urnews

Hey bbf2530, Thanks for the reply. Yeah, I did know about not touching the bulbs, etc. As for brands, I've tried them all and none seem to last beyond six months or so. I drive with the headlights on all the time, day or night, for safety's sake. I think the things overheat. It must be a Focus thing. According to the Fusion manual, the headlights are vented (which may cause condensation. The best news I got today was that the bulbs -- and the labor to replace them -- are covered under the three-year, 36,000-mile, bumper-to-bumper warranty. We shall see how long they actually last. Of the two dozen or so cars that I've owned since 1958 -- from Cadillacs to a Mazda GLC, none ate bulbs the way this Focus does. We still have it. What are you riding in? Boz U R NEWS Salisbury, MD

Dyoct, What does "plood" stand for??? Got me stumped on that one. :stats: Boz U R NEWS Salisbury, MD

Allen, Thanks for your reply. Yes, I read the owner's manual and inspected under the hood. It is not a task I would even attempt. There is not enough clearance to do the job easily. Way too complicated. Yes, I, too, have had vehicles that never burnt out a headlight bulb but our 2000 Focus has gone though bulbs at the rate of one every six months and no, I do not touch the lens. Oil from your hand causes them to burn out faster or sometimes explode. Given the Focus' terrible average I was concerned about the Fusion and investigated. I called my Ford dealer and he said the bulbs are covered under the three-year, 36,000-mile, bumper-to-bumper warranty. So that helps some. Maybe I won't have it longer than that. Who knows what the future will bring? I still think it is a poor design feature for it to be that much trouble to change. :doh copy: Boz U R NEWS Concerned in Salisbury, MD

tnoah, Nope, they haven't burnt out yet. I am just looking ahead. My 2000 Focus, purchased new, has burnt out a bulb every six months, like clockwork. I think it is a design flaw. I change them myself. No big deal. But it is going to be a very big deal on the '06 and '07 Fusions and definitely something the dealer must do. I want to find out before it happens. I called my Ford dealer and he said the bulbs are covered under the three-year, 36,000-mile, bumper-to-bumper warranty so I won't worry about it any more until that day arrives. Boz U R NEWS Feeling better about bulbs in Salisbury, MD

SteveA27, I sure hope you still participate on the Forum. If not, maybe someone else will jump in with an answer to my question: Are headlight bulbs covered on the 36,000-mile, bumper-to-bumper warranty? The headlights on the Fusion are one of the car's most distinctive features but the bulbs on our 2000 Focus have burnt out on average about every six months since we bought it new. I checked the owner's manual for the Fusion and was very dismayed by how complicated it is to change a bulb. An inspection of the engine compartment was even more intimidating. For the first time since 1958 I have a car that I can't possibly replace the headlight by myself. This is a very disturbing development, in my book. Are there any 2006 or 2007 Fusion owners on this Forum that have had to replace the bulbs? There are six: two low beams, two high beam and two fog lamps on the SEL. How much is a dealer going to charge to replace a $7 bulb? It appears that several things might have to be removed to do it on either side. I'm guessing it will take an hour. That probably means $80 plus the bulb. If these things don't last longer than the ones in the Focus then I am headed for the poor house. :anger: Does anyone have any comments on this subject? Boz U R NEWS Upset in Salisbury, MD

Allen, Thank you for your reply. I just took another look at the window sticker and was shocked to learn (don't know how I missed it when shopping for a new Fusion) that the SEL AWD is rated at 19 mpg city by the EPA. The EPA figures are always optimistic as all get out. The fine print at the bottom of the page says the average ranges from 16 to 22. I was looking for better mileage than that. Guess I made a mistake by going with the V6 and AWD. It is going to end up being a costly one in the long haul I believe. The car will not be used for trips all that much. Heck, our V6 1997 Thunderbird (a boat in comparison) gets better mileage than the new Fusion and our 2000 Focus station wagon averages about 26 in town and 28 on trips but it has 91,000 miles on it. (Love that car!) Anybody in the market for a 2007 Fusion with only 300 miles on it? :doh copy: Boz U R NEWS Shocked in Salisbury, MD

