Mk1 Focus niggles

[Chris71]

My wife recently bought a mk1 (well, 1.5, I think) Focus TDCi Ghia. It's a great car to drive and a whole world of wafty civilised comfort compared to my Clio Cup. There are a few niggles, though:

• The steering column won't adjust. I was surprised to find out that some Focuses were supplied with a non-adjustable column, but this one definitely has the lever under the column that you would normally pull to unlock it, it just doesn't move. I assume the adjustment is manual? There's not an electrical adjustment somewhere I've just failed to spot?

• Likewise, the driver's arm rest seems to be locked in the upright position. Is there a special knack to it releasing it?

• The windscreen wipers don't 'park' properly on intermittent [looking elsewhere, this just seems to be a relay swap in the fascia fuse box below the glove box?]

• It runs well, but there's a distinct smell of exhaust outside. There's also a mild wheeze sometimes under acceleration. I'm assuming this is two separate issues - a boost leak somewhere and an exhaust leak.

Can anyone suggest what I should be looking out for?

Edited by Chris71 on Thursday 16th October 10:36

[Chris71]

cianha said:

I've the same issue with non parking wipers, will check the relay fix. Link?

Ignore the scaremongering at the top, there's a post a few lines down that explains how to get into the fuse box. Apparently it's very common:
http://www.rac.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?17056-Fo...