Ford Focus 1999 poor starting.

[R4NDY]

Anyone had this on a mk1 focus?
First thing in a morning car turns over easy enough fires and then dies.
Hold the ignition key to keep it cranking and it will fire 2 or 3 times before it will fire and run.
Press the accelerator pedal very slightly and it will fire and run first time on the key.
All other times for the rest of the day it'll fire and run first time.
Anyone any ideas?
Had recent oil and filter change with correct oil.
Changed spark plugs.
Tried new battery.
Tried new coil pack.
Just looked on forums for other owners faults and come up with some similar ones being due to a sticking Idle Speed Control Valve (ISCV) can anyone clarify this maybe?
Cheers in advance.

[Zad]

If the ICV were sticking shut, that certainly could starve it of air when cranking. Does it have a tendency to stall and/or have an uneven idle speed? One alternative could be the engine temperature sensor has gone faulty, telling the engine management that the engine is warm when it isn't.

[R4NDY]

Hi, yes the rev's can dip low when engine is idleing once warm but always keeps the rev's high when cold.
If it was the temp sensor would it do this?
Cheers.

[Baffled Spoon]

Hi there, had a similar problem with my focus 1.8. Found a small air hose (about 2-3 cm diameter) at the top right of the engine bay had perished so I replaced this with some tubing I had lying around. Also took out the idle control valve at the same time and this was given a nice long soak in some carb cleaner and the car has been fine since then. Not sure which was the problem area but one of them must have done something, so just check all your intake hoses for splits or poor fit.

ETA; have you checked for any fault codes? This site has a list of most fault codes and how you can enter the test mode on the instrument display.

Edited by Baffled Spoon on Tuesday 3rd February 12:13

[R4NDY]

Cheers also baffled spoon. I have ordered a iscv so will fit that first and if no change will check the hoses. I'd like to eliminate 1 at a time now. Have learn't from playing with mini's that if you don't do 1 thing at a time you have to go through the same process next time.
Cheers,
Andy

[R4NDY]

Thanks for your info. Changed the idle speed control valve the other day and all seems well now. For referance its also a 1800. Also found a damaged pipe nut this did not cure anything. It was the valve on mine. Cheers

[Zad]

Glad you got it sorted!