Car problem - Ford Focus - any suggestions please?

mwa

Hi there,

I'm at my wits' end over my 2002 Ford Focus 1.6 LX (petrol) which has cost me a total of over 4k in repairs over the last 2 years - 2 of these due to accidents so not mechanical.

Yesterday my husband was driving along and the car just cut out, engine died, steering lock engaged etc and he was lucky to pull over quickly. He waited for 5 mins and it started again and got him home. I took it out this morning for a run and it was fine, so we just put it down to one of those things.

Anyway, I was just at the petrol station and the bl))dy thing wouldn't start - the engine had been off for literally 3-4 mins while I filled up. I ended up having to get a push off, waited for a few mins and again it started up fine and got me back to the office!

Now I have got it booked in to the garage for tomorrow but am so worried that it's going to be some major problem and cost loads of money, we really can't afford to spend any more on this car - we only paid 5k for it and have a loan for another 12 months before it's even been paid for so am reluctant to spend more on it.

Does nayone have any ideas what this could be, please?

Many thanks
MWA

Bowdyjan18

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=ford+focus+cuts+out&meta=&rlz=

CarineG

Oh dear, that's not good. I've just bought a 10 year old focus...

jlj_2

Have a look at the battery earth cable in case its corroded or come loose. It is a cable that runs from the negative bit of the battery and is bolted into part of the engine or gearbox. We've had problems with this on 2 fords and its very simple to get fixed. (You can get a black jump lead and clip one end to the negative battery terminal and the other end to a metal bit of the engine and then try to start the car to test for this.... if it does start this way it could be the answer.)
If not this, could it be the starter motor?
Good luck, hope its nothing too bad.

Bowdyjan18

when you say it won't start...is the engine turning over ?

Gavin83

I have a cutting out problem on mine every so often when I dip the clutch. It's quite a rare issue though so I wouldn't bother getting it fixed and it always restarts straight away. It's certainly not an uncommon problem though.

BYALPHAINDIA

Fuel pump could be clogged up, Or on it's way out?

It's obviously not a battery issue as the car turns over.

It sounds like you either have 'Mucky fuel' in the hoses & pump, That is what causes it to cut out when driving or going down into gear?

Run some 'Redex' thru it, It will clean out the cylinders etc.

Fords are notorious for cutting out when changing gear.

maniac886

It could be the MAF sensor perhaps?

Keith

It is quite dangerous so perhaps using an internet forum and continually driving the car isn't the best option

Rolandtheroadie

If your going to post on a forum, I'd pick a ford forum. When I had an Omega, the forums were very helpful saving me a few quid.
EGR (or is that ERG) valve for my tuppence worth. Or as said, MAF sensor (unrelated but a vauxhall showing a faulty MAF sensor can be caused by the EGR )
EGR valve can be cleaned to see if it makes a difference, dont know if MAF sensor can.

jeannieblue

Alot of the earlier Focus' used to do this cutting out thing. But they would only do it occasionally and then seemed to 'grow' out of it ??

Weird but disconcerting..