2007 Ford Focus SES Automatic 37,000 miles

Before I even get started let me apologize for posting on a Ford Trucks website. However let me explain that I have posted the same question on a Ford forum and on a Focus forum. Lots of views. No suggestions at all. This site has always been a big help for me with problems I have had with my Ranger, so I know there are a lot of experienced and knowledgeable people out here. Hoepfully at least one of you can help.

One month ago I helped my girlfriend find a used Focus to replace her 1995 Geo Prizm which had really seen better days. The intent was to find something more reliable. Yesterday I was beginning to wonder if that is the case. We live in Michigan, and yesterday there was a significant snowfall. After leaving her condo and starting/stopping the car twice, we left a restaurant, got back in the car, turned the key and NOTHING. All lights, radio, wipers...essentially everything worked fine EXCEPT the starter. Couldn't even hear the relay attempt to engage. I tried turning the ignition key at least 20 times with no result. Moved the gearshift lever from park to neutral and back several times. Still nothing. Got out and lifted the hood to listen while she turned the key. Not even a click. By this point I am thinking it is either the key (bad) or the transponder is not reading the key (worse). The spare key was at home, so no option to try that one. I tried tapping the key (rather sharply) on the gearshift lever. Second time I did that, the car started when I turned the key. Now I think there are three options. (1) tapping the key made the key work (2) tapping the gearshift lever engaged the switch there or (3) neither of the above and there is something much more serious wrong with the car.


At any rate, the 1995 Geo is beginning to look more reliable. Very frustrating.

I am going to get another key today so I can get it programmed while both keys are working, but that seems like the least likely problem now.

(I have since been told by a service advisor at the Ford dealer that the fuel system is the only thing which is disabled if the chip is not read. So if it were a problem with the key or the transponder the car should have cranked but failed to run. He suggested battery or cables. Maybe a relay?)

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated, particularly if someone has had this problem before and found the solution.

Thanks in advance

Regards

Randy