Ford Focus 1.6 2001

paddy44

paddy44

paddy44

Associate
Joined
3 Jan 2011
Posts
7
I cannot start my focus, I parked it on the drive and 4 days latter it won"t start , the engine turns overs there,s a strong smell of petrol so it not fuel problem, I Put a code reader on it and it come up with 0232 which is fuel relay high. relay tested ok, I have changed the coil pack,spark plugs,HT Leads and crank shaft censor but still no joy any one got any idears.
 
Does the car have a lift pump?
If so can you hear it? , maybe worth a checking it if you can't.

Fuel relay would point me to a lift pump or lift pump relay fault.
 
Might be worth resetting the fuel pump cut off to try and clear the error. When you put the ignition switch to position II can you hear the fuel pump prime? It'll be a very distinct buzz/whirr from under the passenger seat.
 
does it even 'try' to catch? is there a spark?

mine had a very, very odd problem - one day it wouldn't start. wouldn't even catch. had a mate whip the injectors off, check the plugs and he found nothing wrong - put it back together and it started first time! he was baffled by it. lol
 
Spark plugs the correct ones/ gaped correctly?
ECU could have gone west
injectors fueling correctly?
Earth strap corroded?
Is the starter spinning fast enough?
 
Fuel leak from the pump/filter area?

Had a look under the car to check if it's dropped any fuel?

If it's too dark to see, just hold up a match while you look under the car.
 
paddy44 said:
Light travel faster than sound thats why some people appear bright till they open they mouth,
Click to expand...

Quote of the month! :D
okay, eliminate the obvious.... a petrol engine need 3 things to run, Fuel, Air and Spark. you say you can smell petrol, This would suggest to me that there is Fuel getting to the engine and its flooding due to cranking. Im not saying im right though, Maybe take the plugs out and see if they are wet

Next eliminate an ignition issue, Take a plug out still connected to an HT lead and earth it against the block or head or any other clean bit of metal near by. Crank it over and check for a spark. If thats okay then look down towards maybe a vacuum leak ECT, Take a look over on ffoc.co.uk too :)

Unfortunately the generic code readers can be somewhat inaccurate as they only look to generic OBD, Fault codes can vary by manufacturer
 
Last edited:
paddy44 said:
Light travel faster than sound thats why some people appear bright till they open they mouth,
Click to expand...

It was a light hearted jibe tacked on the end of a serious post.

If you cant hear the fuel pump prime, but can smell fuel, I would have thought that maybe the pump is damaged somewhat. I don't know exactly where the pump is on my Focus, but I know from when I changed the fuel filter that its quite exposed underneath the car, so an easy check; I know you've already changed it, but when I changed mine, I know how hard it is to re-clip the hoses together.

I know this after ending up with a mouth full of petrol :/
 
I have had another play about with it again but no joy, but it tryed to fire a couple of time when i played around the fuel cut off switch.
 
Might be a daft question, but have you tried firing it up with the sparkplugs pulled out one at a time so you can visibly inspect each plug to see if your getting a good spark?
 
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