My 2010 49k mile Focus 1.8 Petrol has an annoying habit of being a bit "snatchy" and heistant when pulling away, only to suddenly want to lurch forwards or try to wheelspin once it sorts itself out. Is this a known issue with the Duratec HEs or is it more likely to be a case of needing some new plugs or similar?

My 1.6 petrol used to do that too seems to have sorted out over time with servicing. Try cleaning your throttle body the 1.8 has issues with dirt build up and faulty throttle bodies.

15 hours ago, F0CUE said:

My 1.6 petrol used to do that too seems to have sorted out over time with servicing. Try cleaning your throttle body the 1.8 has issues with dirt build up and faulty throttle bodies.

I cleaned the throttle body on my wife's MK2.5 58 plate 1.8 petrol earlier in the year and the engine side of the plate was disgusting!  Well worth giving it a clean.

Thanks for the suggestions chaps. Are there any special precautions to take with cleaning a fly-by-wire throttle body? Or is it the same case of gently open  the throttle plate fully and give it a good dose of carb cleaner and a brush?

18 minutes ago, rhyds said:

Thanks for the suggestions chaps. Are there any special precautions to take with cleaning a fly-by-wire throttle body? Or is it the same case of gently open  the throttle plate fully and give it a good dose of carb cleaner and a brush?

Just make sure it's removed from the car AND the electrical connector is disconnected otherwise it may decide to do a "sweep" and remove a few of your fingers.

Sounds like a plan! I take it there's only a rubber O-ring seal to worry about?

Yep. Green, recessed. Here's mine after I cleaned the k-rap out of it. 2010 1.8 Duratec HE.

Do you need to replace the o ring seal or is it safe to reuse it? Only asking cause I'm doing my T/B on my 2.0 at the wkend and am wondering if it worth buying a new seal.

I had a good look at the one on mine, and as it wasn't damaged, I just re-used it. If you're worried, new seals are only a few quid. ISTR someone telling me they're abut a fiver from a decent motor factors.

I'm at my local ford dealer tomorrow I'll ask em. Then prob faint at their prices!!! 

Thanks everyone. I had a quick look at the manual and it says I need to take off two coolant hoses. Is this right or can the job be done without doing so on a 2010 1.8?

40 minutes ago, rhyds said:

Thanks everyone. I had a quick look at the manual and it says I need to take off two coolant hoses. Is this right or can the job be done without doing so on a 2010 1.8?

I did the same job on the wife's MK2.5 (2009) 1.8 petrol about 3 months ago and didn't have to disconnect any coolant hoses.

Pretty much just removed to pipe from the airbox to the throttle body and a few bolts, couple of connectors etc.

Lookers ford Sheffield, £10 for new gasket.. 

Well did my throttle body this morning. Easy job,  longest part was removing air box to get better access to the bottom bolts. 

It wasn't in gr8 condition but cleaned up well and the car is a lot less snatchy now at low revs. Put a new gasket on it even though the old one was OK. 

That's a heck of a difference!

Wasnt even finished result. Took all corrosion off it too. It's made the world of difference. Especially when pulling away with low revs

What did you use to clean it, was it carb cleaner, brake cleaner or proper throttle body cleaner. Plan on doing mine in the near future as well. Don't you have to get the throttle body to relearn it's values by letting it idle for 30 or something, 

I used stp carb cleaner and a small brush.. Read that using brake cleaner was a no no. Once id refitted it I turned the ignition on for a minute before starting the car, without touching throttle for that time, and it's been fine. Had read that your ment to turn key to position 2 n then leave for 30-60 seconds but I've got keyless start so just turned car on but didn't start engine. Believe leaving it that long is ment to allow the ecu to relearn its closed position etc.. Either way mines working fine lol..