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2002 ford focus dies when idleing
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doohan
New User
May 10, 2008, 12:30 AM
Post #1 of 2
(5806 views)
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2002 ford focus dies when idleing
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got an 02 ford focus that dies when its at a stop sign or idleing, need to find out what wrong asap before work on monday. oil is fine and bought this car from a cert. mechanic but cant ever get it back to him since this is the only car my husband and i have right now. i was thinking ecm or fuel filter but the fuel filter wont cause the car to die.
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brbettge
User
May 10, 2008, 6:09 AM
Post #2 of 2
(5800 views)
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Re: 2002 ford focus dies when idleing
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Hi! Over the years I have seen this a number of times. Most often it comes down to a very dirty throttle plate. This, of course depends on the miles on the car. If it has over; say; 30K miles the plate is probably in need of cleaning. It's a pretty easy job to do requiring only a toothbrush, a screwdriver, and a can of spray carburetor cleaner. First find the air filter. Follow the big tube from the air filter over to where it attaches to the engine. Now disconnect the tube from the engine using the screwdriver or the appropriate tool (could be you would need a 10mm socket wrench). Pull the tube away from the engine and look into the pipe it was attached to. You will see a round piece of metal with a small round piece of metal across the center of it. On the outside of the pipe on one end or the other of the round piece of metal (this is your throttle plate) you will find a half circle looking thing with a cable attached. Turn this as you look into the pipe and you will see the throttle plate open and then close as you release the cable. Spray a little carb cleaner on your toothbrush and while holding the throttle plate "open" (so you can see into the pipe) scrub the plate on both sides with the toothbrush. It will take several times of soaking the toothbrush and scrubbing to get the plate clean. You may want to get an old rag and soak it with carb cleaner, reach into the pipe with the rag around a finger and scrub the plate this way. Be sure to clean both sides of the plate. Be careful about spraying the carb cleaner into the pipe as this could foul your sparkplugs and make the engine difficult to start. Also keep in mind that carb cleaner or throttle plate cleaners are very volitile (a fire hazard/ flammable) and are known carcinagins ( they are poison). Be aware that this car has a "learned" idle. It takes a few cycles of operation before it can re-learn it's correct idle speed and may indeed die a few times before it learns. Hope this helps, rick
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