Hi,

New member!

Had my Focus for 13 years now and although its not the tidiest car in the park I still love it.

Looking for an answer or help if poss please? I'm a very novice car mechanic.

So my Focus always pulls like a train (1.8 Zetec W Reg) but a few weeks ago it had very rough idling (and vibration) until it was warm. Wife drove it home (main user) and said it tried to cut out and felt like it was in too high a gear for road speed and some jumping/jerking. I took it out again half hour later and after it was warm again on me always felt like it wanted to drop a gear or two especially when slowing down. About half mile from home I tried to accelerate hard from 25mph and after some hesitation it basically wouldnt rev to over 2000 RPM.

Ive had this before and it turned out to be a dying coil about 10 years ago and as the issue felt so similar bought a Delphi coil and replaced it. Felt a bit better on initial idle but again after about 2 miles and warm same issue. Flat power, jerking, nothing above 2000 rpm. 

 Checked the battery earthing, checked the coil 'pigtail' and thats all insulated and solid and new looking inside to be fair. Plug leads look fine and cant see any insulation issues.

After some more investigation the rear PCV hose was suggested. I found it and its gone flat and spongy at the bend and I think I can feel a split. When you start the engine and turn it off you can hear air either leaving it or sucking in.

Is this likely to be the culprit and cause these symptoms?

Thanks for any guidance.

SCC

Yes a hole in the crankcase ventilation hose would defo cause issues.they are also hard to pull off and more annoying to get back on.

Specifically the issues I mentioned?

 

2 hours ago, SCC said:

Specifically the issues I mentioned?

 

Yes replace it any air leaks will cause issues.

I think a new set of leads and plugs wouldn't go a miss either

leads were replaced about 40k ago but put spark plugs in as we speak, well type. if after plugs are in and PCV pipe replaced and possibly PCV valve then leads deffo next look.

found some oil in spark plug wells 1 & 4. ! was about a mm just around plug but 4 seems to have got some oil round the thread.

bosch plugs gapped at 1mm (seen a few people say dont set to fords 1.3 recommendation)

5 hours ago, SCC said:

found some oil in spark plug wells 1 & 4. ! was about a mm just around plug but 4 seems to have got some oil round the thread.

bosch plugs gapped at 1mm (seen a few people say dont set to fords 1.3 recommendation)

 

4 hours ago, F0CUE said:

 

Mines a 1.8 on a mark one zetec?

 

 

The saga keeps going.

Apart from vibration when first started this car was pulling like a train 10 days ago so I'm scratching my head.

Replaced BOSCH plugs and gapped correctly

Coil replaced - Delphi (Im told thats a decent name)

Leads were replaced 35k ago but visually look fine

Pigtail to coil looks fine and sturdy - cant see any movement, connectors shiney and no exposed wires.

Air filter changed

Rear PCV pipe that did go spongy and have a split I have replaced with ford genuine.

Havent done or checked actual PCV valve

They must use the part by rear PCV pipe for several models as I also found this cap by PCV rear pipe had come off. I've recapped it now. See PIC

Car will turnover fine on the key, just sounds a bit lumpy. You can hear it start to sound like its misfiring more as you try and rev up in neutral.

No EM light on at any point.

Ideas please?

 

 

2 hours ago, SCC said:

Leads were replaced 35k ago but visually look fine

That's a long time for a set of leads on your model if they have been disconnected. Externally I'm sure they look fine but internally the wire is not much more than a hairs thickness and easily broken when the leads are old and get disturbed.

Personally I'd recommend a new set of HT leads and at least if it doesn't fix the problem you can cross them off the list.

Having a similar issue with my Focus MK1 1.8 2003.

Needing to replace the PCV hose and valve, but having trouble tracking them down over here in Australia.

As far as your pic there SCC; have you checked the injector vacuum hose is intact still? While digging around the back of my engine to check the PCV hose, I came upon the remnants of what turned out (after googling the part number on it) to be the injector vacuum hose, and that looks like the remnants of the elbow that connects it on that part. Just another part I'm having real trouble getting hold of down under.

Does anyone have any suggestions where to get these parts or something that can be frankensteined into working to keep my old car going a little longer?

16 hours ago, SCC said:

The saga keeps going.

Apart from vibration when first started this car was pulling like a train 10 days ago so I'm scratching my head.

Replaced Bosch plugs and gapped correctly

Coil replaced - Delphi (Im told thats a decent name)

Leads were replaced 35k ago but visually look fine

Pigtail to coil looks fine and sturdy - cant see any movement, connectors shiney and no exposed wires.

Air filter changed

Rear PCV pipe that did go spongy and have a split I have replaced with ford genuine.

Havent done or checked actual PCV valve

They must use the part by rear PCV pipe for several models as I also found this cap by PCV rear pipe had come off. I've recapped it now. See PIC

Car will turnover fine on the key, just sounds a bit lumpy. You can hear it start to sound like its misfiring more as you try and rev up in neutral.

No EM light on at any point.

Ideas please?

 

 

 

4 hours ago, Aussiefocus2003 said:

Having a similar issue with my Focus MK1 1.8 2003.

Needing to replace the PCV hose and valve, but having trouble tracking them down over here in Australia.

As far as your pic there SCC; have you checked the injector vacuum hose is intact still? While digging around the back of my engine to check the PCV hose, I came upon the remnants of what turned out (after googling the part number on it) to be the injector vacuum hose, and that looks like the remnants of the elbow that connects it on that part. Just another part I'm having real trouble getting hold of down under.

Does anyone have any suggestions where to get these parts or something that can be frankensteined into working to keep my old car going a little longer?

 

So the part that I showed wasnt part of an elbow as we found this on the floor - PIC (same as the other) which I'm presuming shouldnt have had a hole in it either? Its not round and why would it be 'unfiltered'. Must have just come away.

Now I did buy some new leads and fitted them and I think I found out my issue. Because the pots are very deep it is possible to push the spark plug cap between the spark plug and the side of the pot. It will look normal from above and because youve wedged it you still have to yank it to get it off. So I must have been firing on 3 cylinders. Unbelievable! Replaced them anyway as the old wires seem very stiff compared to the new ones.

BUT

The misfiring has now gone. Starts straight away. Very slight vibration whilst cold and seemed to be fine when I drove round the block a few times but now its cutting out as the rev keep dropping (seems more when warm) . Will start straight away again. Annoying!!!!

As the mixture would have been running like all different scenarios is it worth taking the battery off? I heard that can do a reset and turn on a 'learning mode' again with this new mixture setup.

Mate said to lift the oil cap and see if theres any vacuum or pressure. Seemed it was more blowing than vacuum and quite alot. He said that might mean the PCV valve is jammed?

Thanks.