The Ford Focus is a compact, family car that found a place on the market with the 2000 year model. Though the muffler on a Ford Focus is reliable, there will come a time when it needs replacing due to holes, breaks, leaks or severe rust. You can replace the muffler on your Focus in about an hour with relative ease.
Things You’ll Need
- New or used muffler
- Old blanket, a piece of large cardboard or jack stands
- Penetrating spray lubricant
- Crescent wrench
- Hack saw
- Sledge hammer
- Trash bag
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Determine if you need a new muffler on your Focus by looking under the car towards the back to see if there are any small or large holes in the muffler or to determine if it has fallen off partially or completely.
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Purchase a muffler for a Ford Focus. Make sure you get the correct muffler that corresponds with the model year of your car. For example, the inlet can be anywhere from 2.25 to 2.5 to 3 inches in diameter depending on which muffler you require. The outlet diameter, however, should be 2.5 inches no matter which model year you own. The other measurements are usually 9.75 inches for the width and 19 inches for the overall length with only 13 inches in the case.
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Place an old blanket or a large piece of cardboard on the ground beneath the rear part of the vehicle on the ground. For an easier repair, it’s best, however, to jack the car up and place it on jack stands. You will have to lay under the car to replace the muffler, so be sure to use the way in which you will be most comfortable.
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Look over the old muffler. Spray the fasteners generously with a penetrating lubricant before you loosen them. The penetrating lubricant will help you to remove the screws and bolts with ease.
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Remove the old muffler. Use a crescent wrench to loosen any bolts around the muffler and take the muffler off. If the muffler is welded on, then you can break it away by knocking it with a sledge hammer or sawing it off with a hacksaw.
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Replace the new muffler on your Ford Focus. Line it up as straight as possible with the clamps and then tighten the bolts to hold it in place. The bolts shouldn’t be too tight because the muffler needs to move slightly to prevent damage. Make sure you hang the muffler with the muffler hangers that come with it. Don’t put it on too loosely or it may fall off.
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Start the engine and check the new muffler for any leaks or loud sounds. If there are leaks or loud sounds, then you may need to tighten the clamps more.
Tips & Warnings
- Write down the mileage and date of the muffler change and keep this information with the muffler warranty. You may need it for future reference if the muffler breaks or malfunctions.
- Dispose of the old muffler properly by breaking it down into small parts. Put the small parts in a trash bag and throw away.