Ford focus cutting out!

N3WLIFE

Hi guys I had (still have but not using) a 2000 ford focus 1.4 petrol for 2.5 years. The last year on and off it started cutting out while I was idle in traffic. To the point where the engine management light came on and the car made funny noises and there was no power.

Waited a few minutes and the car started and managed to drive it home. The battery light also cam on, so decided to change the battery to see if that helped, which it did for a while.

But then the car started cutting out again in traffic if I was idle for a long time, the battery light would just come on and it was like it stalled for no reason.

Then started to lose power, press on the acceleration and nothing would happen at 10-20mph.

Then after that the car wouldn't start, called AA, who said the fuel pump had gone and towed me to my local garage who changed it for around 280 including labour. It was fine for a while, then I was back to square one after around 2 months!.

Now the car is parked on my drive after the engine light came on while I was driving to work. I drove it at 5 mph all the way home and its been outside my house for around a month now and wont start.

Decided to scrap it (getting quotes as I write this) and decided to buy another focus 2001 1.8 with 100k less mileage, service history-much better condition than mine....

Lo and behold the same thing happened again in traffic today! and I bought it on tuesday!

I was idle in traffic for some time and then it rumbled and came to a halt with the battery light coming on again!

It happens when Im in neutral or when im in 1st with handbrake on. The only way I seem to ward it off is when I keep my foot on the accelerator-or else!

Is this a common fault?

spartacusthe1st

Argh how annoying!we have a focus and it has been nothing but trouble since we had it!you name it we had to replace it!
It's now burning oil so not much hope of repairing it just running it in to the ground as I refuse to spend more money on it!

I often have to keep revving slightly to keep mine from stalling,even while I am slowing down as I'm coming to a roundabout I have to brake then rev straight away or it will start to judder slightly!
Also the car cut out completely twice while hubby was driving along,never did get to the bottom of that?we got a new battery and some spark plugs-that nights help yours?one of ours was cracked.its made a huge difference in the car starting up first time every time!

Ours is a 1999 1.6 but it has 135000 on the clock as other half does 900 miles a month in it :0(.

Good luck and if u find an answer let us know!

N3WLIFE

Thanks for the reply! I will probably take it to the garage today hopefully and see what they say.....

I thought these cars were supposed to be good?!

popeye2755

Check the Idle Control Valve.

Destination_..._?

It could be couple of things , causing your cars to do this . I'll , state a few possible faults , okay.

Possible , lets start with fuel filter choked, fuel pump faulty , or delivery pressure low , fuel tank blocked , or fuel pipes restricted . Check for vacuum leak at the throttle body , inlet manifold or associated hoses . Fuel pump faulty , or pressure low . Check for fuel tank vent blocked . Or u could have , blocked injectors / fuel injection system fault .

These faults I've stated r for engine stalls , which I believe to be in your cases . I'll be very interested what your mechanic finds ...

forgotmyname

What fault codes are you getting?

Electrical fault, Loose or dodgy wire. MAF or idle valve. Or a sensor fault.

Without a code reader your clutching at straws.

ukjoel

We had the same issue and it was one the sensors (lamba sensor??)

Independents and national repair places were a waste of space but a Ford dealer picked it up on their diagnostic machine in 5 minutes and it wasnt an expensive fix.

If the car is ok apart from that I would take it to a Ford dealer and pay for the 30 minutes on their diagnostic kit. Worth the money if they fault find and fix it and the car has a few more years in it.

ukjoel

With ours the rev needle would jump all over the place just before cutting out. Car would be in neutral and it would be going from 1000 to 4000 to 2000. It was due to the lamba or MAF. There are two sensors measuring exhaust and one was faulty causing the engine to jump up and down to adjust. Eventualy it goes to low and cuts out. Always happened in idle at zero or very low speeds.

patman99

Worth mentioning that some indies have the same diagnostics kit as the main dealers. Mine does and he is cheaper than the main dealer by £55 p/hr. Only downside is that his kit only does up to 2010 Fords.
Before taking it to a main stealer, check if your local mechanic has the kit first.

spartacusthe1st

What did the garage say in the end?

N3WLIFE

Ok, so is the best way to find out with this code reader thingy? maybe I should just buy one for myself........

The car is really doing my head in, I have driven it a couple of times and it really struggles to start!

I checked the battery at halford, and they said it was very good

I drove it to a garage today just for them to have a look at it, and the guy said it would be £40!

I said no thank you and left. Managed to go tesco an get some bits, and the car started fine.

Then on starting it when i left my house again, it was just ticking for the longest time! and finally there was a quiet hum when it turned on.

The battery warning light and the warning light with the exclamation mark were flashing until the car came on finally.

I have had this car for less than a week, and now i'm lucky if it will start?!?!

I didn't buy it as spares or repair, it should be fit for purpose, and the dealer said there shouldn't be anything wrong with the car!

I will be lucky if it starts tomorrow..........

Does anyone know if I have any rights in getting this sorted out with the dealer as there was no warranty?

Surely the car should last more than a week!!