Ford Focus – Starting / ignition problems.

1Frothy · 13-04-2008, 05:30 PM

Hi Ford Guru's

I'm at my wits end trying to get this problem resolved, by Ford. Perhaps someone can be kind enough to suggest what the problem might be?

Here is a report I typed.

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The starting ignition problems happen at various times but seem to happen more during cooler weather, i.e. autumn / winter.

Example 1:
Starting, early morning.
Turning ignition, car starts, rev gauge goes to 1100 RPM, then drops below 800 RPM, engine stutters / shakes (uneven sound – as if a cylinder isn’t firing?), rev’s drop further* – car stalls.
*Attempting to press the accelerator at this stage fails 8/10 times to keep the engine operating.

Example 2:
Starting, about 2 hours after car was driven.
Turning ignition, engine turns over, no start.

Example 3:
Starting, as in ‘Example 2’, this time pumping accelerator gently (maybe 1/5th of accelerator travel) while engine is turning over to start – engine starts. But only keeps operating if the accelerator is kept depressed about 1/5th of the way down.

:

Dinamo · 13-04-2008, 07:10 PM

I have the same problem. Ford thought that it was a fuel pump problem so they replaced it last week. Over the weekend the same thing began happening again, having to press the accelerator to be able to start although it doesn't happen as often as before.

GSR · 13-04-2008, 07:27 PM

Havnt experienced that but sometimes I actually have trouble trying to turn the ignition key. It sort of gets jammed and wont budge, Its not a steering lock thing its actually the barrel I think.?

DragonMesh · 13-04-2008, 07:36 PM

How old is your focus.. I had the same problem near when mine was new. I took it to the dealership and they "checked over the car"(plugged it into their computer) and found nothing wrong however I noticed they upgraded the ECU software and I have never had a problem since... Just my experience with it.

BlackLS · 13-04-2008, 11:02 PM

Is it a current model (LS/LT 2005 onward) or pervious model (LR).

If the LR, there could be an air leak after the air flow meter.

If the LS, it could be the famous low fuel facing up a hill prob. Try letting the fuel system prime fully (whir for 3-4 sec when turning the car on) before turning over the key.

20focus05 · 14-04-2008, 08:25 PM

ours wont start sometimes, just turns over. I just put the accel to the floor and it starts fine. . it used to happen quite a lot and could only use BP fuel, found a O2 sensor problem, it happens a lot less now and can use any fuel company. have had it to ford a few times and nothing comes up.

plee · 19-01-2009, 01:13 PM

I was wondering there was any fix for this yet? My LS Focus has been suffering from this pretty much from day one, and the warranty is due up at the end of this month.

I've got it in for a last check over this week and wanted to go in prepared...

Cheers

Velociraptor82 · 19-01-2009, 01:48 PM

I've had both issues stated above. However I often have to leave my car on a steep upward slope and that is when I've had that issue even with more than 1/2 a tank of petrol. However if I roll the car to the bottom of the hill it starts fine.

ondori · 21-01-2009, 12:42 AM

Last year I had a few problems with a main feed hose inside the fuel tank. The hose would suction in on itself, the car wouldn’t run, killed the fuel pump that got replaced. But the main feed hose still had the same problem, the new fuel pump worked better than the old pump, so the fuel started to bypass the hose. It would run but then it started to take two or more turns of the key, to start, like there was no fuel in the fuel system. So new fuel pump didn't fix it, EFI relay didn't fix it, fuel regulated was good, then the machanic replaced the hose, it worked, well sort of, it was running perfect for 3 days, then the computer died. So was it the hose the computer or both, I know there was a problem with both seen the flat hose. And the only error-code to show up was the computer, and that was after the hose was replaced.

The mechanic said he had a lot of problems with ford and the 'identified' hose with a absent part number?

From 01/10/08 - 21/11/08 3 tows 6 mechanical visits ‘03LRzetec3d finally started working correctly haven't had a probem since.

Dinamo · 24-01-2009, 07:03 PM

I've had the same problems as you guys, Ford service 1st thought that it was fuel pump issue so they replaced that. The start-up issues were still present so then I went back and they tuned the ECU software and since March 08 have had no problems with starting it. Just keep on nagging Ford until they fix the problem, especially if your warranty is expiring soon.