Focus Starting Problems

Malc · 3 May 2012 at 13:42

I recently bought a 55 plate 2.0l Mk2 Petrol Focus. I got the garage to give the car a service before I collected it. I checked the oil level the other day and it was about 5mm above the full level on the dipstick. The oil looks pretty clean so it does point to them changing it.

I have been having an odd intermitent problem with starting the car when warm in the sense that it will try and catch but nothing happens until I press the accelerator and then the car catches and starts. This will happen roughly every 1 in 5 warm starts. I'm not sure if there is a link with the time stood after stopping and the starting problem as I haven't tested for it.

I don't think the garage would have over filled the oil so I think that could be a symptom of the problem. I'm going to change the oil over the weekend and then check the levels regularly over the next 1000 miles to see if the high oil level is a symptom. Something could be getting into the oil. There is no gunk on the bottom of the oil cap so that suggests that it's not coolant. It could be petrol though.

Any idea as to what is wrong?

bledd · 3 May 2012 at 14:00

Plugs/battery?

Silent Bob · 3 May 2012 at 17:29

I've got a 1.8 petrol mk2 focus and have the same issue occasionally. Like you say it starts fine when you touch the accelerator. Oil level is between min and max on mine. It hasn't bothered me enough to get it looked at so I'm afraid I can't be of any more help.

Ezee84 · 3 May 2012 at 22:44

Interestingly I have the exact same issue on my mk6 Fiesta 1.25 although mine happens maybe once or twice every 3-4 months.

Changed plugs which made no difference whatsoever. Ford couldn't replicate the issue when they had it in for a service/MOT but it doesn't bother me enough either at the moment to get it looked at properly.

blueboy2001 · 4 May 2012 at 14:06

I have this problem too on a Mk6 Fiesta 1.4. It's only occasionally, and it will always start second time. It's more of an irritation really. Some say they never get to the bottom of it.

Plugs, leads and coil packs will tend to manifest themselves as a misfire if they're on their way out. The oil level being slightly over is highly unlikely to be the cause.

I was initially thinking idle air control valve, but apparently the drive by wire cars (ie all of the above) don't have one.

The best explanation I've come up with so far is a slightly sticky throttle butterfly, which I have seen reported elsewhere and seems to fit the symptoms. Having witnessed it my instinct is that it appears to be air rather than fuel related. I reckon the butterfly sticks slightly on the first start, then by the second, or with application of the throttle, it frees itself and moves correctly. Seems logical to me?

My intention is to gently clean the circumference of the butterfly with carb cleaner, then apply some GT85. I'm doing a full service, front brakes and looking at this on the car tomorrow, will report back.

Morbius · 4 May 2012 at 14:08

I have the same issue, albeit far less frequently.

cwhitehead · 4 May 2012 at 14:10

less frequent but most fords have the problem, i always guess at the imoboliser hasnt fully disengaged. turn off give 3 seconds then try again and it never fails to start

LEK-89 · 4 May 2012 at 15:47

blueboy2001 said:
I have this problem too on a Mk6 Fiesta 1.4. It's only occasionally, and it will always start second time. It's more of an irritation really. Some say they never get to the bottom of it.

Plugs, leads and coil packs will tend to manifest themselves as a misfire if they're on their way out. The oil level being slightly over is highly unlikely to be the cause.

I was initially thinking idle air control valve, but apparently the drive by wire cars (ie all of the above) don't have one.

The best explanation I've come up with so far is a slightly sticky throttle butterfly, which I have seen reported elsewhere and seems to fit the symptoms. Having witnessed it my instinct is that it appears to be air rather than fuel related. I reckon the butterfly sticks slightly on the first start, then by the second, or with application of the throttle, it frees itself and moves correctly. Seems logical to me?

My intention is to gently clean the circumference of the butterfly with carb cleaner, then apply some GT85. I'm doing a full service, front brakes and looking at this on the car tomorrow, will report back.

I think you will find they do have the Idle Control Valve's (well, yours at least anyway), as the 1.4 as well as the 1.25/1.6's are the Zetec-SE engines. The ICV is located right behind the engine inlet manifold.

Liam

Malc · 5 May 2012 at 08:18

Cheers for the replies.

I'm getting the oil changed today to see if the level is a symptom. If it stays low then I'm just going to accept the starting "problem" as a quirk and ignore it. The car's not worth enough to bother investigating and by the sound of it, it's a common Ford thing.