2002 Ford Focus....HELP...

I bought my Focus a year ago with 130,000 kms. It is 5 spd, and BASIC model. The problem started just after we got it and I have gotten so many different opinions I am stuck.

After I drive for about 25 minutes or so, IF I stop (leaving the car on) and then attempt to go again. It shudders as if the rpm?s are not high enough and has even stalled out. None of my indicators come on...my temperature shows as normal. It just boggs out.

For example. Last week I was coming through Toronto on the 401 doing about 120kms, when we hit a traffic jam. We rolled for about 45 minutes stopping and going but never breaking 2nd gear. Finally the jam breaks up and I am in the fast lane. Put it in 1st gear, foot to the floor and NOTHING. No rev, No anything. Stalled out completely. It wouldn?t turn over although it sounded like it was trying. I sat for not even 5 minutes, started the car and got going fine for about 20 minutes till another jam.. same thing - bogged out - no accelleration or rev. - Ended up receiving an OPP escort off the 401.....Let the car sit in the shade for about 1/2 hour and it was fine. But again - my thermostat appeared normal, I hear my fan come on, and no indicators. But if I am going and I don?t stop there is no problem... I drove 2 hours straight at 120kms, no issues. It has even done it when I have driven about 30kms, stopped long enough to drop someone off, and shuddered the whole way back (30kms) to the point I nearly stalled out, but managed to "play" with the clutch enough to keep it going.

At first my husband blamed me as I was just learning to drive stick, but I knew it wasn?t me, then we went to PREMIUM gas (LOL can?t afford that now), I have changed my O2 sensors - as per a diagnostic, but I don?t know where to start now? It gets regular oil changes... any suggestions?

Reply to
Laurie
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I bet the car also stalls or you loose power when you take a tight curve to the right? The car has all the symptoms of a bad fuel pump. If your Focus is a 2000 or

2001 model It should be covered under the special 10 year warranty offered by Ford. You need to take it to a dealer.

After I drive for about 25 minutes or so, IF I stop (leaving the car on) and then attempt to go again. It shudders as if the rpm's are not high enough and has even stalled out. None of my indicators come on...my temperature shows as normal. It just boggs out.

For example. Last week I was coming through Toronto on the 401 doing about 120kms, when we hit a traffic jam. We rolled for about 45 minutes stopping and going but never breaking 2nd gear. Finally the jam breaks up and I am in the fast lane. Put it in 1st gear, foot to the floor and NOTHING. No rev, No anything. Stalled out completely. It wouldn't turn over although it sounded like it was trying. I sat for not even 5 minutes, started the car and got going fine for about 20 minutes till another jam.. same thing - bogged out - no accelleration or rev. - Ended up receiving an OPP escort off the 401.....Let the car sit in the shade for about 1/2 hour and it was fine. But again - my thermostat appeared normal, I hear my fan come on, and no indicators. But if I am going and I don't stop there is no problem... I drove 2 hours straight at 120kms, no issues. It has even done it when I have driven about 30kms, stopped long enough to drop someone off, and shuddered the whole way back (30kms) to the point I nearly stalled out, but managed to "play" with the clutch enough to keep it going.

At first my husband blamed me as I was just learning to drive stick, but I knew it wasn't me, then we went to PREMIUM gas (LOL can't afford that now), I have changed my O2 sensors - as per a diagnostic, but I don't know where to start now? It gets regular oil changes... any suggestions?

Reply to
Henri

This can be due to a malfunctioning ignition coil assembly. This is one of the weakest points of Focus. If this is the case, the coil must be replaced.

Reply to
TheSurgeon

That's the first I've heard that the coil pack is a weak point of the Focus in general, but I do agree that in this case it is a more likely cause than the fuel pump. The pump is more likely to cause hesitation on acceleration rather than after slow driving. In addition, the pump is in the gas tank and so somewhat insulated from heat. I'd also suspect the crankcase position sensor and computer connections.

Reply to
Dave Gower

What I said is especially for the European models of Foci. There are many friends with defective coils replaced. The only fault of the engine management system which doesn't light up the "Check Motor" warning light on the dashboard is the ignition coil problem.

