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Ford Focus fuel problems.
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hokihi82
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Jul 11, 2013, 6:27 PM
Post #1 of 13
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Ford Focus fuel problems.
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Got a quick question for you guys. I have a 2001 Ford Focus SE 2.0 engine with about 160,000 miles on it. Recently driving it home, while going up a steep hill I lost all power. I struggled with it for about 5 miles and finally got it parked at a grocery store parking lot for the night. The next day I crawled under it and replaced the fuel filter. When i removed the hose from the inlet side I got a good amount of brownish liquid coming from the filter and the line itself. I assumed I had ran it too low on gas and caused it to suck sludge out of the tank. After finishing the repair and putting some gas in it I noticed the problem was better but not gone. I drove it halfway home and had to stop at a store. When I tried to start the car back up it would turn but it wouldn't fire. I finally got it going after letting it sit for a minute and it seemed to run quite a bit better although not optimal. One thing to mention, when it was running at it's worst, it would idle so low as to cause the power steering and brakes problems. We're talking 5 mph max and sounding like a riding mower. Hills were an impossibility and it would stall at random times. RPM's were pretty much where they should be and I had exhaust coming from the pipe so I didn't really think it was the catcon.
Any thoughts?
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 11, 2013, 6:58 PM
Post #2 of 13
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Re: Ford Focus fuel problems.
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Just for FYI if there junk laying in the bottom of the tank, the fuel level in the tank doesn't have to be low for the fuel pump to pick that up.
if you can get it to stall again and not restart, then follow the instructions on this link:
http://autoforums.carjunky.com/...LL_NOT_START_P75655/
Is the check engine light on? If so, have the PCM scanned and write down the trouble code numbers.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Jul 11, 2013, 7:19 PM)
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hokihi82
Novice
Jul 11, 2013, 10:49 PM
Post #3 of 13
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Re: Ford Focus fuel problems.
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Thanks for the reply and the link. I still have a couple things to try on it. I had forgotten but a couple years ago I had to put an ignition coil on it for very similar symptoms. I just need to figure out how to test that specifically other than just eyeballing it.
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jul 12, 2013, 3:05 AM
Post #4 of 13
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Re: Ford Focus fuel problems.
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So, in other words, you don't need our advice and will proceed your own way.
GOOD LUCK
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We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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hokihi82
Novice
Jul 12, 2013, 8:05 AM
Post #5 of 13
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Re: Ford Focus fuel problems.
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Actually that's not it at all. Just starting a string of six days straight of twelve hour shifts. Gonna be hard to get it to a shop to run diagnostics for a while. I do have a few hours a night to work on it in the meantime though, so I'd like to be able to cross a few things out before I take it somewhere.
(This post was edited by hokihi82 on Jul 12, 2013, 8:34 AM)
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jul 17, 2013, 1:57 PM
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Re: Ford Focus fuel problems.
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Gotta get it to quit as said already. 1st is to find out what is missing, spark or fuel DELIVERY and pressure.
Bad gas has been pretty rare to me but not impossible. If you can put some in a glass jar to see it from inlet side of fuel filter.
You really need to own a spark tester - not expensive.
One more, are you up to date on timing belt?
T
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hokihi82
Novice
Jul 17, 2013, 2:27 PM
Post #7 of 13
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Re: Ford Focus fuel problems.
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I actually got in it yesterday to take it to the parts store to have them run a diagnostic on it and it worked fine. Drove it about ten miles and the issues never popped up. The only thing I did was the fuel filter. I don't think the gas itself was bad really, I just think I may have some gunk in the tank. The gas that came out of the inlet side of the filter looked a lot like water from a water heater with a lot of iron in it. As for the timing belt, I've never put one on it before.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jul 17, 2013, 2:58 PM
Post #8 of 13
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Re: Ford Focus fuel problems.
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Run don't walk even if this isn't the problem at hand. Engine is "interferrance" and will self destruct. It's a kit for this car to be changed probably at 60-70K or 6 or so years! Yikes!
You can't see it but the parts look like this.............
Site where pic came from is notorisly screwed up but you are way past borrowed time for just this,
T
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hokihi82
Novice
Jul 17, 2013, 3:07 PM
Post #9 of 13
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Re: Ford Focus fuel problems.
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Oh. Thanks for the heads up on that. I'll try to grab one. I'll admit that isn't a job I've tried yet. Being pretty mechanically inclined, would this be something I could undertake myself or would I just be asking for trouble?
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jul 17, 2013, 3:16 PM
Post #10 of 13
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Re: Ford Focus fuel problems.
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Can only guess your know how, tools so for now I'd send that job out to the shop of your choice. These things are critically important!
Tom
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hokihi82
Novice
Jul 17, 2013, 3:27 PM
Post #11 of 13
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Re: Ford Focus fuel problems.
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Will do. Thanks guys. I appreciate it!
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Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jul 17, 2013, 3:33 PM
Post #12 of 13
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Re: Ford Focus fuel problems.
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Don't be overly concerned with the timing belt. This is not an interference engine and will not do any damage if it breaks but you will have to get towed in if it happens.
The DOHC requires some special tools but I don't think the SOHC does.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
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Jul 21, 2013, 9:09 AM
Post #13 of 13
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Re: Ford Focus fuel problems.
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Can't argue interference or not but an important thing whatever info is correct. Both 2.0s are listed at one place as interference but also just found this as the change out interval which surprised me?
TIMING BELT REPLACEMENT SCHEDULE 2001 Ford Focus 2.0L MFI SOHC SPI 4cyl The Timing Belt Replacement Schedule
It is recommended to replace at 120,000 miles
************************************************* When info go wrong it doesn't get corrected fast or at all - arggh, T
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