johnson293 Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 Had my Focus for little over 6 months now, and up to christmas it has been faultless. However, just before the christmas break, it has started intermittantly stuttering whilst driving. It doesn't happen at low speeds, or once at high speed, but seems to be if you 'give it the beans' and accelerate quickly.... but again.. not all the time. The ting that seemed to start it off, I let it run quite low of fuel (roughly 20 mile range left), then I parked it on a nose up incline. Then, I refuelled and it was after this that it began stuttering when accelerating. I did think maybe I'd pulled some cr*p up off the bottom of the tank by letting it get low, and the incline of the hill. I have since refuelled a couple of times and it still happens... again, not all the time, but enough to begin concerning me. First option was to change the fuel filter, and hope it is just dirt/debris in the fuel line. But could this point to anything else? Other than this issue, the car runs fine - though a little thirstier since the cold weather started. Cheers for any replies/advice offered. MJ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeebowhite Posted January 10, 2014 Share Posted January 10, 2014 Sounds like it could be the fuel filter to me! as you give it a kick, it pushes more fuel pressure through and a clogged filter will restrict the flow of fuel, thus stuttering the engine. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stoney871 Posted January 21, 2014 Share Posted January 21, 2014 Definitely change the filter, the MK2/2.5 TDCI Focus hates dirty ones. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnson293 Posted February 28, 2014 Author Share Posted February 28, 2014 Cheers for the replies everyone. Bought a fuel filter a week or so ago, and had it fitted today. My dad did it for me, with help from a garage next to where he works, and he says it took 10 minutes to change the filter, then about 30 minutes before the car would start again! Says the filter he took out was black, but happily the car is now running as it was prior to the problems. The stuttering had been getting worse the last few days, so glad its sorted now. Lesson learned... try not to run it too far after the fuel light comes on, to avoid dredging stuff from the bottom of the tank. MJ :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stoney871 Posted February 28, 2014 Share Posted February 28, 2014 Try not to run below 1/4 tank and change the filter on every service. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newby Posted March 1, 2014 Share Posted March 1, 2014 Ah I think you have just answered my problem! I bought same car about 2 weeks ago and hubby took it out and said it was doing this but it has never happened to me!! Checking the oil too and its Deffo ready for a change- you would have thought a big sales garage would service cars before they sell them!! Guess not. Vee Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEADS Posted March 1, 2014 Share Posted March 1, 2014 Does it stutter if you hold it around 60mph and goes away if you drop it below or go higher if so it's not your fuel filter got this on mine still there after filter change not sure what it is my thinking is an injector prob it's more annoying than anything but can live with it . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnson293 Posted March 1, 2014 Author Share Posted March 1, 2014 My car is all sorted now after the filter change - power is there on the pedal again. When I had the issue, it would 'stutter' as you accelerated, usually giving a bit more as you joined a motorway or such like. As you accelerated, as it started to stutter, if you eased off, then started to apply the gas more gently, it was fine, and you could ride through the gears, and up the speed to 60-70 and it was fine. However, last week or so, it was getting worse. I still have the filter that was removed - it is very black, and slightly deformed, which is due to it being blocked, and trying harder to suck the fuel through it, apparently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEADS Posted March 1, 2014 Share Posted March 1, 2014 I don't have any problem with acceleration and never have done it's just if I try to sit at sixty it does not like it at all it's as if it's running out of juice but drop it below or higher it's fine and fine at any other speed just sixty for some reason odd .i know it's not the filter as it's exactly the same after change as it was before not sure if I read on hear it could be something to do with the variable vane on the turbo but I,m not going messing. Around with that . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newby Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 Steads - hubby thinks you n him have same problem!! He says the car doesn't do it when I drive coz I drive too fast! It did however do it today when I was in the car and it was 60mph!! Weird... Sent from my iPhone using Ford OC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEADS Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 Bee have you by any chance got a leaky injector noticed that my number two injector (nearest cam belt) has a slight leak now if yours is the same maybe that's the prob easy enough job to do just getting time to do it as I can't afford to have the car off the road when I get it done will let you know if it cures the problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newby Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 