Main IndexAuto Repair Home Search Posts SEARCH
POSTS
Who's Online WHO'S
ONLINE
Log in LOG
IN









Search Auto Parts

2002 Ford Focus Idle problem


  Email This Post



Tk27
New User

Aug 3, 2011, 4:25 PM

Post #1 of 9 (28835 views)
  post locked   2002 Ford Focus Idle problem  

2002 Ford Focus SOHC
My daughters car started a couple of weeks ago, when the car warms up its hard to get accelation at a stop and idle rough. It smooth out some once you get moving.
Replaced catalytic converter $658.00 California emissions , fuel pump and still didnt help. No codes have ever come up in the computer. Took to a mechanic thats the best in town diagnosing hard to fine problems. He has given up and said must be in the computer even though he gets no codes. He replaced the fuel pump and module (Ford Part) and it didnt help, he checked exhaust , mass air flow sensors, and so on. He said its ok until the car warms up. He a great mechanic and he worked on it for a week trying to find the problem. Any ideals would be appreciated. Thanks


Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Discretesignals profile image

Aug 3, 2011, 5:02 PM

Post #2 of 9 (28804 views)
  post locked   Re: 2002 Ford Focus Idle problem  

Does it feel like it is misfiring? Did you mechanic use a high end scan tool to look at mode$06 info to see if there are any misfires going on in TID $53? If it is misfiring, it may have not reached the threshold for creating a trouble code yet. What are the long and short term fuel trims reading when the problem is occurring?


Here is an interesting TSB that may relate:

Article No.04-9-105/11/04
^ DRIVEABILITY - ROUGH IDLE, LOW POWER AND/OR STALL AT IDLE WITH DIAGNOSTIC
TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) P0300-P0304 STORED IN MEMORY - VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.0L SPI ENGINE ONLY^

ELECTRICAL - MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ILLUMINATED - DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) P0300-P0304 STORED IN MEMORY -
VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.0L SPI ENGINE ONLY
FORD:1997-2002 ESCORT2000-2002 FOCUS MERCURY: 1997-1999 TRACER

This article supersedes TSB 02-09-01 to update the service and part information.

ISSUE
Some vehicles equipped with the 2.0L SPI engine may exhibit a malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) illuminated and diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0300 through P0304 stored in memory. The vehicle may also have a rough idle or reduced power condition, and/or may stall at an idle. This may be caused by sticking exhaust valves due to excessive carbon build-up.

ACTION

Check for faulty fuel injectors and ignition wires. One or more exhaust valves may be temporarily sticking due to carbon build-up between the valve stem and guide. If the diagnostic checks point to a sticking exhaust valve, the cylinder head assembly may need to be replaced with a new level cylinder head assembly with revised valve guides, revised exhaust valves will also need to be installed to help prevent carbon build-up. Refer to the following Service Procedure for details.

SERVICE PROCEDURE
NOTE THIS PROCEDURE APPLIES ONLY TO THE 2.0L SPI ENGINE.This condition usually results in misfire when the engine returns to idle after running approximately 2000 RPM or higher.

1. Use the worldwide diagnostic system (WDS) to test for Power Balance with the engine at idle. Check for cylinder misfire. If misfire is occurring constantly, go to Step 3.

If misfire is not occurring, attempt to induce misfire by performing the following step:
a. Apply the parking brake and keep the transmission in Park or Neutral. Bring the engine to approximately 2800 RPM and hold for one (1) minute. Check the WDS Power Balance display while holding engine speed constant. Allow the engine to return to idle and watch the WDS Power Balance display for a misfiring cylinder.

2. If WDS Power Balance indicates a misfiring cylinder with the previous test, one or more exhaust valves may be intermittently sticking due to carbon build-up between the valve stem and guide. Replace the cylinder head with the new level cylinder head with revised valve guides. Once stock is exhausted of the loaded cylinder heads, the cylinder head will come bare so revised exhaust valves will need to be installed in place of the original valves. The revised valve guides and exhaust valves help prevent carbon build-up.

Consult the appropriate model year Workshop Manual for removal and installation procedures for the Cylinder Head Assembly.

3. If WDS Power Balance did not indicate a misfiring cylinder with the previous test or a misfire is occurring constantly, the misfire may not be due to a sticking exhaust valve. Refer to the appropriate model year Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) Service Manual for further diagnosis. Other possible causes may be, worn or arcing ignition wires, base engine compression, fuel injectors, fuel injector harness resistance or PCM injector driver signal. Perform diagnosis and repair as necessary.

4. After completing either Step 2 or Step 3, replace the PCV Valve (YS4Z-6A666-AC) (Motorcraft EV-244) on model year 2000-2002 Focus or 2000-2002 Escort. Vacuum fluctuations from engine misfire may prematurely wear the PCV valve on those applications.NOTE THE CYLINDER HEAD ASSEMBLIES LISTED BELOW WILL BE BARE CASTINGS ONCE SUPPLY OF LOADED HEADS IS EXHAUSTED, IN MOST CASES IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO REPLACE ONLY THE PARTS LISTED BELOW, ALL OTHER PARTS CAN BE REUSED.