Have any forum members replaced headlight bulbs yet? The owner's manual on this topic is, to say the least, intimidating and not at all helpful. A manual inspection of what might be involved is even more daunting. It appears to me that this is going to require a trip to the dealer, which is ridiculous and likely to result in a bill for one hour's labor ($80?) to replace a $7 bulb and there are six involved: two low beams, two high beams and two fog lamps with the potential to burn out. We purchased a new 2000 Ford Focus in 2000 and this baby averages one new bulb needed every six months. If the Fusion does that I will be in the poor house. Has anyone had any experience with bulb replacement yet? Do Ford representatives read this part of the Forum? I am most upset at this prospect. I've owned more than two dozen automobiles since 1958 and never had to take a single one of them to a dealer for a headlight or tail light, but I am certain that will be the case now with our 2007 V6 Ford Fusion SEL AWD and I am not happy about it. I would appreciate some input from anyone about this deplorable situation. I am going to call my dealer and get a price quote tomorrow (Monday, Dec. 18). I just know I am not going to like what I learn. Boz U R NEWS Distressed in Salisbury, MD

Ziggy, It's been four months now since your post. What was the verdict? Does anyone else know how Ziggy made out? Boz U R NEWS Salisbury, MD 2007 V6 Fusion SEL AWD

I am really upset. Our 2007 V6 SEL AWD Ford Fusion is the only car I've ever owned out of more than two dozen dating to 1958 where I absolutely could not replace the headlights myself (no, they have not burnt out yet but they will). The manual is of no help and a visual inspection makes this simple task seem even more impossible. This is obviously going to be a dealer fix. So what does the manual say for the time to do it? An hour? It looks as if stuff has to be removed in order to acquire access. So what's it going to cost to get a $7 bulb replaced? $80? More? This is a terrible situation. My 2000 Ford Focus, purchased new, has burnt out a bulb every six months without fail (I think they overheat), but at least I can change them myself. That is going to be impossible on the Fusion and I am ticked off about the possibility of paying $80 every six months for headlights. Please advise what the shop manual lists for the time to do what should be a simple, do-it-yourself task. I can't believe how hard it is to access the four bulbs (two high, two low) six bulbs if you count the fog lights. Ford dropped the ball on this item big time. Please respond. Please tell me the shop manual says this is a 15-minute or less fix. I am really upset at the prospect of paying a lot of money to have headlight bulbs replaced in the future. Maybe they will last for years. (That would be nice but I doubt it.) Has anybody on the Ford Fusion Forum had to replace headlight bulbs yet? What was the cost to do so? Boz U R NEWS Alarmed in Salisbury, MD

FusionMann, What is a 3D Carbon Kit? (Forgive my ignorance, please). Boz U R NEWS Salisbury, MD 2007 V6 Fusion SEL AWD Oxford white/Dark Charcoal leather

Bill, That is one sweet-looking package. Love the color combo. I noticed what looked like three buttons mounted on the right side of the drivers sun visor. What are they for? I also noticed it does not have the radio antenna mast. That makes for a smoother, sleeker look (our 2007 Fusion SEL AWD has one). How is the FM radio reception? Any problems? Is your antenna in the rear glass? Contrary to one other viewer's comments, I think the tail lights are pretty darn spiffy, a definite plus that adds to the appeal of the car. As I recall, you got one honey of a deal on this machine. Way to go! Does it have the 3.0 liter engine or the 3.5? Be sure and let us know what kind of mileage you get after it is broken in. Boz U R NEWS Salisbury, MD Drake, I humbly disagree. I think the tail lights on the Zephyr are one of the car's best features. Very snazzy-looking. I like the grill of our Fusion SEL AWD better, but the Fusion's tail lights leave me a bit cold. I like large tail lights (I had a new 1966 Dodge Monaco in an ealier life.) The more red lenses the better, if tastefully done. Boz U R NEWS Salisbury, MD

Our new (300 miles) V6 SEL AWD is only getting 14 mpg in town, 16 mpg overall, according to the onboard computer, which is only an estimate. This is terrible. I sure hopes this situation improves, dramatically. Anybody else with a new Fusion that is doing so poorly? John Bozman U R NEWS Salisbury, MD (basically flat and moderate temps, 53 degrees on Dec. 16.

