Just wanted to share my experience regards fixing the ventilation fan on my Focus.

Had a problem with the fan, which was working intermittantly on all 4 settings (so knew it wasnt the resistor pack). Dismantled it and found the brushes had worn away.

Contacted Ford about a replacement set, was told the brushes cannot be replaced and had to buy a complete new unit for the princely sum of £209

Notwithstanding, I took to ebay and found sellers flogging replacement brushes that were aproximately the right width and depth, though perhaps a little long.

Had to do a bit of tinkering as the ford brushes where narrower where they slotted into the brush holder (carbon files off quite easily though), plus had to solder the new connections on as I didn't have a replacement crimp connector, but the end result was I now have a working fan motor again for under a fiver, compared to the £200+ Ford where going to charge me.

What a rip off though, just for the sake of a set of £5 brushes they wanted me to chuck the entire unit away? Not exactly environmentally sound is it (not to mention cost effective)?