Focus Mk2 1.6 Zetec engine 06 plate 157,000 miles

The car has a problem starting when warm. First thing on a cold morning its fine. Restarting within about half an hour of stopping and its fine. But if I try and start the car from cold on a warmish day or an hour or two after it last ran it turns over fine but doesn't fire at all. A squirt of easy start in the air inlet and it fires up OK. Once running its absolutely fine.

Its been in the garage twice and they say they have fixed  it, but the problem has quickly returned. As a can of easy start is chepaer than garage bills I jave just been making do, but now the weather is warmer its getting to be more of a pain to lift the bonnet every time to start it.

Occasionally the engine management light comes on. My cheap OBD scanner brings up a lean running fault, but if I clear the fault thet engine management light stays off for days or weeks, so I don't know if that is relevant to the starting problem.

As the problem is temperature related my guess is that a temperature sensor somewhere has failed, but I don't know where to look.

Anyone got any ideas?

Thanks

26 minutes ago, David Focus06 said:

Anyone got any ideas?

Use FORScan and get the actual Ford specific DTC's 

The more you use easy start the more it will become addicted to it and you'll have to use it forever.

You may have high carbon build up with that much mileage, that doesn't help.

When were the spark plugs, HT leads and the coil pack last changed?

Try running on E5 (Super) unleaded for a few months with some carbon removing additive in and see if that helps

Lean running can also mean Air filter blocked, MAF sensor fault or weak/dirty injectors

Also, check the crank position sensor is working correctly

And, as @unofix says, use FORScan, when the fault is active, to see what codes are coming up

 

13 hours ago, unofix said:

Use FORScan and get the actual Ford specific DTC's 

Thanks.

What is the recommended FORScan adapter? There seem to be a number out there at varying prices.

It doesn't need to be too expensive for a MK2 Focus, as long as it has the ability to switch between CANs

vLinker FS cable 

About £27 on Amazon. 

I have managed to connect FORScan to my basic bluetooth OBDII adaptor. I get the following DTC codes.

Do any of these explain my issue? Or do I need a better OBD adaptor to get the full picture?

Stuck purge valve will cause starting issues.  That's probably the fault.  Although with so many codes it could be a dodgy loom multiplug somewhere.

Yep, purge valve and COMMs issues, suspect faulty instrument cluster or CAN wiring somewhere

11 hours ago, David Focus06 said:

Or do I need a better OBD adaptor to get the full picture?

That adapter will only talk on one network.

When you get a proper cable you will find you have loads more codes

i have obtained a vLinker FS cable  and reread the DTCs. I get exactly the same list as posted earlier.

What other checks should I be doing with FORSCAN?

Purge valve looks to be a possible cause, but where is it on a Focus Mk2, and what checks can I do to see if that is the problem?