speakers were part of the component set so I found a place for the crossover:-

And mounted the tweeters in the stock location using a glue gun:-

Suffice to say, it was a vast improvement over the standard paper speakers!! Ive still to do the rears, so keep an eye on those later.

By now, I was itching to get my pc into the car. I had finished all the case stuff, and even managed to get the internal cables tidied up to improve airflow:-

The new case end:-

I also drilled some holes over the CPU fan, as it had gotten pretty hot in the past (also the reason for the larger fan).

Once I was happy with the wiring, I moved onto the car stuff.

The space:-

And my own additions – a USB port and a Illuminated Vandal switch to power the PC on\off with a red halo LED:-

I routed all the required cables from the front to the back. This included power, USB and VGA extension. I also ran speaker cables to the back as I wanted to keep the original speaker wires in the doors and the original headunit plug.

Up front I have a 4 port USB hub for a Silabs radio, the touchscreen controller, the front USB port and a space for my upcoming steering wheel joystick controller.

Heres the mess of wires going to the PC (you can see where I made a new vent –to be sprayed black):-

Onto the front screen. When I bought the “double din” case for the screen, I also decided to purchase a double din fascia adaptor for my car. However, when I managed to get both together, I found they didn’t quite match up! It turns out that you have a US double din and a European double din! So out came the dremel again and I manage to get the screen to fit like so:-

I enlarged the whole in the fascia to accept the screen, and made some brackets to secure the screen too:-

And this is how it looked:-

Not flush, but good enough. Originally, I did think about fabricating the screen into the fascia to get it flush etc, but I wanted an install that I could transfer to another car, while still looking good.

**Asad** · 06-09-2010, 02:51 AM

Next step, into the car:-

And with the dash back on, and really happy with the result:-

Now as I removed the head unit, the next stage was to fit an amp. I had two lying around to use for the moment. I wasn’t too fussed with high power as I will only be running door speakers (need the boot space for work  )

On the to-do list:-

Spray case black
Upgrade rear speakers
DAB USB radio
Adapt Ford steering wheel joystick to USB

Comments and questions welcome!!

Asad

**Asad** · 06-09-2010, 02:51 AM

Here is the joypad I purchased for my steering wheel joystick conversion.

As you can see, its a nice small size - small enough to be placed behind the screen. I will be using the 10 pin socket so that I can disconnect the steering wheel joystick easily if I ever need to.

I will update as I go along.

16/06/10

I sorted out the vandal switch and wired it up:-

Asad

**Asad** · 06-09-2010, 02:52 AM

[Reserved for future updates1]

**Asad** · 06-09-2010, 02:52 AM

[Reserved for updates2]

**trinybwoy** · 06-09-2010, 07:48 AM

very nice! i like
quite a neat install

**Sonicxtacy02** · 06-09-2010, 08:06 AM

you have to tell me where you got those controllers from!

**Asad** · 06-09-2010, 08:26 AM

Originally Posted by Sonicxtacy02

you have to tell me where you got those controllers from!

I got it off ebay a while back. Shipped from Hong Kong and came in around £10 gbp. I cant find the seller, but here are a few others I found:-

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Pandora-Pro-Mi...1#ht_608wt_911

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/DICOTA-Beat-Mi...ht_1215wt_1124

And I didnt know this existed but looks pretty good:-

http://www.vesalia.de/e_pcmciagamepad.htm

Asad