Aerodynamics notwithstanding, windows should disappear into the doors, IMHO. Boz U R NEWS Salisbury, MD 2007 Fusion SEL AWD

Liters per kilometer is foreign to me. What are the miles per gallon? Our 2007 V6 Fusion SEL AWD is only giving about 14 mpg for the first 300 or so miles. I expect that it will improve but the question is how much is reasonable to expect with the 6-speed automatic transmission?

Emkorial, Nice of you to take the time to reply. Dialogue is good. We will just have to agree to disagree: I like the clock as it is. What's your current ride? On Dec. 4 we bought an Oxford white/black heated leather 2007 Fusion SEL AWD with moon roof. It's a nice automobile ($27,105 MSRP) and we are enjoying it a lot. The gas mileage is pretty darn bad, so far, however. I don't believe EPA nor MPG as noted by computers. The only accurate way to judge mileage is to fill the tank, drive "X" number of miles then refill the tank and divide the number of gallons into the miles driven. I know, I know, the manual says to give the car a couple of thousand miles to break in. That's all well and good but 14 mpg out of the gate is a bad staring point. We shall see. What kind of mileage are you getting? Anybody else care to comment? I am curious about this issue, much moreso than the clock thing. Boz U R NEWS Salisbury, MD

While having two clocks would be neat -- by re-enabling the radio clock? -- I beg to differ with your assessment of the analog clock, however. I consider it to be a touch of class, one that shows the correct time all of the time, not just when the ignition is on. It harkens back to the 1949 Ford clock. (Down memory lane time. :hyper: )

What V6 tranny problems. We have an '07 SEL AWD V6 with 6-speed automatic. Have there been any problems reported for that configuration? If so, please elaborate. Boz U R NEWS Salisbury, MD Pardon my ignorance, but what is RDS? We have an '07 SEL AWD with the premium radio/6 CD player but no Sirius (didn't want it). Boz U R NEWS Salisbury, MD

Really nasty break. Thank goodness your wife was not hurt. Cars don't usually win arguments with utility poles and your nice Fusion sure didn't.

It would be more pleasing if the back door windows went all the way down, flush with the sill. It seems silly (pun intended) to have a few inches of the rear window protruding above the sill. Minor issue but still slightly annoying. It looks like a mistake even if it isn't. Boz U R NEWS 2007 V6 Fusion SEL AWD

I see no radio antenna on the 2006 Fusions. Where is it, in the rear window glass? We have an '07 so it has the antenna on the roof. I believe I have to agree with you that the car looks better sans antenna. Now every time I glance at the car all I can see is that protruding antenna. I wonder why the change was made? Do you suppose it has to do with better reception or maybe Sirius? We didn't opt for that option. Only a serious commuter would benefit from Sirius, IMHO.

What does it say? :doh copy:

Where's the radio antenna?

We have an Oxford white 2007 Fusion SEL AWD 3.0L V6 (with moon roof and heated black leather seats). So far, so good. We don't get much snow on the Delmarva Peninsula (Delaware, Eastern Shore of Maryland, Eastern Shore of Virginia) so I am asking myself why I bought the AWD. Probably just because it was on the lot and I liked the other features. I guess it will be better on wet roads. Was saddened to learn of the mileage difference though. Good mileage was a reason to buy. How many miles do you have on yours and what state do you live in? Nice photos. Boz U R NEWS Salisbury, MD

They showed up on my computer. :hyper:

Snowman1 is a funny name for someone who lives where the temperature is 100 degrees. :shades: