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2007 Ford Focus startup and engine surging problems.
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countvalidus
New User
May 16, 2016, 1:49 AM
Post #1 of 5
(2346 views)
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2007 Ford Focus startup and engine surging problems.
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Hi,
First time poster to the forum, so hello everyone!
I have a 2007 Ford focus 2L with 89,000 mi on it. In fabulous mechanical condition despite a nagging problem that has been recently evolving into a bigger problem over time.
I bought the car a little over 2 years ago, and when I bought it the only odd behaviour was it seemed to take a longer time to start than the average car, but otherwise runs like a clock... No leaks, no pings, no ticks.
The starting issue slowly began worsening over the years to the point now that depending on the day (some days starts immediately) it can take 5 second of cranking and have a very very hesitant weak start. In the cold winter we are talking 10 second of cranking or more.
I have replaced the battery with a super expensive strong cell. Worried about the problem last fall before a long distance move to a new province I took it to the Ford dealership and got hosed out of 2000 dollars without a single improvement.
I took a long highway trip yesterday and now the car is starting to surge when coasting and accelerating. Nothing noticeable when idling.
I was told by the mechanic last fall that the alternator was strong, fuel pump was OK, all the normal culprits checked out OK, so they threw my money around buying some expensive sensor and charging me for a billion useless tests.
The car is a standard transmission and on warm days in summer it ( some days all day, some days not at all) the car with shake/shudder fairly heavily when taking off from stop despite the amount of gas I give it.
All of these issues showed up shortly after buying it, and the starting issue hasn't really worsened in the last year, but can be a huge problem in the cold winter days as a couple of times I was nearing my last few available cranks before it came to life.
I'm afraid it's now going to require some service soon, and I don't have the budget to be pissed away by another dealership. The car is still in great shape with relatively low miles, but I'm desperate for any possible solution so this aging car doesn't break me while trying to find this gremlin, that seems to now be slowly worsening.
I would appreciate any advice.
Thanks.
(This post was edited by countvalidus on May 16, 2016, 1:52 AM)
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 16, 2016, 3:20 AM
Post #2 of 5
(2325 views)
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Re: 2007 Ford Focus startup and engine surging problems.
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Seems like you plain need more capable help and doesn't require a "dealer" to be you best shop as independent shops can do just as well with this.
It isn't helping your car to continue driving it with a problem of this sort so sooner to find and fix the better. There should be codes to read even if no warning light is on as part of a request to diagnose why it's doing this which still can involve fuel pump and fuel delivery problems of several possible reasons on a long list.
So now at a new location I think your job is to find the right shop. Bring papers as to what was done for the 2,000 dollars that didn't fix it might help another tech taking it on.
Ask for a diagnosis and cost to fix first and agree when know for a go ahead from you. Make it understood you want this issue solved.
The diagnostic test will cost something but not the world in most cases and I do believe most techs/shops really want to fix problems and have satisfied customers not just parts tossed at it that seemed to have already happened and didn't work out,
T
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 16, 2016, 4:35 AM
Post #3 of 5
(2318 views)
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Re: 2007 Ford Focus startup and engine surging problems.
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Is the check engine light on? If so, what trouble code numbers are stored? What is the fuel pressure when it doesn't want to start? Has anyone actually changed the fuel filter on this?
What did they do that you paid $2000 for?
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 May 16, 2016, 4:36 AM)
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countvalidus
New User
May 25, 2016, 3:06 PM
Post #4 of 5
(2271 views)
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Re: 2007 Ford Focus startup and engine surging problems.
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Thanks for the suggestions guys. As an update I decided to systematically see if I can find more myself.
I started with replacing spark plugs; I was a bit discouraged when I saw that the previous owner appears to have already replaced them as they were in decent shape...but I continued. After pulling the right most spark plug and finding oil on it...I did some research and saw that it could be the head gasket, piston, or valve cover gasket. he mileage is very low, so I ruled out piston troubles. I checked my oil, and didn't see any water in my oil, so I crossed my fingers and ruled out head gasket. With the help of a family member we researched the valve cover gasket replacement, and did that over the weekend, and fantastic news...the surging is fixed.
It does appear that the intermittent weak/long start problem is still happening, and is likely unrelated, but I'm glad the much more problematic surging is fixed.
I would like to see the starting trouble resolved as well, but I really don't know where to start with that one. My check engine light has not come on during any of these problems, and 2 different mechanics had troubleshot the car without a finding.
Thanks.
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 25, 2016, 8:44 PM
Post #5 of 5
(2259 views)
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Re: 2007 Ford Focus startup and engine surging problems.
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Testing sure didn't work out for you as it isn't right. No engine should take a real 5-10 seconds to start by a watch - real time that's way too long.
What might have been tested last Fall doesn't count now. Also, dealers or independent shops is your choice only as good as the tech doing the work at either and equipment available.
I suggest since it seems you are not going to do any of the service or repairs yourself you find the right shop for diagnosis and what it needs and don't wait it's been too long already and can easily cause more harm to wait.
For starters if you or a shop can't come up with code readings to guide where to look for the troubles and really know fuel pressure is in fact normal the job is to find the right shop,
T
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