Hi.

We have a 2002 Focus, and we have intermittent starting issues. Even though we have replaced the Battery, alternator and starter motor if the car has been left standing for more than a day it won't start without using my portable booster pack, even though the voltage reading is 14.7 volts before boosting. Once started the issue goes away for another 24 hours.

When the ignition key is turned you hear a very feint tick then nothing. Now you don't hear anything.

I didn't know if the Focus has even got a starter solenoid like older cars used to have, so I can't really say it's that. Neither do I know if the Focus has a printed circuit film behind the instrument cluster because I had a Fiat Strada back in the 80s that had dry joints on the instrument PCB film and once resoldered the Strada started.

Can anyone help please.

Hi Paul

There are 2 wires that go to the solenoid on the starter motor. The small wire powers the solenoid on and you should hear a click when the key is turned. The larger second wire is held on by a nut and feeds power to the starter motor. Chances are it has a bit of corrosion on it. Undo it a bit and spray some teflon spray or wd40 on the nut and thread and tighten it up. That should fix it. The starter motor is very reliable, but the nuts and threads holding the wires can suffer corrosion.

18 hours ago, Kevin#95 said:

The larger second wire is held on by a nut and feeds power to the starter motor. Chances are it has a bit of corrosion on it. Undo it a bit and spray some teflon spray or wd40 on the nut and thread and tighten it up.

This wire is live direct from the battery and if you accidentally short your spanner to the engine or body it could be quite dangerous, with melted wiring or even a battery explosion. Before working on this you must disconnect the battery earth cable.

Thanks for this everyone.