Just picked up a 2008 Focus, 5 speed.

Pretty good shape, but have a few issues. I've never owned a car like this before (always had older 4wd vehicles) and am looking for the best way to tackle it....

has power side view mirrors, but the passenger side trim piece that covers up the mounting area for the side mirror is gone. I guess I can just buy that part? But I don't know what the completed assembly looks like, and short of finding a 2008 Focus for sale on CList and going to check it out, and avoid the dealer, how to determine what parts I need to buy?

Also, the car has the Tire pressure monitoring system. But it has the first gen Focus SVT wheels on it, and I guess the previous owner didn't care to add the TPMS onto the new wheels, so I get a warning at every startup and constant flashing warning on the dash.

Done some research, and it appears every manufactures system is different, for some reason. What is the best route to getting that taken care of? Buy 4 new sensors, have the tires dismounted and add the sensors and them get them 'relearned'? This a dealer only thing?

I can probably track down the interior piece, but the TPMS has me bummed.

[Edited on July 30, 2015 at 10:37 AM. Reason : asd]

7/30/2015 10:29:07 AM

We have a 2009 Ford Fusion. Get a tire sensor error every time we start it up. Simply ignore it vs spending ~200 to replace it. I hate when unnecessary sensors cause more probs by failing than they would help with if they worked.

7/30/2015 12:21:54 PM

agreed.

7/30/2015 1:37:01 PM

I would deal with it until tire replacement time, but if you can't, then yes, a tireshop will have to dismount and remount the tire after installing a new TPS. Most Merchant/Discount/Just tires should be able to help you.

7/30/2015 1:37:27 PM

Does someone make a flash programmer that can just delete the code ?

I did on my subaru and my jeep...

7/30/2015 1:40:53 PM

i got Discount Tire to take care of a TPMS issue on my wife's car while we were getting new tires put on it. they had to replace a sensor and it was actually pretty reasonable.

7/30/2015 5:32:27 PM

Most likely am going to try and remedy the issue, but wanted to stay away from the dealer.

Found a set of TPMS monitors on ebay for a decent price, less than half the cost of Ford products.

Good to know that some tire shops can handle it, didn't know if the the TPMS systems required a dealer only tool, I wouldn't be surprised.

Thanks

7/31/2015 8:47:32 AM

Careful with buying used. Many OEM tire sensors have a battery life of about 7 years give or take and most don't have replaceable batteries (you have to buy another sensor unit). Used sensors may be a quick fix that will haunt you when the battery in the TPMS dies and you are stuck with a light again...

[Edited on July 31, 2015 at 2:18 PM. Reason : ..]

7/31/2015 2:17:52 PM

After doing more digging, it's come to my attention that this car may have the 'banded' type sensors. don't know if the stem type will even work (of course they are cheaper)

And the Ebay ones say they are new, but who knows.

Off to the dealer. Thanks Federal Gov't.

7/31/2015 4:08:44 PM

just a follow-up

Local Discount Tire stocked some valve stem type sensors that worked with the car. Decent price, and they weren't gonna let the car leave without them being tested and working properly, even if they had to eat some cost and go back and install the banded type.

Good so far.

8/5/2015 4:27:30 PM