Ford Focus idleing issues - poss ECU Update required??

emma.b123

Hi all,
hoping to grab the attention of a mechanic or someone more clued up on cars than I (not hard!)
My 05 reg focus was idleing too high, and my mechanic found the breather hose had a crack - he replaced the hose, but now I have the reverse issue - low idle causing me to stall everytime I slow or stop! It could be potentially 1 of 2 issues from what I have gathered so far - either the idle control valve, or the ECU needs updating. What makes me think the ECU may require an update is because the air con fan is on constantly (doesn't turn off on the dashboard button). I know ECUs can only be done at the dealer, but I'm a bit nervous going to them, as they may suddenly give me a list of expensive jobs on the top of that. Does anyone have any idea of the cost of an ECU update, and would I be able to convince them of doing it reduced/free as the car is less than 6 years old?
thanks in advance and sorry for the essay!!!

johnnyroper

emma.b123 wrote: »

Hi all,
hoping to grab the attention of a mechanic or someone more clued up on cars than I (not hard!)
My 05 reg focus was idleing too high, and my mechanic found the breather hose had a crack - he replaced the hose, but now I have the reverse issue - low idle causing me to stall everytime I slow or stop! It could be potentially 1 of 2 issues from what I have gathered so far - either the idle control valve, or the ECU needs updating. What makes me think the ECU may require an update is because the air con fan is on constantly (doesn't turn off on the dashboard button). I know ECUs can only be done at the dealer, but I'm a bit nervous going to them, as they may suddenly give me a list of expensive jobs on the top of that. Does anyone have any idea of the cost of an ECU update, and would I be able to convince them of doing it reduced/free as the car is less than 6 years old?
thanks in advance and sorry for the essay!!!

not really had many dealings with fords but i do not think it would be a problem that ecu update would sort, however i stand to be corrected.what gives you the idea it needs updating??

my personal opinion is the idle control valve needs cleaning as for the fan sorry without having a look cannot explain that one.
have a look for a local ford specialist they will be cheaper than dealer but equally as capable to diagnose your problems.

anewman

It is unlikely an ECU update is what you need. Cleaning the throttle body and egr valve may also help with the stalling. If you can find somewhere that calls themselves a Ford specialist they should have the computer gear needed to mess about with the computer side of things.

molerat

Have you got your vents set to de-mist by any chance ?

skiddlydiddly

Does it have a low idle then the revs gradually fall until it stalls?I recently had those symptons and it was low fuel pressure.I'd switched to an adjustable fuel pressure regulator though so I just wound the screw in until it was at the required pressure.

emma.b123

Thanks for the input guys...It was suggested by my mechanic it could be an ECU issue, as the air con was running inexplicably, and no error codes were being thrown through the diagnostics. Think I'll try cleaning the valve before replacement to see if that makes a difference.
De-mist isn't on. It idles at about 1000, or slightly over on start, but after driving for a few minutes then pulling up to a junction or lights, the revs drop right down to zero sometimes and stalls (about 50% of the time).
I don't think I'm confident in doing these myself, but I'll suggest to my mechanic when he next takes a look and fingers crossed its not a large sum I'm coughing up!

johnnyroper

emma.b123 wrote: »

Thanks for the input guys...It was suggested by my mechanic it could be an ECU issue, as the air con was running inexplicably, and no error codes were being thrown through the diagnostics. Think I'll try cleaning the valve before replacement to see if that makes a difference.
De-mist isn't on. It idles at about 1000, or slightly over on start, but after driving for a few minutes then pulling up to a junction or lights, the revs drop right down to zero sometimes and stalls (about 50% of the time).
I don't think I'm confident in doing these myself, but I'll suggest to my mechanic when he next takes a look and fingers crossed its not a large sum I'm coughing up!

defo get throttle body,idle valve and egr cleaned out firstly and see how it goes.

as for the fan is it definately A/C working and not just the cooling fan running for no reason? can you hear compressor going and do you get cold air from vents??

goldspanners

my focus used to struggle occasionally when the air con was on full belt, occasionally it would stall when i just put the air con on,after a few seconds the ecu would recognise the air con was on and would then adjust the fuel accordingly.
it might be best to deal with the air con problem first. if you switch the fan to "0" then this should also switch the aircon off aswell as using the a/c switch,this would at least test the switch.

atrixblue.-MFR-.

if its not the idle control, egr valve, try the air mass meter (inline with air intake pipe) a faulty one of those can cause these problems also. check all oil breather hoses, on throttle body and around the intake manifold for splits cracking, also check the manifold itself where it meets the engine to see if the gasget has gone and leaking air!

ukjoel

Sorry to hijack thread but was wondering would this problem be picked up on a diagnostic machine. I am having a similar issue - air con pump just replaced and now getting bouncing revs and stall when car is slowing down or stopped in neutral.

Dealer says it wont produce a fault code (or very unususal to do so) but warranty company wont repair without a fault code.

Thanks

emma.b123

Hi Joel, will let you know more detail of my issue if/when my mechanic can fix the stalling porblem - although he's already looked at the air con and hasn't been able to figure that one out yet... Strangly though, the stalling has only been a problem since a split breather hose was replaced - it seems the split hose cause an over-idle which masked the underlying problem with the idle i'm currently having. I'm hoping it won't be a dealership job, as I've heard stories about spending a couple of hundred for them to have not fixed the problem....car problems (I've had more than my fair share over the last 2 years!) make me nervous....:(