Ford Focus Cutting Out

[Kellyg]

Hi guy's right i've got a Ford Focus Ghia 53 plate 1.8 TDCI Duratorq engine. She has admittingly 165,000 miles on the clock and i've had her a year. Since about November last year i had problems with her not starting first time, i got told to be honest in the cold weather and being diesel this is pretty normal.

Over the past month she has been cutting out on me like as if ive stalled her, ive done a fuel filter change and im having the oil filter changed tomorrow and the air filter has been done incase this was the problem, i got her put on a computer and no codes came up. Shes now got to the stage where i have to warm her up for about 15 minutes in the morning (with her constantly cutting out on me whilst trying to warm her up) Once shes warm and the temp gauge is on warm, then she will go but she will sometimes hesitate (pull back) and sometimes cut out if im slowing down.

This is starting to cause me a real headache now! But would like to get a rough idea from someone who maybe has had the same problem before spending out lots on a specialist that i cant afford!!!

Thanks in advance!!

[artscot79]

Hi guy's right i've got a Ford Focus Ghia 53 plate 1.8 TDCI Duratorq engine. She has admittingly 165,000 miles on the clock and i've had her a year. Since about November last year i had problems with her not starting first time, i got told to be honest in the cold weather and being diesel this is pretty normal.

Over the past month she has been cutting out on me like as if ive stalled her, ive done a fuel filter change and im having the oil filter changed tomorrow and the air filter has been done incase this was the problem, i got her put on a computer and no codes came up. Shes now got to the stage where i have to warm her up for about 15 minutes in the morning (with her constantly cutting out on me whilst trying to warm her up) Once shes warm and the temp gauge is on warm, then she will go but she will sometimes hesitate (pull back) and sometimes cut out if im slowing down.

This is starting to cause me a real headache now! But would like to get a rough idea from someone who maybe has had the same problem before spending out lots on a specialist that i cant afford!!!

Thanks in advance!!

well youre looking at a few possibilities the first is the idle control valve this is most likely so ide have that changed this increases or decreases the idle speed depending on the info from the ecu it also causes starting issues diesels can be tempramental if that doesnt cure it then youre looking at a faulty temperature sensor does the speedo drop to zero when driving? the vehicle speed sensor c an c ause stalling if this has happened.

if diesels struggle to start its normally time to have the glow plugs changed

[Kellyg]

well youre looking at a few possibilities the first is the idle control valve this is most likely so ide have that changed this increases or decreases the idle speed depending on the info from the ecu it also causes starting issues diesels can be tempramental if that doesnt cure it then youre looking at a faulty temperature sensor does the speedo drop to zero when driving? the vehicle speed sensor c an c ause stalling if this has happened.

if diesels struggle to start its normally time to have the glow plugs changed

[/quI

If the engine stalls whilst im driving then yes the speedo does drop to 0 but this is because the engine has cut out. Can i change the Idle control valve myself? is this an easy thing to do? i've also been told to clean the maf sensor aswell as this can cause probs.

[artscot79]

well youre looking at a few possibilities the first is the idle control valve this is most likely so ide have that changed this increases or decreases the idle speed depending on the info from the ecu it also causes starting issues diesels can be tempramental if that doesnt cure it then youre looking at a faulty temperature sensor does the speedo drop to zero when driving? the vehicle speed sensor c an c ause stalling if this has happened.

if diesels struggle to start its normally time to have the glow plugs changed

[/quI

If the engine stalls whilst im driving then yes the speedo does drop to 0 but this is because the engine has cut out. Can i change the Idle control valve myself? is this an easy thing to do? i've also been told to clean the maf sensor aswell as this can cause probs.

the maf nt cause the problems you have the idle control vaklve will its easy to change provided you can get the car jacked up and get under neath i had similar starting issues and the idle control valve was the culprit when it goes and you slow down it cant open the valve to let the car idlke so just dies with the speedo i meant that when you were driving say at 40mph and the needle just drops to 0 then back to 40 again

[artscot79]

ame='Kellyg' date='03 March 2010 - 02:55 PM' timestamp='1267627551' post='68527']

the maf nt cause the problems you have the idle control vaklve will its easy to change provided you can get the car jacked up and get under neath i had similar starting issues and the idle control valve was the culprit when it goes and you slow down it cant open the valve to let the car idlke so just dies with the speedo i meant that when you were driving say at 40mph and the needle just drops to 0 then back to 40 again

im sure stef123 has done his so he will know more than i will about fitting it fortunately i havent had to do it yet

