Ford Focus Cutting Out

Hi all,
I have a ford focus turbo diesel 1800, 4 years old, It has cut out whilst driving 3 times in the last 5 months, without rhyme or reason!
The first time I was driving at about 30k and had just changed down to 2nd going up a hill. Car just cut out and stopped dead. Local garage checked it out and could find nothing wrong. We then proceeded to drive back to the UK , drove around for 7 weeks with no problems, in fact it has never driven so well!!
Second time, Driving back to Spain caught in heavy traffic on Paris ring road , crawling in first gear, again just cut out.
Third time, driving at approx 45-50K on hilly road, Car just stopped.
Each time this has happened, it has taken approx 1-2 hours before it starts again. and then the car will drive really well until it happens again.
Its been on a diagnostic computer but nothing showing up
Can anybody out there shed any light on to what could be going wrong? :confused:
Thanks in advance

Comments

  • Anybody got any clues?
  • spaceman5
    spaceman5 Posts: 2,716 Forumite
    has it got fuel in it :confused::D
    Take every day as it comes!!
  • happens when your abroad? dodgy fuel. They are REALLY fussy compared to older diesels.
    Contaminated fuel kills the seals.

    Or dodgy CAM or CRANK sensor, common and cheap to replace.
  • ukjoel
    ukjoel Posts: 1,468 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Agree with the fuel theory.
    I know most common faults with the focus and yours doesnt seem to fit neatly into any of them.

    Fuel can make a big difference to the car though - and with the focus this seems to become more and more noticable as the car gets older.

    I had a similar fault (but at lower speeds) and it stopped when I stopped buying supermarket fuel.
  • tomstickland
    tomstickland Posts: 19,538 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    Is is a TDCi?
    http://www.dieselbob.co.uk/tips.shtml
    MONDEO 2.0 TDCI - Intermittent non starting / cutting out. One cause (though there are many!) is cam shaft sensor failure.

    http://www.rac.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?p=5689
    I was going round a mini roundabout and the engine cut out. RAC recovered me to a Ford Dealer. 3 days later when they looked at it started and no fault found. June 8th in outside lane of M3 at 80mph engine cut out. Made it to hard shoulder, RAC recovered back to same Ford dealership. Said loose connection to fuel pump and corrected. July 20th outside lane of M1 75mph engine cuts out. Fortunately made it to hard shoulder again. RAC recovered back to Ford Dealership who now claims it is fuel contamination. Ford will not take any responsibility for the problem at all. Has anybody any comments to make about the fuel contamination claim. I think it is absolute rubbish. I believe they don't know what the problem is and are clutching at straws. I am terrified of driving this car again.
    Happy chappy
  • bear1969
    bear1969 Posts: 171 Forumite
    check your pick up in fuel tank also change the fuel filter this is exactilly the same problems you get from the kia sorrento 2.5 td jeep put the engine under a little strain and it cuts out leave it for two mins start it up and away it goes again ,it is due to fuel starvation and the computer shutting engine down to avoid fuel pump or fuel rail damage ,ours got this bad that every time you went above 2500 revs it would just cut out could be dangerous when you are overtaking hope this helps you out

    cheers
    colin;)
  • Ezmondino
    Ezmondino Posts: 404 Forumite
    Sounds like the CAM shaft sensor to me. Fairly common problem on them.
  • bear1969
    bear1969 Posts: 171 Forumite
    Ezmondino wrote: »
    Sounds like the CAM shaft sensor to me. Fairly common problem on them.
    unplug it and try starting the car if car does,nt start sensor is ok could be pick up on flywheel also but def think it is fuel filter problem new filters like bosch etc are so fine inside it does,nt take much to choke em especally as common rails etc need high pressure to run properly
  • catflea
    catflea Posts: 6,620 Forumite
    Yellow stone diesel parts plant is one of the leading manufacturers
    of engine parts, in particular diesel fuel injection system
    accessories for replacement, such as Fuel injection Nozzle, Plunger and
    Delivery valve, ETC In south of china .

    for more detail please visit our website :yellowstonediesel dieselinjection

    Yellow stone diesel parts plant was founded in 1997.Over the years,
    Yellow stone has grown and gained a reputation for producing
    high quality products and delivering them on time.

    :spam::spam::spam::spam:

    I was going to say muck blocking the fuel line, so the idea of contaminated fuel doesn't sound too far fetched
    Proud of who, and what, I am. :female::male:
    :cool:
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