non rs related but on the other halfs focus 1.6 (1999) the speedo stops working occasionly, u drive down the road and the needle will drop back to zero then after few mins of it not working you get ---- on the bottom display (where the trip counter is). is this simply the speed sensor on the box gone belly up or the dash (instrument) panel its self thats had it?

 

i have the same problem...no loss of power or andthing hust no speed needle working...still get the rpm and everything else.

 

Vehicle Speed Sensor mounted on the gearbox