Engine stutter advice please (2000 Fiesta Zetec)

[JonLa]

Hi y'all,

Am hanging on for a new Mk7 in a month or two and our beloved old 1.25 Zetec (2000) is starting to have problems.

The engine has developed what can only be described as a stutter, or a judder. You can hear it when you start the engine as a slight tick when idling, and you can feel it when you try to accelerate, worst between 0 and 2000 revs, virtually unnoticeable above 3000. It feels like the engine is struggling to get the right amount of power, especially on hills in low gears. Extra revs usually pulls us out of the judder

I don't think it is the clutch, as gear changes are as smooth as ever. I initially thought it was the exhaust, as it started the problem as our exhaust was about to die, but we had that replaced and the problem is still with us.

It's best in the morning when engine is cold, and not good in the afternoon after the car has been sitting in the sun in the work car park all day. I'm taking it to the local garage who I think I trust, but I'm wary of what they could diagnose, especially as I'm about to trade the car in when the new Fiesta arrives, and don't really want to spend any more money on it.

Any suggestions?

[gaz6076]

Sounds like a misfire to me. Most probably the coil back. But could be the plugs or the leads

[JonLa]

Thanks Gaz, hopefully it won't cost too much - the missus is banning me from spending much more on it, just to keep it going until the Mk7 is delivered. At this rate i'll have spent what we're getting for it!

[gaz6076]

Take the leads off the plugs and then the coil pack to check if any are corroded. If any are this could be your problem. They're only about £15 from the factors. If not spray them with some break or electrical cleaner (you never know). If this still doesn't make a difference try a set of plugs, I recommend NGK, they will only be about a tenner.

[JonLa]

Spot on - Nationwide Autocentre are putting me a coil in as I type. I asked them to try the plugs first but no...

J

[gaz6076]

Coil pack is the most common fault. Not surprised they want to do it first. Did it cure your problem?

[forumguy]

Hi there, your problem sounds exactly like mine. Recently when accelerating rather hard, the car judders a little around 1500-2000 RPM. This is usually in second gear and if I keep accelerating hard it can occur into third as well. If I ease off the throttle it can disappear and easy accelerating is OK. It can judder up hills as well, I try to keep the throttle still until I get to the top. I had the car properly serviced. At first I thought that the clutch was gone, but the mechanic tested the clutch and said that it worked fine and that a service and new spark plugs were probably needed. After the service the mechanic tested the car and found the issue was still there and replaced the ignition coil with a working ignition coil that they had in stock (used?). He had it fitted and said that the issue was sorted. I drove away and a day later I felt the car judder again, but not as bad as before. Instead of lastly for 3-4 seconds, and maybe up the gears it would occur for a second and occasionally juddered.

I've read the comments below and my only concern is that the ignition coil was replaced and the issue remains. Whether the replaced ignition coil that was used is the problem, I'm not sure, but has anyone got an idea of what else it could be and the likely cost?

Maybe I'm being paranoid but the car doesn't pull like it used it either. Could I be misfiring and running on 3.5 cylinders? Or is it a problem with the lambda sensor and replacing it with a brand new coil? I've read that a misaligned crankshaft sensor could cause it.

I was thinking of taking it to a proper Ford garage so they could hook the car up to a diagnostic machine but again its likely to be expensive, with no 100% guarantee of success.

I'd appreciate any help, because my trusted Fiesta has been great to me so far.

[JonLa]

Hi there, your problem sounds exactly like mine. Recently when accelerating rather hard, the car judders a little around 1500-2000 RPM. This is usually in second gear and if I keep accelerating hard it can occur into third as well. If I ease off the throttle it can disappear and easy accelerating is OK. It can judder up hills as well, I try to keep the throttle still until I get to the top. I had the car properly serviced. At first I thought that the clutch was gone, but the mechanic tested the clutch and said that it worked fine and that a service and new spark plugs were probably needed. After the service the mechanic tested the car and found the issue was still there and replaced the ignition coil with a working ignition coil that they had in stock (used?). He had it fitted and said that the issue was sorted. I drove away and a day later I felt the car judder again, but not as bad as before. Instead of lastly for 3-4 seconds, and maybe up the gears it would occur for a second and occasionally juddered.

I've read the comments below and my only concern is that the ignition coil was replaced and the issue remains. Whether the replaced ignition coil that was used is the problem, I'm not sure, but has anyone got an idea of what else it could be and the likely cost?

Maybe I'm being paranoid but the car doesn't pull like it used it either. Could I be misfiring and running on 3.5 cylinders? Or is it a problem with the lambda sensor and replacing it with a brand new coil? I've read that a misaligned crankshaft sensor could cause it.

I was thinking of taking it to a proper Ford garage so they could hook the car up to a diagnostic machine but again its likely to be expensive, with no 100% guarantee of success.

I'd appreciate any help, because my trusted Fiesta has been great to me so far.

Well I asked Nationwide to try the spark plugs first, and only then did they come back to me about the ignition coil - luckily I was expecting it thanks to Gaz. It's unlikely they put a used coil in, but you should check - my new coil has a year's warranty, so you should ask them to double check yours in case it's gone...

[Faye24]

Hey I am having the same kind of issues with my Ford Fiesta but sometimes when I stop at traffic lights the engine cuts out without warning or it starts to stutter like it is going to stall. Has anybody else got the same problem?

I am going to go and and get a new coil and plugs tomorrow and change them to see if that helps the problems and hopefully my car will hold on in there!

Faye

[JonLa]

Hey I am having the same kind of issues with my Ford Fiesta but sometimes when I stop at traffic lights the engine cuts out without warning or it starts to stutter like it is going to stall. Has anybody else got the same problem?

I am going to go and and get a new coil and plugs tomorrow and change them to see if that helps the problems and hopefully my car will hold on in there!

Faye

Yep - mine never actually stalled, but it pulled and juddered as if it wanted to. Much better with the new coil. Highly likely yours is the same thing. Ask the garage to investigate the stuttering and stalling, suggesting they check the plugs and ignition coil - that way they won't just fit a coil if it doesn't fix the problem