To date, including last winter, I have had no problems cold starting the focus (2001 / 1.6 petrol). The car had a new battery fitted around May of this year.
The car has been standing for the last two days as I have been using the BMW, and it's not unusual for the car to stand for a couple of days at a time - usually without fault.
Today I tried to start the car, it turned over on the starter motor absolutely fine and near as damnit started within the usual second or so it takes to fire. As soon as I released the key to sit in the normal running 'II' position the engine stopped.
I tried to restart and it was like there was little power in the battery, it sounded dull and like it was struggling, but turning the engine, albeit slower than usual, nonetheless. I keep it turning for about 10 seconds, foot about half down on the throttle but it refused to fire.
I turned off the fans, and radio and tried again. After four circa 10 second blasts it started to sound like it was firing occasionally, perhaps on one or two cylinders. The fifth attempt it started almost as usual - perhaps taking three seconds to fire, and once running it was absolutely fine.
Now as it started 'fine' on the first attempt and the engine continued to turn over in start conditions I am not too suspicious of the battery, although my first instinct was the battery wasn't a fan of the cold.
What else could cause such symptoms? Perhaps ignition? The car had a new coil pack (one for all pots) earlier in the year too.
Edit: I should mention that I let it run for 5 minutes and then turned it off and restarted the engine, without any problem whatsoever. I went to my parent's house and stayed there for several hours, before starting the car to come home, again without fault. On the way home I stopped at the shop, and started the engine again, no problem whatsoever, so this seems to be an isolated incident.
The car has been standing for the last two days as I have been using the BMW, and it's not unusual for the car to stand for a couple of days at a time - usually without fault.
Today I tried to start the car, it turned over on the starter motor absolutely fine and near as damnit started within the usual second or so it takes to fire. As soon as I released the key to sit in the normal running 'II' position the engine stopped.
I tried to restart and it was like there was little power in the battery, it sounded dull and like it was struggling, but turning the engine, albeit slower than usual, nonetheless. I keep it turning for about 10 seconds, foot about half down on the throttle but it refused to fire.
I turned off the fans, and radio and tried again. After four circa 10 second blasts it started to sound like it was firing occasionally, perhaps on one or two cylinders. The fifth attempt it started almost as usual - perhaps taking three seconds to fire, and once running it was absolutely fine.
Now as it started 'fine' on the first attempt and the engine continued to turn over in start conditions I am not too suspicious of the battery, although my first instinct was the battery wasn't a fan of the cold.
What else could cause such symptoms? Perhaps ignition? The car had a new coil pack (one for all pots) earlier in the year too.
Edit: I should mention that I let it run for 5 minutes and then turned it off and restarted the engine, without any problem whatsoever. I went to my parent's house and stayed there for several hours, before starting the car to come home, again without fault. On the way home I stopped at the shop, and started the engine again, no problem whatsoever, so this seems to be an isolated incident.
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