Ford Focus MK1 Electrical Fault

[FordAsh]

Morning all,

I have a 2004 focus 1.6 petrol Zetec which is driving me nuts.

I have had the car for 3.5 years and in that time twice it has refused to start shortly after turning ignition off.

So I drive to shop, grab the milk and when I get back in 2 minutes later it wont start, wait 30 minutes or so and it fires up fine.

It also has a problem where every now and again the speedo will appear to disconnect and drop to 0, and then 30 seconds later will boot back up to normal.

 

Last week whilst driving I had the red battery warning light, and battery was not charging.

2 small journeys later and battery was flat.

Bought a new alternator and replaced it, and jump started the car, it fixed the warning light, and has been sweet for almost a week.

 

Now this morning driving to work I pulled out onto a road and it lurched forward and stalled.

Managed to roll it onto the kerbside with no power steering, and tried to start it back up, nothing.

 

There are now 2 additional warning lights, the amber engine light and the amber exclamation mark inside a gear cog.

 

Had a bit of a google and a lot of posts are pointing towards battery, but surely a bad battery couldn't make the car cut out as alternator should keep car running.

Anyone had a similar experience and have any ideas on where to start troubleshooting from?

 

Cheers.

[williamweb]

1 hour ago, FordAsh said:

Morning all,

I have a 2004 focus 1.6 petrol Zetec which is driving me nuts.

I have had the car for 3.5 years and in that time twice it has refused to start shortly after turning ignition off.

So I drive to shop, grab the milk and when I get back in 2 minutes later it wont start, wait 30 minutes or so and it fires up fine.

It also has a problem where every now and again the speedo will appear to disconnect and drop to 0, and then 30 seconds later will boot back up to normal.

 

Last week whilst driving I had the red battery warning light, and battery was not charging.

2 small journeys later and battery was flat.

Bought a new alternator and replaced it, and jump started the car, it fixed the warning light, and has been sweet for almost a week.

 

Now this morning driving to work I pulled out onto a road and it lurched forward and stalled.

Managed to roll it onto the kerbside with no power steering, and tried to start it back up, nothing.

 

There are now 2 additional warning lights, the amber engine light and the amber exclamation mark inside a gear cog.

 

Had a bit of a google and a lot of posts are pointing towards battery, but surely a bad battery couldn't make the car cut out as alternator should keep car running.

Anyone had a similar experience and have any ideas on where to start troubleshooting from?

 

Cheers.

First you need to find out if there are any trouble codes stored in your cars computer to hopefully point you in the right direction 👍

[dezwez]

2 hours ago, FordAsh said:

It also has a problem where every now and again the speedo will appear to disconnect and drop to 0, and then 30 seconds later will boot back up to normal.

This will be the speed sensor its on top of the gearbox at the back just look for the wires that go to it google it there a bit about it on there 🙂

[FordAsh]

56 minutes ago, williamweb said:

First you need to find out if there are any trouble codes stored in your cars computer to hopefully point you in the right direction 👍

Will get it on the diagnostics machine tonight after work, although read on here today about about using the in dash method to check DTC errors, didnt even know this was possible! 

26 minutes ago, dezwez said:

This will be the speed sensor its on top of the gearbox at the back just look for the wires that go to it google it there a bit about it on there 🙂

Does this also cause odometer to reset? Every 10 miles it resets to 0 😄

Can it make the car run lumpy too? I will have a google.

Thanks for the help so far @williamweband @dezwez

[williamweb]

39 minutes ago, FordAsh said:

Will get it on the diagnostics machine tonight after work, although read on here today about about using the in dash method to check DTC errors, didnt even know this was possible! 

Does this also cause odometer to reset? Every 10 miles it resets to 0 😄

Can it make the car run lumpy too? I will have a google.

Thanks for the help so far @williamweband @dezwez

Don’t buy a generic diagnostic scanner.You need to buy a Ford specific tool with the software.Go to the TunnelRat website for further information👍

[isetta]

Yes tunnelrat is good, use forscan software which is free for a windows laptop, about 6 quid for the app for iPhone/android.

[isetta]

I am wondering if battery terminals/cables loose or bad connection. Are terminals clean where they make contact and tight. Check other end of the cables also

[DaveT70]

Definitely speed sensor