my mate has a focus 2L (2003) with an intermittent failure on the dash instruments.

the coils light will flash then a couple of seconds later all the clocks, speedo warning lights shut down and can stay off for minutes, hours or weeks. they will then come back on again and work fine.

any thoughts? is this a common fault?

cheers

kind of similar fault on my dad's. The whole dash would dim for ages. On his it was the dash brightness rheostat (?) playing up. We removed it, gave it a good blow through, cleaned contacts and refitted. Worth a try. But not sure it is the same as you say the coil light flashes.

Common Ford fault. Ford normally replace the dash but as said, you can remove the dash and clean with contact cleaner.

As Speedyxjs said, common fault.
My 2l '03-plate Focus developed it for a while. Very disconcerting to watch the needles fall to zero!!
A quick search of Honestjohn.co.uk brings up a variety of solutions, one being the replacement of speedo (?) sensor on gearbox, which is what I opted for before taking the dash out.
My local garage had mine in to change the sump and they taking it to Ford for diagnostics in case it was the dash rather than the sensor- at which point the fault disappeared (touch wood).
The fault will likely return but the car may not after being rear-ended two weeks ago...

how easy does the dash come out of the focus?