hi there,

Im stuck in a bit of bother, I bought a 2004 Ford Focus TDCI about 85K on the clock. Car was being used to drive to and from Aberdeen so i know that short journeys are not the issue.

Car was running fine up until i went to check an oil leak but when i got to the old mans he told me that the car wont start.

the issue was progressive and now wont strat completely.

1st port of call was to stick in the OBD2 which came up error of EGR flow insufficient. so took the EGR off and sat it in some Jizer overnight good clean out and yet to no avail.

I have changed the Cam sensor as this i know is an issue with them and again this has done nothing,

I have tried to bump start again nothing.

After reading through online forums ive seen that this is a problem on this model of Focus, there seems to be no solid evidence as to what the fault is and after checking online ive seen people spend thousands with nothing but a hefty bill and a dud Focus.

Im needing some help before i end up spending more than the car is worth. Some pointers would be great.

Thanks

Ian

When you say it wont start, what are the symptoms?

Turning the key, do the lights come on?

do you hear a click or clunk?

does the engine turn over slowly or fast?

etc, some clues will help

car sounds like its about to turn over but just doesnt. keeps going till the car stops it. not really much else all the lights come on glow plug light comes on then off the door open light flashes when tryin to start with door open. this goes off when door is closed. im close to getting a set of plugs just incase then the fuel filter will be next.

Hi, try a can of easy start, undo drivers side intercooler pipe and with someone helping try starting and at the same time spraying easy start into the pipe, if the car starts then stops, it could possibly could be the diesel pump , also the fuel filter is worth changing.

Could be glow plugs (not so likely as its summer) and fuel filter a definite contender, especially as you say its been getting worse. But both these will only be the cause if the engine is spinning at a reasonable speed but doesn't fire up. A diesel only needs compression and fuel to fire up (the heat from the glow plugs justs helps when the fuel is cold

Another good contender on diesels is an air leak in the fuel line, check from the tank forwards to see if there are any wet spots

If its just about turning over but slowly then look to a duff battery, Earth, starter motor brushes etc

Have you tried a jump start to give it a bit more ooomph! rather than a bump start

Clear the fault codes and see if anything returns

Diesel pump is a possibility. Trying to narrow down before spending too much. The plugs are only 17 quid on ebay for 4 but I'll need to see when the fuel filter was last done. It's defo not starter or battery. The battery sitting at 14.2 I've checked the starter also. Cheers for your views on this

The glow plugs won't stop a tdci diesel starting in the temperatures we are getting just now.

Spraying easy start will prove you have compression but I'm afraid that's about it.

Is the engine turning over but not firing? Can you hear the starter turning it?

Yeah turning over but no start

WOW, a battery at 14.2 volts is very unusual, a fully charged lead acid of any type at rest is around 12.6 volts. Its the alternator that puts out those higher voltages

Get someone to lay down by fuel pump and listen when you turn on the ignition (fuel pump normally runs for a few seconds to pressurise the system and stops) and when you try to start the engine. You can normally hear them running. Any gurgling is a sure sign of air in the system

I'd guess fuel pump, filter or air leak in the fuel pipes

Sorry hit the wrong number meant 12.2 v and yeah I'll look into the fuel pump and the filter

That's better 12.2v isn't flat but its certainly not full either, I'd stick a charger on it, your going to need it full for testing and trying to crank it over once the fuel filter been changed to get the air out

Testing a static battery proves nothing. Joining up 8x AA batteries will give 12v bit they won't start an engine.

You need to have the battery load tested to prove it.

But if the engine is turning over, I would eliminate the battery.

Its not a lead acid battery its silvet calcium and all fords charge at 14.4v so the battery is fine smart charge charges the battery at 14.4v when cold decreasing as the electrolyte warms so not unusual have you tried the fuel cut off switch in the driver footwell

Its not a lead acid battery its silvet calcium and all fords charge at 14.4v so the battery is fine smart charge charges the battery at 14.4v when cold decreasing as the electrolyte warms so not unusual have you tried the fuel cut off switch in the driver footwell

Silver calcium batteries are STILL lead acid wet cells. The lead plates are doped with a small amount of silver and calcium. This allows them to take a 14.8 v charge without heating or damage, whereas normal lead acids can take 14.4v

Off charge, no rested car battery should be putting out more than 12.6v (100% charge) and should be maintained at above 12.4v to prevent sulphation

But we agreed very early in this thread that battery was not the issue, just suggested he should charge it cos he is going to be cranking a lot once he has done the fuel filter and needs to purge the air out

Sent from my iPad using Ford OC

On your obd what fuel pressure reading do you have this wil give a good indication if it is fuel related .should be looking at something like 4000 psi before it will fire .