Ford Focus LPG Problem

I have an 04 Ford Focus lpg (bought new as a bi-fuel car - not converted). It recently developed a fault whereby the engine dies when the car first switches automatically to lpg from petrol.

It continues to do so when tried manually, until the engine warms up after about 1 - 2 miles - then it makes the switch-over OK as long as the engine is warm. It just occurs when cold starting.

It's been in a Ford agency garage under warranty (for 5 days!) - they say it should be OK, but the fault is still there.

Can anyone tell me what the cause is likely to be so I can go and shout at them with conviction?

The told me they replaced "a sensor", that it was a very hard job, and that these cars are very rare. err - it's: a) a Ford, and b) under warranty

Thanks in advance....

Reply to
sheeper
Loading thread data ...

Probably wants setting up (fine tuning) on a laptop- they do drift out of tune over time...

If its running well on petrol, and giving good mpg, then its most likely slightly out on gas.

Tim..

Reply to
Tim..

Thanks Tim - The car runs great in all other respects on petrol or lpg. The lpg fuel consumption is excellent and beats the official figures hands down in terms of consumption - perhaps excessively so. I get

28-29 mpg against official Ford figure of 25-26.

Is it possible for these engines to be set "too lean" on gas? Would that also make it critical when switching over on cold?

Regards Stuart (Sheeper)

Reply to
sheeper

Yes, definately.

Tim..

Reply to
Tim..

Can I aks if this was bought from A Ford dealer? I was after a Focus LPG but was told they dont do them direct-you have to but them and then get a conversion(which invalidates your warranty). TIA

Reply to
Paul Johnson

Ford have done bi fuel for several years , quite common in the continent

Some of the engines in the uk were not suitable for conversion , something to do with the valves or one of the asscociate components being to soft cant remember the exact part name , if i can find the letter ford sent me i wil post it (about 5 years ago)

Reply to
Steve Robinson

Much appreciated

Reply to
Paul Johnson

Reply to
sheeper

Hi

Yes I bought the 04 Focus Ghia 1.8 bi-fuel pre-registered with 14 miles on the clock from Matlock Ford (a great dealership - see their website). It was July 04 and they and Coalville Ford in Leicestershire were selling them off. I got the Ghia for =A311000 and Coalville had about 10 LX models for =A310500. No contest for a Ghia with a book price of almost =A317000 (the lpg option originally aadded =A32K to the new cost).

They were the end of the breed as Ford introduced the new Focus shortly after, but with no lpg option. A big mistake in view of what has happened to petrol prices subsequently. I've saved an estimated =A32800 on fuel costs over =A335000 miles.

Ford now concentrate on the bioethanol engined Focus which are available at +=A3600 on the new price. Great if you are Green but not much use to us in the UK while the Chancellor taxes the fuel only marginally less than petrol or diesel - you can only get the stuff in Somerset and Norfolk at the moment, and that is unlikely to change unless he slashes the tax - and he does'nt want to lose all that income! So much for the green posturing of the current government.

If you UK Google for "Ford Focus bi-fuel" you will find a number of firms specialising in resale lpg cars, and they are usually clearly marked as Ford factory jobs where appropriate. Trouble is that the nature of the beast means that they are usually high-mileage examples.

I'm so sold on production lpg cars now that I had decided to go for a factory new Vauxhall Astra Esate or Vecta bifuel 'cos I can't get another new Focus. Trouble is I now notice that Vauxhall's website doesn't now offer the lpg option. I read somewhere that they can build you the car and then deliver it to a contractor to fit the lpg prior to delivering the car to you - presumably still under warranty? - But I can't confirm this.

Do you ever feel the world is conspiting against you!

Sheeper

Reply to
sheeper

MotorsForum website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.