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Tin top Q - 04' Focus running rough
Alan B - 20/6/09 at 10:55 PM

Hi Guys, my Focus is running a bit rough..it starts fine, revs OK, but stutters and coughs a bit under gentle to medium acceleration....flooring it in low gears seems fine.

I've had an OBD-11 code read and it shows nothing wrong (no check engine light on so no surprise)

Any ideas?

Cheers, Alan

Badger_McLetcher - 20/6/09 at 11:50 PM

Mine does the same on occasion, as does my dad's fiesta. Never really looked into it as it's never developed into a problem, just assumed the ECU is having a hiccup.

speedyxjs - 21/6/09 at 07:29 AM

I had a similar problem with my astra. I eventually (with the help mof locostbuilders ) diagnosed it to be the EGR valve. Unplugged it and all was fine. Problem is i think they test for NoX In america so you may have to replace it.

SteveWalker - 21/6/09 at 01:43 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Alan B
Hi Guys, my Focus is running a bit rough..it starts fine, revs OK, but stutters and coughs a bit under gentle to medium acceleration....flooring it in low gears seems fine.

I've had an OBD-11 code read and it shows nothing wrong (no check engine light on so no surprise)


I'm not sure about all this electronic diagnosis. On the one hand, my wife's Almera kept stalling at the lights when cold and the fault code was entirely correct (faulty water temperature sensor, so it was assuming the engine was up to temp when it was actually cold) and on the other hand I had a company Astra that had had the engine rebuit after the cam belt went at only 30000 miles and because it kept refusing to accelerate when pulling out to overtake, I had a data logger on it for two weeks. After two weeks the garage still couldn't diagnose the fault and Vauxhall themselves diagnosed a faulty EGR valve, it was replaced - the problem was still there. They then diagnosed an engine bay wiring harness fault, replacement cost £1200. Luckily when it went in for the work, an old school mechanic looked at it, changed the ignition leads and it was perfect after!

Out of interest, I now have a Focus and it appears that at least some fault codes can be read out yourself on the odometer display - it can also display various sensor readings including speed in mph or kph (that may sound useless, but I do go to France every so often and have found that under certain lighting conditions the kph figures on the speedo are nigh on impossible to read).

prawnabie - 21/6/09 at 01:57 PM

Ive done 4 of these problems that were caused buy leaking core plugs in between the spark plugs.

Fills up with water and causes running problems

Thanks

Shaun

Alan B - 21/6/09 at 04:41 PM

Thanks guys good tips so far...the guy who did the OBD-11 test said had I tried a can of fuel injector cleaner in the tank?

What is anyone's experience with this stuff? Bit sceptical myself to be honest..

speedyxjs - 21/6/09 at 06:32 PM

I use it all the time
Works wonders in our vans one of which has quite a bad running problem