The 2009 Focus was the very basic model with only a block heater as an option.

To me a cruise control is important.

The 2008/09 Focus is a control by wire throttle and not by cable. So my $90 old favorite Audiovox CCS100 kit could not apply. The only after market non-factory kit I found was the Rostra kit for about $260 shipped. Here is an outline of some installation main points.

The kit was shipped promptly and appeared to have quality parts. The instructions and illustrations are rather sparse but sufficient for most part. The least clear was part 4, the installation of the VSS (Vehicle Speed Sensor) wire. For example "Note: The 3-pin connector will be covered with foil tape" would have been better written as "Note: You will find the 3-pin connector covered with foil tape" The instructions for VSS sensor connector location is not clear. The connector is near the bottom of the engine and you will have to raise the vehicle front on car ramps or something to get at it. You can see my photo showing the sensor location above the axle of the manual transmission.

I had to cut off some of the original foil tape surrounding the connector to get at the connector wires. After connecting the kit wire to it I plugged the connector back on the transaxle and then covered it with some aluminum duct tape (as shown) to protect from heat. The goo they provide in the kit seemed an awkward way to do that job. The biggest job was finding or drilling a hole for the kit wire to go from inside the car through floor to the VSS sensor - and they give no suggestion for that but simply say something like "connect the xxx wire to the VSS sensor xxx". I tried drilling a hole from the bottom and it went somewhere I could not find inside. The second hole was successfully drilled from inside just below and to right of the gas pedal

To prevent weather and chafing of the wire entering the hole at bottom I applied some Silicone II caulk there.

For some reason there were three extra wires from the kit that had no instructions for. Also watch the clutch switch wire attachment. There are two clutch switches on the Focus - the relevant one is the one on right side of the clutch.

I got the cruise to work OK.

However, I found a serious problem with it the following weekend. When going up a slope the car would quit, the dashboard "wrench" warning light would come on and the gas pedal became disabled. I had to stop the car and turn off the engine and restart again. Tried it several times and the same thing happened. Two phone calls and one email to Rostra tech support went unanswered. Finally after third phone call they called back and suggested replacing their main control unit. I contacted the seller - M & R electronics who replaced the unit promptly after I shipped it to them.

I replaced the Rostra control unit in the vehicle and the cruise appeared to work ok. But after about half hour of testing it happened again. The dashboard engine warning light would come on and disable the engine throttle. At this point I do not wish to replace the control unit again. Nor am sure that it isn't quality of some of the connectors supplied. So I may be out of $260+

From my experience I cannot recommend the Rostra kit unit. If anybody is interested I'd be glad to sell it. (click here to contact me.)

I am planning replacing the steering wheel with another Focus steering wheel having cruise buttons and having Ford dealer upgrade the vehicle to cruise function.