[stef123]

im sure stef123 has done his so he will know more than i will about fitting it fortunately i havent had to do it yet

will the diesel have one of these? i thought on all diesels you dont control the amount of air, you just control the amount of fuel?

if it does have one then its simple to change, its held in place (on the inlet manifold) by 2 M6 bolts (10mm spanner required) best to get a new gasket although i will admit i didnt.

looking on autodata, the nearest thing to an ICV is the 'intake manifold air control actuator' but it looks very different to a petrol

[artscot79]

will the diesel have one of these? i thought on all diesels you dont control the amount of air, you just control the amount of fuel?

if it does have one then its simple to change, its held in place (on the inlet manifold) by 2 M6 bolts (10mm spanner required) best to get a new gasket although i will admit i didnt.

looking on autodata, the nearest thing to an ICV is the 'intake manifold air control actuator' but it looks very different to a petrol

pass i assumed both petrol and diesel had it other than that vss or blocked diesel filter could even be a pump problem

[L S Auto Repairs]

only petrol vehicles have idle speed control valves.

in my experience your looking at the glow plugs remove them and test them you can test them yourself if you have them removed and a set of jump leads just contect the + lead to the top of glow plug and - lead to the body of glow plud if it goes red within 4 seconds then its ok if it doesnt glow at all its faulty and needs replacing

im betting thats your problem.

any more help give me a shout

[artscot79]

only petrol vehicles have idle speed control valves.

in my experience your looking at the glow plugs remove them and test them you can test them yourself if you have them removed and a set of jump leads just contect the + lead to the top of glow plug and - lead to the body of glow plud if it goes red within 4 seconds then its ok if it doesnt glow at all its faulty and needs replacing

im betting thats your problem.

any more help give me a shout

Ford Focus and Mondeo 1.8 2.0 TDCi 2000 - 2003Problem: Engine hard to start, lack of power, rough idling etc.

Solution: A common problem has been identified with the above models and an insufficient signal from the camshaft postion sensor (CPS). The fault code P0340 may have been triggered which relates to the CPS. A revised wiring harness / sensor should be installed which increases the sensor signal from 5 volts to 12 volts. The increase in voltage will provide an improved signal from the sensor.

[Kellyg]

Ford Focus and Mondeo 1.8 2.0 TDCi 2000 - 2003Problem: Engine hard to start, lack of power, rough idling etc.

Solution: A common problem has been identified with the above models and an insufficient signal from the camshaft postion sensor (CPS). The fault code P0340 may have been triggered which relates to the CPS. A revised wiring harness / sensor should be installed which increases the sensor signal from 5 volts to 12 volts. The increase in voltage will provide an improved signal from the sensor.

Hi guy's sorry not been on hear to view your comments. Ok i haven't done any of these yet. so will give this all a try! I love my Focus but its sure has put me off them at the mo!! Lets hope i can make her better so she gets in my good books again!

[Johnb860]

I am having a problem with my 09 focus 1.8 tcd I've only bought it Tuesday gone, from a main toyota dealer it has 82000 kms on the clock. It starts then cuts out immediately then takes a while to start. I brought it back on Thursday and they told me it was a battery cell so they say they changed the battery. I have a 12 month warranty on it so if they sort it will it be ok or should I aim for a refund as the problem is there since I bought it and I feel they are fobbing me off. Thanks in advance

[artscot79]

well its hard to tell if it was the battery as they changed it im assuming its been fine since just make sure they put a silver calcium battery in it and not a cheap lead acid battery or youll have more battery issues later on

[Johnb860]

Sorry I meant to say it has been still happening consistently since I got it back. Once I park it for about an hour & a half then start it up, it starts but then cuts out after about 3 seconds then it can take 5 minutes or so to start. It seems like it's just starting up with the diesel that's in the carb, then the problem is lack of fuel somehow but what would be the likely cause and would I always have this problem? Thanks

[mick85]

Accelerator pedal position sensor,injectors,crank sensor,fuel rail pressure sensor,fuel pressure regulator,fuel pump,PCM internal fault theses are just some things that can cause ur issue but plenty more u need someone with right equipment to check a lot of that stuff u couldn't test with basic tools

[gwengo]

Hi mate, does the glow plug light come on and then go off when you put the key in the ignition an turn it once? Or when you try to turn it over, does the glow plug light flash? I had a cutting out problem and I changed the battery and the glow plugs but it didn't solve it, then I changed the cam positioning sensor (on top I the engine rocker cover) and now it works fine. Good luck!