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.

(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Aug 3, 2011, 5:09 PM)


Tk27
New User

Aug 3, 2011, 5:53 PM

Post #3 of 9 (28796 views)
  post locked   Re: 2002 Ford Focus Idle problem  


In Reply To
Does it feel like it is misfiring? Did you mechanic use a high end scan tool to look at mode$06 info to see if there are any misfires going on in TID $53? If it is misfiring, it may have not reached the threshold for creating a trouble code yet. What are the long and short term fuel trims reading when the problem is occurring?

It has misfired... Thank you for the information , i was just trying to get better informed before i go to the dealer..The catalytic converter was deferentially bad, he showed it to me, I dont know if that helps.




zmame
Veteran / Moderator
zmame profile image

Aug 3, 2011, 7:13 PM

Post #4 of 9 (28776 views)
  post locked   Re: 2002 Ford Focus Idle problem  

I would take coil pack off an inspect it for cracks. Also check spark wire terminal for signs of carbon or rust.. These cars are famous for engine mounts too they shake alot when idle in gear stopped.

Also check actual fuel pressure and with scanner and make sure they match.. The pump voltage is controlled by the fuel pump module and fuel rail pressure sensor to regulate pressure.. if the pressure sensor is not reading properly it will cause low or high fuel pressures.

In some 2.0L SPI SOHC have been knowen to fracture or drop valve seats causing low compression on a cylinder(usally #4 cylinder). This can be checked with a compression test.

Check fuel trims with scanner make sure they are within + or - 5% on short and long.

Also if the old converter came apart there is a chance that a part of it is still stuck in the exhaust somewhere and plugging the exhaust periodically. This can be checked with back pressure gauge or you can use a vacumm gauge to check for backpressure..

EGR could be partially stuck open.


Tk27
New User

Aug 3, 2011, 8:32 PM

Post #5 of 9 (28769 views)
  post locked   Re: 2002 Ford Focus Idle problem  

Thanks guys for your input


zx5user
New User

Aug 8, 2012, 2:58 PM

Post #6 of 9 (24868 views)
  post locked   Re: 2002 Ford Focus Idle problem  

Just fixed my idle problem by replacing the overdrive solenoid. It gave all the symptoms of fueling problems before
the solenoid actually failed and gave out a failure code. I took it to the dealer twice and an Indepedent shop once,
all said everything was fine with the fueling/emissions system, no error codes.

My mechanic has a theory - he thinks the Overdrive solenoid starts to fail before it will give an error code.
During the failure it will keep the torque converter locked up at times when it should not be. This puts
a strain on the engine that reduces its ability to keep a normal idle and even causes the car not to idle,
but you can rev it up and keep in going. It is intermittant which is the problem.

This solenoid is a common failure part, it is very small and is probably an systemic engineering flaw
in an automatic Focus from your era. Chevy had the similar problem part. You will see many complaints and problems
with this part and the electric window regulators on this model. The selonoid will fail again.


nickwarner
Veteran / Moderator
nickwarner profile image

Aug 8, 2012, 3:04 PM

Post #7 of 9 (24865 views)
  post locked   Re: 2002 Ford Focus Idle problem  

While that was indeed good to know, this thread is a year old. I'm sure the poster has taken care of it. Please read the forum rules at the top of the catergory. When you post to an old thread like this everyone who has ever posted to it gets an email notification and for us who are mods here the inbox gets full fast. For the people who made the thread it gets annoying. Please look at dates prior to posting a reply from now on.


zx5user
New User

Aug 8, 2012, 3:05 PM

Post #8 of 9 (24865 views)
  post locked   Re: 2002 Ford Focus Idle problem  


In Reply To
2002 Ford Focus SOHC
My daughters car started a couple of weeks ago, when the car warms up its hard to get accelation at a stop and idle rough. It smooth out some once you get moving.
Replaced catalytic converter $658.00 California emissions , fuel pump and still didnt help. No codes have ever come up in the computer. Took to a mechanic thats the best in town diagnosing hard to fine problems. He has given up and said must be in the computer even though he gets no codes. He replaced the fuel pump and module (Ford Part) and it didnt help, he checked exhaust , mass air flow sensors, and so on. He said its ok until the car warms up. He a great mechanic and he worked on it for a week trying to find the problem. Any ideals would be appreciated. Thanks



Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Aug 8, 2012, 4:17 PM

Post #9 of 9 (24857 views)
  post locked   Re: 2002 Ford Focus Idle problem  

What part of don't post to this old thread didn't you understand?



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.







  Email This Post
 
 


Feed Button




Search for (options) Privacy Sitemap