Help with Ford Focus '05 Flashing Engine Warning Light

Magic_x_uk

Magic_x_uk

Magic_x_uk

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Joined
11 Oct 2005
Posts
5,717
Location
Derbyshire
Hi, just driven home from work and the car felt like it was starved of fuel (even though plenty of fuel)

2005 Ford Focus Petrol 1.6 Zetec Climate.

Engine Warning Light was flashing. Drive home was only 7 miles.

Car felt sluggish at times, Sort of like it was starved of fuel now and then. Bumpy kind of driving. I have no idea whatsoever when it comes to cars. Wondered if anyone on here could possibly give any ideas?


Thank you
 
just have my local mechanic do me a service. Thats it.

Just been out to start it and it 'sounds' like also a wobbly (perhaps blowing) exhaust. When I turn the engine off, the exhaust sounds like it is hitting something when it is turned off maybe not hitting something, more metal against metal, like perhaps a exhaust support bit is loose.
 
Can I look at the spark plugs and see if there not working before buying some to replace?

I am of work tomorrow. So prepared to sort this (If I can at all). Like I said. I know nothing about cars.

But I am sure I can change a spark plug, if that is what it could be.
 
I do not know if any garages are open today to have a look. Or if Car auto part stores have code readers in them to help.

That is why I asked if looking at the spark plugs would i see anything obvious. I will ring a few in a while and see if any open.
 
Well I will open the bonnet in a while and pull them out and see if anything is obvious with them. Always something with cars :(

Appreciate your help trying to diagnose this guys :)
 
Okay Just taken of those rubber things that go over the spark plugs.

There seems to be a bit of water if you shine a torch down the holes to look at the top of the spark plugs.

Pulled all the spark plugs out, some were gunky, sort of brown rust coloured gunk on them, wiped them.

BUT on spark plug 4. I got it out but I think there is a problem,

WHAT has happened? looks like part of spark plug has broken? How do I get the other bit out ? HELP

what do i do now please.

Could this be the problem. or has perhaps this just happened with me removing the spark plug?



OH NO
 
okay just shined a torch i have down the hole to the spark plug, the end of the torch is also magnetic and it is picking up a lot of gunk that is obviously magnetic.

still no idea how to get the threaded part of the spark plug out
 
Fuzz said:
Now you're ****ed! :eek:

That's turned into a bit of a disaster then!
Best you can do is get some left handed drill bits and drill VERY carefully up to the size of the threads, if the heat helps extract the remainder of the spark plug as you drill, you win. If not you may as well save yourself the grief and go straight to buying a helicoil kit for the correct size, then drill and tap the cylinder head..

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/M14-X-1-2...074?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item4173f63352

Get that sort of kit, as you get the correct drill bit, the correct tap, the insert and the insert tool.
(Make sure that is the correct thread size before purchase though)

Oh and use plenty of grease on both the drill bit and the tap, (drill a bit, re-grease, drill a bit re-grease etc) as this will serve to catch the bulk of the swarf produced.

Fish what you can out afterwards with the magnet but the bulk of the swarf will be aluminium so non magnetic, best you can hope for is probably turn the engine over so that piston is as high as possible with the exhaust valve open and then blow the remainder out with an airline and brake cleaner (if you don't use some sort of solvent with the airline the swarf will just stick to the oil coating the bore)

Good luck.
Click to expand...

Thanks, But no chance. I could never do any of that. I have no knowledge of cars. I damage everything I touch. I am surprised this laptop is still working.

I think it will need to go to my mechanic now. :(

Just checked on line and apparently water in the spark plug well on ford focus is a huge known problem.

Water from the washer jets above it leaks onto spark plug area and fill it. Ford are aware of this and there is new washer jet seals available.
 
cheers guys, well my day of is so far depressing to say the least. Always something to go wrong. So a simple £4 spark plug could possibly turn into something expensive.
 
Just checked my service receipts. Cannot find 2012 receipt yet. But both 2010 and 2011 state x4 spark plugs @£3 each fitted as well as service.
 
Last edited:
Okay got a guy to have a look at it (he is a mechanic) but not till next weekend. No problem as I can use bike to get to and from work. Not ideal, but hay ho.

He has looked at the photo's of the spark plugs and thinks they look a lot older than 2011 or even 2010 as stated on my garage invoices.

He has said around £120 for labour to take head off. But will try and remove thread first. I buy the parts. He mentioned Head Gasket, timing belt and x4 spark plugs.


Update:

Just had my garage phone me, managed to track down there mobile number.

They have assured me they fitted new plugs. Either way. I am dropping keys of for them tomorrow morning and they will tow it down to there garage (very close, would take 3 minutes to walk to there from my house) and look at it and try and remove it.

What a nightmare. Hope they sort it.
 
Well I have spent all my day off googling this problem.

Mine looked just like these photo's in this Gentleman's post
http://www.fordownersclub.com/forum...h-pictures/?p=100601&fromsearch=1#entry100601

Just hope they get it out, sort it and it is back to normal.

The car's ODC gave these codes. Which did not help with anything anyhow. 9601 and 9681.
So really hoping it is all just to do with the spark plugs.

There goes all my plans for a restful day off!

Always something isn't there.
 
Just dropped keys of at the garage. Mechanic says they have taken snapped plugs out before so hopefully will come out.

Will wait and see
 
Car fixed. Picked it up yesterday.

They got the snapped plug out.
New Oil & Filter
x2 new Heated washer jets (original Ford ones known to leak, Ford revised these, but didn't issue a recall notice)
x4 new spark plugs

Also fixed Exhaust Heat guard which had rusted through its fixing mounts.

£220

At least it is done now.

So far the car seems to drive and appear fine now.
 
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