Hi There,

I have been having some issues with my 2005 Focus Mk2 1.6i VVTi over the past few weeks, it has almost felt like it has been hesitating and when trying to accelerate quite jerky and then a bad idle  this only happens sometimes as other times she runs fine. I used ForScan last week and found faults relating to the thermostat & an oxygen sensor, so today I replaced the oxygen sensor and also fitted 4 brand new spark plugs from Ford, just incase it had something to do with the idle.

I was out driving today and felt the idle had sorted itself but the car still to be quite jerky and down in power mainly in third/fifth. The EML light came on also and the faults stored were the same oxygen sensor, thermostat but also:

P000A -  Intake Camshaft Sensor Slow Response

P000B - Exhaust Camshaft Sensor Slow Response

This threw me as they havent been stored before, I did clear them down and roadtested the car and it was back driving okay again.

Has anyone else had this or similar with the VVT engines?

Thanks

Josh

The VCT actuators run on pressurised oil.  Do you know when it last had an oil change?  And if that was to the correct spec?

10 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

The VCT actuators run on pressurised oil.  Do you know when it last had an oil change?  And if that was to the correct spec?

Hi Tom, thanks for getting back. I gave it a full service at the start of December just before its MOT and also checked the oil level yesterday and it was just below max

5 minutes ago, joshuafalls said:

Hi Tom, thanks for getting back. I gave it a full service at the start of December just before its MOT and also checked the oil level yesterday and it was just below max

Ok, that's good.  It shouldn't be a physical issue of the actuators not moving quickly enough in that case.  Would be very unlikely for both sensors to fail together as well.  So I don't think I can offer anything more than just keeping an eye on it for now and seeing if those codes come back again.

Regarding the hesitation and jerkiness, that could be caused by a failing coil pack, especially if it gets worse when warm.

3 hours ago, TomsFocus said:

Ok, that's good.  It shouldn't be a physical issue of the actuators not moving quickly enough in that case.  Would be very unlikely for both sensors to fail together as well.  So I don't think I can offer anything more than just keeping an eye on it for now and seeing if those codes come back again.

Regarding the hesitation and jerkiness, that could be caused by a failing coil pack, especially if it gets worse when warm.

Thanks for all that Tom, I will keep an eye out for anymore EMLs, she still feels like she has a flat spot when driving though. Would you reckon worth changing the coil pack & coils?

2 hours ago, joshuafalls said:

Thanks for all that Tom, I will keep an eye out for anymore EMLs, she still feels like she has a flat spot when driving though. Would you reckon worth changing the coil pack & coils?

If it's worse when warm then I'd definitely change the coil pack.  They're cheap enough if you're not sure either way though.

These don't have separate coils,  just leads between the coil pack and plugs so there's very little to go wrong with those.  Personally I wouldn't change them unless I could see a fault with them or there was a misfire that moved cylinder when the leads were swapped.  Ultimately it's your car and your choice though.

If it's any help, my own 2005 1.6 had the same 'jerky' symptoms last year, but as Tom suggested, a change of coil packs did sort the old girl right up.

 

2 hours ago, TomsFocus said:

If it's worse when warm then I'd definitely change the coil pack.  They're cheap enough if you're not sure either way though.

These don't have separate coils,  just leads between the coil pack and plugs so there's very little to go wrong with those.  Personally I wouldn't change them unless I could see a fault with them or there was a misfire that moved cylinder when the leads were swapped.  Ultimately it's your car and your choice though.

Ill price up the HT leads and coil pack and get them replaced, I was out and about this evening and the EML came on again but this time just for the Intake Camshaft Position rather than both of them, im not sure if its worth trying a new set of VVT Solenoids too.

10 hours ago, joshuafalls said:

I was out and about this evening and the EML came on again but this time just for the Intake Camshaft Position rather than both of them, im not sure if its worth trying a new set of VVT Solenoids too.

Hmm, that is strange.  If you do want to try them, part numbers should be 1366327 & 1871406.

I was wondering if this could be caused by the crank sensor when it was both sides but now it's only one side that makes the crank sensor unlikely.

38 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

Hmm, that is strange.  If you do want to try them, part numbers should be 1366327 & 1871406.

I was wondering if this could be caused by the crank sensor when it was both sides but now it's only one side that makes the crank sensor unlikely.

It is definitely all very strange, it might be worth just replacing both as the engine has done over 200k, I did read somewhere that the Volvo alternative might be cheaper but unsure? 

9 minutes ago, joshuafalls said:

It is definitely all very strange, it might be worth just replacing both as the engine has done over 200k, I did read somewhere that the Volvo alternative might be cheaper but unsure? 

Ah, I didn't realise the mileage before.  All bets are off past 150k, let alone 200k!  

Very few make that sort of mileage, especially with smaller engines, so we don't have much experience to go on.

I'm not sure if the Volvo equivalent would be cheaper.  These actuators were used in a few different applications so there are plenty of aftermarket options as well, although I suspect the quality varies on those.

49 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

Ah, I didn't realise the mileage before.  All bets are off past 150k, let alone 200k!  

Very few make that sort of mileage, especially with smaller engines, so we don't have much experience to go on.

I'm not sure if the Volvo equivalent would be cheaper.  These actuators were used in a few different applications so there are plenty of aftermarket options as well, although I suspect the quality varies on those.

Oops haha, I did forget to mention the mileage but thought that might be a put off! She is on 226k at the moment and still going, except this slight issue which has really only arrised in the last 2 weeks.

I have noticed it does seem quite sluggish on up hill climbs rather than driving flat. Maybe the position the oil is in and the VVTs playing up?

8 hours ago, TomsFocus said:

Ah, I didn't realise the mileage before.  All bets are off past 150k, let alone 200k!  

Very few make that sort of mileage, especially with smaller engines, so we don't have much experience to go on.

I'm not sure if the Volvo equivalent would be cheaper.  These actuators were used in a few different applications so there are plenty of aftermarket options as well, although I suspect the quality varies on those.

Got two Febi VVT valves ordered this afternoon, ill grab an oil filter and fresh oil too. Hopefully start from the start 🤣🤞