Oooh ill check tomorrow! Mines under 3 month warranty so if it is ill have it straight back in!! Sent from my iPhone using Ford OC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skematicgnu Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Hi Steads and newby.. I'm having exactly the same problem with mine! It started stuttering at 60 but like Steads, it would get better as soon as you went faster/slowed down.. but now it also does it at 30 and again it vanishes as soon as you speed up or slow down! Have either of you got any closer to finding out what's causing it? I'm not sure about the injector leaking, i will have a look tonight. UPDATE - I've checked and i can't see any signs of the injectors leaking, so i've got no idea what the problem is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newby Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Mine is booked in for 14th so be plugged into specialist ford diagnostics as I purchased it from main dealership so I will update u if/when I know anything!!! Vee Sent from my iPhone using Ford OC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skematicgnu Posted March 6, 2014 Share Posted March 6, 2014 Brilliant, cheers Vee. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newby Posted March 13, 2014 Share Posted March 13, 2014 Hmmm dropped car off at the garage tonight ready for its appt tomorrow and they managed to take it out but couldn't find any fault :(( I'm not a happy bunny!! I explained it again and the guy said he would take it out again first thing and see if he can get it to do it- :((( Sent from my iPhone using Ford OC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phookoo Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 I've just joined this forum to post on this thread. I'm picking up a 2nd hand focus 1.8 tdci 09 from Evans Halshaw on Sunday & on both test drives I've experienced a similar stutter when I've been at about 20-25mph & put my foot on the throttle. The salesman blamed it on low fuel ( both times it's been at or below the quarter tank mark on the drive) & has had their mechanics take a look but there's been no mention of checking or changing the fuel filter. I've got a mechanic friend who normally takes care of services for me & I was going to get him to do an independent assessment after I get the car. Is the fuel filter a cheap as chips part if that's all that's up or am I likely to need to throw it back to the salesmen? Sent from my HTC One using Ford OC mobile app Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stoney871 Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 It does sound like the fuel filter to me but could be something far worse. Insist that the car is in A1 condition before taking ownership and be sure to give it a good run first. If it stutters at all or you are not completely happy then refuse to accept it until it is resolved or they agree in writing to remedy it in a suitable time frame. Many would not go anywhere near Evans Halshaw anyway as their service and aftercare is abysmal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
skematicgnu Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 For the love of God, make sure that car is spot on before you buy it! I got mine from Evans Halshaw and they will make your life hell if you need any repairs out of them.. trust me! :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phookoo Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 Ok folks, point taken :). I've already paid the deposit so I'm going to insist that they cure it before I pay the balance. What's annoying is that it hasn't been a constant thing - it happened a few times on the 1st drive so they put it into their garage but then happened a couple of times on the 2nd drive. The 1st time, the fuel light was on & the salesman told me it had been on the forecourt for about 4 weeks so it sounds really similar to the situation in earlier posts. Sent from my HTC One using Ford OC mobile app Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martyntdci Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 The 1st time, the fuel light was on & the salesman told me it had been on the forecourt for about 4 weeks so it sounds really similar to the situation in earlier posts. picked up some crap from the tank, and maybe clogging up the filter... you want it to have a full service also... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exponential Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 Is it true that you should always fill up when you get to quarter of a tank remaining in order to avoid the above issue?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stoney871 Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 Quarter tank minimum unless an emergency and change the fuel filter on every service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
exponential Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 Thanks stoney. Will be sure to do that. :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeebowhite Posted March 14, 2014 Share Posted March 14, 2014 I tend to run it down to 50 miles to go, and I have noticed more recently, as I got less than that, the car started to misbehave a little! I like to see how many miles I get outa the thing, so tend to run it to bottom, but not sure I will be doing that in the mondy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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