2004 ford focus 2.3L battery keeps draining


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2004 ford focus 2.3L battery keeps draining

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piazzaj
New User

Nov 25, 2013, 2:32 PM

Post #1 of 4 (2566 views)

2004 ford focus 2.3L battery keeps draining	Sign In

I have a 2004 Ford Focus ZX5. My car has a couple of issues and am not sure if they are both connected to one another or separate issues. The first issue started a couple months back. My car jerks when stopped at a red light or stop sign. If I put it in neutral it fixes the problem. Took it to an auto zone for diagnostics and they said one of the cylinders is misfiring. Only running on 3. Haven't been able to get it looked at yet. Then, a couple weeks back my headlights or brights wouldn't turn on. I got home and started poking around the fuses(didn't change any)then my lights started working again. Then, a couple days ago, I noticed my lights weren't working again unless I had my brights on. Started to notice a kind of weird smell in the car after stopping and accelerating at the intersections. Kind of a melting or burning plastic smell or chemical glue smell. The next day, my car still was putting off an odd smell and after I turned my car off, it wouldn't start again. Jumped it with a jumper box and it started right up. The battery is only 11 months old.started on my way home and the radio shut off then turned back on. Went home and charged the battery for 2 hours. Randomly tried to start it up a few times and it started up with no problem. Drove to the store and noticed the smell again before I turned the car off. Then it wouldn't start again. Someone tried to jump start it from a jumper box and was told my battery had 0 power and was draining his jumper box. My car wouldn't start. Tried to use jumper cables hooked to someone else's battery and nothing. I am getting a replacement battery tonight but am afraid my car will drain my new battery.

(This post was edited by piazzaj on Nov 25, 2013, 2:36 PM)

Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Nov 25, 2013, 3:38 PM

Post #2 of 4 (2541 views)

Re: 2004 ford focus 2.3L battery keeps draining	Sign In

Quote

Took it to an auto zone for diagnostics and they said one of the cylinders is misfiring. Only running on 3. Haven't been able to get it looked at yet.

You continue driving it that way and you'll be buying a thousand dollar Catalyst soon.

Once you get a new battery in there, have the charging system tested.

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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.

piazzaj
New User

Nov 25, 2013, 6:56 PM

Post #3 of 4 (2527 views)

Re: 2004 ford focus 2.3L battery keeps draining	Sign In

update- Just put a new battery in. As soon as the terminals were both connected to the battery , the car started smoking on the opposite side of the engine by the where the power steering fluid is. Disconnected the battery and it stopped smoking. Had it towed.

Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Hammer Time profile image

Nov 26, 2013, 3:27 AM

Post #4 of 4 (2520 views)

Re: 2004 ford focus 2.3L battery keeps draining	Sign In

You have a short that has to be found.

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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.

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