Jump to content
Do Not Sell My Personal Information


Problems With Engine Or...?


WinDrop
 Share

Recommended Posts

Hi Guys. It's me again.

Basically another problem with my car. As always don't know what exactly is wrong with it but have some ideas.

So first things first. The symptoms.

When ever car has heated up, basically after 5-10 drive, when ever I turn on A/C my car seems to loose quite a lot of RPM.

First when I turn it on I hear a click, which I think is normal because the fan turn on, and then my RPM drops down quite a bit. Sometimes I even have the feeling that it will stall. Then of course after like 3-4 seconds it will pick up the revs but at the same second will drop again and so over and over again.

This also happens when I turn on headlight, but it is not as noticeable as with A/C.

This will also happen when headlight are on and I will turn the steering wheel, so power steering is in use.

This is only happening while I'm idling. It obviously does not happen when I am driving as revs are usually 1.5-2K

Another thing that happens when my A/C is on while I am driving is that when ever I switch gears I feel that strange "pulling" feeling. Basically an engine breaking feeling...

This is also happening only when my A/C is on.

However I have notices something similar when I am driving with A/C off at around 35-40MPH in 4th gear. As soon as I release gas pedal I have this same feeling again.

First I though that this might be something to do with alternator so I checked it and it is actually overcharging at 14.9 instead of normal 14.5-14.6 which I think won't give any harm. Isn't it?

Then after I checked the alternator I read couple of articles about idle valve control which costs around £25 on eBay and can be easy changed. But I don't really want to spend any money on it if it's not the case...

So my car is a ford focus 1.6 Petrol (Zetec)

Please let me know if you do require any more information and please forgive me if I haven't explained everything properly. English is not my first language.

Kind Regards,

Arturs.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Certainly the alternator sounds to be struggling to cope with the load being put on it, so it may be worth sourcing one from a scrapyard and trying that.

The ECV can be removed and cleaned, which wont cost you anything and is a good place to start!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Certainly the alternator sounds to be struggling to cope with the load being put on it, so it may be worth sourcing one from a scrapyard and trying that.

The ECV can be removed and cleaned, which wont cost you anything and is a good place to start!

But then why when I tested the alternator it was showing 14.9V (with my heating and headlights turned on) instead of normal 14V-14.5V?

It's even more than is required..So how can it still be alternator?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It sounds like it's hard for the engine to turn something which lowers the Rpm,it could be the alternator trying to charge the battery alot, what's the condition of the battery? Although the alternator is charging that's not so say the bearing isn't tight, could also be the AC compressor if it's worse when that is switched on, although on a smaller engine you will find that the AC will cause the revs to drop quickly when changing gear as the engine isn't running free anymore when off gas, this is also the reason why it's hard to change gear smoothly with AC on as the revs are harder to match.

Sent from my GT-N5110 using Ford OC mobile app

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The alternator seems to be putting out too much, my thoughts are still with it at the moment.

Link to comment
Share on other sites


I guess you checked the battery with engine off, as it might be putting out a higher voltage in an attempt to put something back in.

Sent from my GT-N5110 using Ford OC mobile app

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So everybody still thinks that this might be an alternator issue.

Problem is not in buying the alternator. Problem comes when you have to change it... =]

I can get a new alternator for my ford focus for £70 but then I will probably pay something around £100 just to install it...

Quite a costly job... :(

Unless this is something a noob could do? o_O

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You could do it and you could pick an alternator off a scrappy or used car breakers for a lot less. Someone recently bought one for about £20, fitted it and it solved the problem. so I dont see it being too bad!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You could do it and you could pick an alternator off a scrappy or used car breakers for a lot less. Someone recently bought one for about £20, fitted it and it solved the problem. so I dont see it being too bad!

I tried to find some decent manuals online on how to change alternators but I couldn't find any.

Could you please point me into the right direction?

All I have done so far on my car is changed fuel injectors and spark plugs :) Nothing else really... =]

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I tried to find some decent manuals online on how to change alternators but I couldn't find any.

Could you please point me into the right direction?

All I have done so far on my car is changed fuel injectors and spark plugs :) Nothing else really... =]

Haynes manual was the best thing i ever bought when i had my first car, always buy one for whatever car i have know and leave the old one in the glovebox for the new keeper

Link to comment
Share on other sites

smart charge is over charging which will damage the battery so a new battery will be needed now ide take it to ford and have it looked at to be honest but it does sound like the alternator is over charging badly

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thank you all for your help.

I will try to change the alternator in next couple of weeks.

Found some on eBay for £20-£30 and will ask my friend who is a mechanic to help me to change it.

Thank you for your help.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

 Share




×
×
  • Create New...

Forums


News


Membership