Reply to
TheSurgeon

Correct, but in most cases a faulty coil pack leaks HT to earth usually down the LT wiring back to the ECU. Inwhich case you'll experience the dash clocks jumping about the place and severe misfiring / cutting out as the ECU repeatedly shuts down and re-starts to protect itself from the stray HT.

Tim..

Reply to
Tim..

"Tim.." wrote

Yikes.What happened to the good old days when a bad coil simply caused a weak spark?

Anyway, she's Canadian, and a lot of our automotive electrical problems are climate-related i.e. salt corrosion, cold-temperature stress, moisture build-up etc. My Focus hasn't been bad that way for a European-designed car, but I get it undercoated every year.

Reply to
Dave Gower

I had a similar problem, mine was the rocker cover was loose and oil was getting in the spark plugs, this caused misfiring and hesitation on increasing speed.

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Reply to
cat lover

"" wrote: > "Tim.." wrote > > > Correct, but in most cases a faulty coil pack leaks HT to > earth usually > > down > > the LT wiring back to the ECU. Inwhich case you'll > experience the dash > > clocks jumping about the place and severe misfiring / > cutting out as the > > ECU > > repeatedly shuts down and re-starts to protect itself from > the stray HT. > > Yikes.What happened to the good old days when a bad coil > simply caused a > weak spark? > > Anyway, she's Canadian, and a lot of our automotive electrical > problems are > climate-related i.e. salt corrosion, cold-temperature stress, > moisture > build-up etc. My Focus hasn't been bad that way for a > European-designed car, > but I get it undercoated every year.

I AM CANADIAN - Thank you

I have realized there is another symptom.... I dunno if its related but....

When my gas tank reads 1/4 tank - apparently this is empty. ONCE the car went beyond that to the fuel light indicator, but that happened when I first got it and has never happened again.

And these things ONLY happen when the car has been running - If it has been sitting there is no problem. Last night my brother in law rove it - HE DRIVES IT - as he says - Like standard was meant to be driven - and he said he got very little power - but to the passenger it feels like he is just learning to drive stick.

I dunno - where would be the best place to start looking for a solution. What parts would be best to replace first - and can I do this myself? Ie spark plugs, gas filter,

In his words - Take it to the field and shoot it.

Reply to
Laurie

"Laurie" wrote

At 130,000km, if it has not had a fairly recent full tune-up (plugs, wires, filters, cleaning the intake system etc) it is probably going to run very poorly. You say you bought it a year ago. Did it come with a record of service? It's possible that the first owner just drove the poor little thing until it got sick, then sold it.

The symptoms you describe are indicative of a specific problem, but you need to do the basics before anything else. As for how much you can do yourself, that depends on your skill level, but things like the fuel filter are tricky - remember it's a pressurised system. Although I've done a lot of repair and service work over the decades, I've left this up to my dealer.

If you want to try stuff on your own, start with a service manual.

Reply to
Dave Gower

From everything you say it has all the indications of a bad fuel pump or a bad catalytic converter. both items might be covered under warranty by Ford.

If its a 2000-2001 model take it to a dealer and ask them to check if it is under recall for a new fuel pump, if it is, have them do it - Ford pays the tab. If the car still stalls out you have eliminated that part. With 130 KM on the car the car 'might' still be covered under the emissions warranty if its a bad cat.

".I have realized there is another symptom.... I dunno if its related but....

When my gas tank reads 1/4 tank - apparently this is empty. ONCE the car went beyond that to the fuel light indicator, but that happened when I first got it and has never happened again.

And these things ONLY happen when the car has been running - If it has been sitting there is no problem. Last night my brother in law rove it - HE DRIVES IT - as he says - Like standard was meant to be driven - and he said he got very little power - but to the passenger it feels like he is just learning to drive stick.

I dunno - where would be the best place to start looking for a solution. What parts would be best to replace first - and can I do this myself? Ie spark plugs, gas filter,

In his words - Take it to the field and shoot it.

Reply to
Henri

I don't know much about cars, but I have read about a safety improvement recall on the fuel pumps that sound very much like what you are describing. You can go on the following site to read up on it.

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this is the problem, then YOU need to be the one to tell the dealershipthat you want this changed out. They will not volunteer to fix it since itis not considered part of the safety act. You will also need to print thedocumentation showing the recall number because Ford will not show it at a"recall."

Hope that helps!

v/r Elizabeth

Reply to
joes1girl

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