2002 Ford Focus 2.0l petrol - Juddering!

2002 Ford Focus 2.0l petrol - Juddering!

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acerimmer22

Original Poster:

10 posts

129 months

Sunday 9th June 2013
quotequote all
Hi all,

I've owned this Focus (2.0l petrol, 02) for three months now and it's developed a problem today. The car judders when I floor it. It will do it a *little* in lower gears but it is most noticeable in 5th - judder judder judder with no gain in speed even if its only on a 2% incline. It shakes the car - it feels like it wants to accelerate but something is holding it back. Acceleration in lower gears doesn't feel quite as sharp, either.

I'm wondering if this is connected to my handbrake being knackered - it won't hold the car on a hill and I hear the same creaking sounds that I get when I engage the brake when parking, whilst I'm actually driving (to a lesser degree, but still noticeable at low speeds). Could it be sticking or something?

My brother has said he will fix the handbrake.. problem is that he's a fair motorway trip away, and this problem with 5th gear might ensure I can't get there!

The car idles perfectly fine and revs freely when out of gear.

There is a garage literally across the street where I live however I'd like to go in there with some idea of what might be wrong so they don't try and rip me off - if I can't get it back to my brother.

Thanks in advance for any advice y'all may have smile)

Edited by acerimmer22 on Sunday 9th June 00:27


Edited by acerimmer22 on Sunday 9th June 00:30


Edited by acerimmer22 on Sunday 9th June 00:38

Welshjohn

1,215 posts

180 months

Sunday 9th June 2013
quotequote all
Coilpack is a common fault.had the same on the mondeo new coilpack solved the problem

andymc

7,334 posts

206 months

Sunday 9th June 2013
quotequote all
clutch?

acerimmer22

Original Poster:

10 posts

129 months

Sunday 9th June 2013
quotequote all
It doesn't slip (revs just don't rise at all when it's juddering) however it is biting pretty high. No more than it was when I bought it, though.

Zad

12,695 posts

235 months

Sunday 9th June 2013
quotequote all
Coil pack would be my first guess. Have a look at the plugs though if you can, see what condition they are in.

silver_lining

54 posts

175 months

Sunday 9th June 2013
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My diesel Focus was doing something similar last year, badly shaking at higher motorway speeds. Turned out to be a knackered battery, not what I was expecting!

acerimmer22

Original Poster:

10 posts

129 months

Sunday 9th June 2013
quotequote all
The plugs were replaced only a month ago with shiny platinum? ones, so I doubt it's those. I'll see about this coil pack though, cheers. Doubt it's the battery either, the previous owner replaced it, albeit with a no-name black jobby.

Should have mentioned this: Very occasionally, when hot, it'll fail to start. It'll crank fine, but will only start on the 2nd attempt after turning the ignition off and retrying.


Edited by acerimmer22 on Sunday 9th June 01:09

tbc

3,017 posts

174 months

Sunday 9th June 2013
quotequote all
could be sticky valve which would men taking off the head £400 if your lucky

or engine could do with a decoke

danjama

5,728 posts

141 months

Sunday 9th June 2013
quotequote all
Seized brake/wheel bearings?

acerimmer22

Original Poster:

10 posts

129 months

Sunday 9th June 2013
quotequote all
danjama said:
Seized brake/wheel bearings?
Come to think of it, this problem started not too long after the handbrake gave up the ghost. The car was full, I parked up on a hill, and bam, it didn't hold the car. Probably not a coincidence...

ezi

1,734 posts

185 months

Sunday 9th June 2013
quotequote all
acerimmer22 said:
It doesn't slip (revs just don't rise at all when it's juddering) however it is biting pretty high. No more than it was when I bought it, though.
I had a mk1 Focus and that too had a high biting point along with all the ones I test drove so I wouldn't be concerned about that.

acerimmer22

Original Poster:

10 posts

129 months

Sunday 9th June 2013
quotequote all
If it is the coil packs, do you reckon a call to the AA (got membership) would be prudent so they can confirm it? I don't have the home cover but it is somewhat drivable so I could be crafty, drive her to a friends house, then call...

I don't know the reputation of any of the garages near me so I'd rather have someone completely impartial confirm the problem and possibly fix it because they tend to have the packs in the van apparently.

Edited by acerimmer22 on Sunday 9th June 02:00

acerimmer22

Original Poster:

10 posts

129 months

Sunday 9th June 2013
quotequote all
Just took her out for a quick spin whilst the roads are quiet and the juddering is pretty bad. Even mild acceleration in 5th causes it. No engine management light appears though... :/ Acceleration is definitely impaired.. if I give it the beans suddenly in second I don't get that acceleration jolt I used to get. It's more subdued.

A hell of a lot of creaking too. Brakes seized then?


Edited by acerimmer22 on Sunday 9th June 02:23

Zad

12,695 posts

235 months

Sunday 9th June 2013
quotequote all
I could see how brakes seized on would cause problems, but not ones seized off, as these sound to be.

In your situation I'd just take it to the local non-main-stealer garage and see what they say.

motman61

3 posts

132 months

Sunday 9th June 2013
quotequote all
I get a lot of these with failing fuel pumps, similar symptoms, get the current usage checked if its high that's your problem

acerimmer22

Original Poster:

10 posts

129 months

Sunday 9th June 2013
quotequote all
Usage high? Fuel you mean? It's actually extremely good on fuel - pushing 27-28 around town which I understand is rather good for this engine. 40+ on motorway.

Just had a chin wag with my bro and he says it's possibly the brakes doing this, I'll know in a week when I take it to him - if I can get it back with this problem.

Thanks for all the suggestions so far, guys! biggrin

S0 What

3,358 posts

171 months

Sunday 9th June 2013
quotequote all
Brakes wont go on/off that quick, get it code read, the managment light will only come on if there is a problem that affects the emmisions, any problem the ECU can work around (like a duff sensor) wont allways throw a light up.

On the KA this sort of problem usually comes with a misfire on cylinder (1/2/3/or4) code and a new coil pack usually sorts it, a weak or vanishing spark will be more noticable in higher gears.

acerimmer22

Original Poster:

10 posts

129 months

Sunday 9th June 2013
quotequote all
That would explain why the acceleration is slightly impaired in lower gears if it's running on 3 cyls, and I have noticed that the engine note sounds slightly off when I have the window down.

rh123

28 posts

151 months

Monday 10th June 2013
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I had a focus with similar problem. I replaced coil pack and the ht leads and it sorted out the juddering.

Krikkit

26,500 posts

180 months

Monday 10th June 2013
quotequote all
acerimmer22 said:
Usage high? Fuel you mean? It's actually extremely good on fuel - pushing 27-28 around town which I understand is rather good for this engine. 40+ on motorway.
No, he means the fuel pump drawing too much current.

Given your description it sounds like a misfire under load, I'd look at coilpack(s) first (easiest), then fuel pump. It's not brakes.