Ford Focus Mk2 (2007) cranking but no start
Discussion
Hi. I have a near 20 year old Ford Focus Mk2. Today, I went to start my car up and it cranked over but no start. The last time it wouldn't start was six years ago when the battery needed replacing - which I duely replaced.
This morning (7 degrees cels) I attempted to start it, it cranked for about 7 seconds with no start so I stopped.
Gave it one minute's rest and tried again. The first 4 seconds it cranked, sounded like it wanted to start with very faint spluttering but didn't and then the crankling sounded like it was dying out.
Gave it five minute's rest and tried again but the same happened, 4 seconds of cranking, very faint spluttering, then the cranking sounded like it wanted to die.
Gave it ten minute's rest before trying again but this time I pumped the gas a few times prior to cranking. Cranked over for 3 seconds, a bit louder spluttering and then it fired up. Gave it plenty of gas when it did start up and it remained idle for ten minutes before I drove it.
Drove it for 20 minutes to the local mechanics and it felt fine. Parked up, switched off the engine, then the mechanic drove into the garage bay half hour later and the car started fine upon him doing so. Mechanic put a battery tester on it and the testing device stated it required the battery replacing (the mechanic couldn't remember what percentage charge/health it had - this doesn't mean the battery is cause of non-starting though).
If you view this YT video from the 2:45 to 2:50 mark you will hear the car crank, spluttering, then the cranking sounding like its dying out. This is exactly (and I mean exactly - crank, spluttered, dying out, duration, loudness, etc..) what my car sounded like on the first three failed starting attempts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2upDh6-FMo
Does this sound like a battery issue or another issue (reading online a fuel pump possibly)? I don't wish to pay for a battery (£85 fitted) and then to find out it was something else. Are you able to advise? Thanks.
This morning (7 degrees cels) I attempted to start it, it cranked for about 7 seconds with no start so I stopped.
Gave it one minute's rest and tried again. The first 4 seconds it cranked, sounded like it wanted to start with very faint spluttering but didn't and then the crankling sounded like it was dying out.
Gave it five minute's rest and tried again but the same happened, 4 seconds of cranking, very faint spluttering, then the cranking sounded like it wanted to die.
Gave it ten minute's rest before trying again but this time I pumped the gas a few times prior to cranking. Cranked over for 3 seconds, a bit louder spluttering and then it fired up. Gave it plenty of gas when it did start up and it remained idle for ten minutes before I drove it.
Drove it for 20 minutes to the local mechanics and it felt fine. Parked up, switched off the engine, then the mechanic drove into the garage bay half hour later and the car started fine upon him doing so. Mechanic put a battery tester on it and the testing device stated it required the battery replacing (the mechanic couldn't remember what percentage charge/health it had - this doesn't mean the battery is cause of non-starting though).
If you view this YT video from the 2:45 to 2:50 mark you will hear the car crank, spluttering, then the cranking sounding like its dying out. This is exactly (and I mean exactly - crank, spluttered, dying out, duration, loudness, etc..) what my car sounded like on the first three failed starting attempts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2upDh6-FMo
Does this sound like a battery issue or another issue (reading online a fuel pump possibly)? I don't wish to pay for a battery (£85 fitted) and then to find out it was something else. Are you able to advise? Thanks.
Edited by Dave111 on Monday 12th January 18:41
Almost everything to do with starting during this time of year is due to the battery.
You say yours is now six years old, and a mechanic has put a battery tester on it and stated it needs replacing, I'd say that's a good investment and six years is a good life for a battery nowadays.
The only other thing you can do other than start testing with a multimeter and fault code reader is check and clean all your connections, in particular the big earths you are likely to have a couple of big earth straps, the main one being from battery negative to chassis, take it off and give it a good clean and make sure its giving a good earth and check the earth on the starter, but overall, you've answered your own question, a new battery is a good investment and a good place to start.
You say yours is now six years old, and a mechanic has put a battery tester on it and stated it needs replacing, I'd say that's a good investment and six years is a good life for a battery nowadays.
The only other thing you can do other than start testing with a multimeter and fault code reader is check and clean all your connections, in particular the big earths you are likely to have a couple of big earth straps, the main one being from battery negative to chassis, take it off and give it a good clean and make sure its giving a good earth and check the earth on the starter, but overall, you've answered your own question, a new battery is a good investment and a good place to start.
Thanks @DaveF-SkinneyAutos
To rule out the low battery, I had a new one installed.
Upon collecting the car I listened for the fuel pump to noise when switching on the ignition. It did for two seconds as per normal sound.
I drove it home 15 miles and parked the car up. Two days later, this morning, I start the ignition to hear the fuel pump sound normal again and see all the lights on the dashboard appear as normal. Then switching on the engine everything went dead. No cranking, no lights on the dashboard, nothing electrical worked. This strikes as a dead battery but the battery is only two days old (supposedly the correct battery).
Any guesses to why the battery is flat (if this is the cause) after only two days?
Should the battery need charging after it's installed by a garage?
If I were to charge the battery now through a long drive will the battery, having gone completely flat after two days from install, degrade the battery health and if so should i request a new battery from the garage?
Thanks.
To rule out the low battery, I had a new one installed.
Upon collecting the car I listened for the fuel pump to noise when switching on the ignition. It did for two seconds as per normal sound.
I drove it home 15 miles and parked the car up. Two days later, this morning, I start the ignition to hear the fuel pump sound normal again and see all the lights on the dashboard appear as normal. Then switching on the engine everything went dead. No cranking, no lights on the dashboard, nothing electrical worked. This strikes as a dead battery but the battery is only two days old (supposedly the correct battery).
Any guesses to why the battery is flat (if this is the cause) after only two days?
Should the battery need charging after it's installed by a garage?
If I were to charge the battery now through a long drive will the battery, having gone completely flat after two days from install, degrade the battery health and if so should i request a new battery from the garage?
Thanks.
Edited by Dave111 on Thursday 15th January 13:06
Check (properly) they have connected everything tightly & borrow a multi-meter to do some checks, or take it back and get them to actually diagnose the problem.
ETA.
Just because it is 2 days old doesn't mean it isn't flat if the alternator isn't charging the battery.
ETA.
Just because it is 2 days old doesn't mean it isn't flat if the alternator isn't charging the battery.
Edited by E-bmw on Thursday 15th January 13:23
I would go back to the garage that fitted it and get them to investigate.
Obviously we have no data other than your description to help you, but no cranking whatsoever after changing to a new battery could be a starter motor issue or a bad earth.
If the battery is dead then it could be the alternator not charging it when driving, but a brand new battery, fitted two days ago should start the car. No cranking at all points to bad earth or bad starter.
You can test the earth by running a jump cable from your battery negative to a good earth on the car, if it then starts strong you know its the earth.
Obviously we have no data other than your description to help you, but no cranking whatsoever after changing to a new battery could be a starter motor issue or a bad earth.
If the battery is dead then it could be the alternator not charging it when driving, but a brand new battery, fitted two days ago should start the car. No cranking at all points to bad earth or bad starter.
You can test the earth by running a jump cable from your battery negative to a good earth on the car, if it then starts strong you know its the earth.
Thanks both. I've rang the garage and informed them of what's happened. I've mentioned I have the breakdown cover engineer coming round. I will feed back to the garage what the engineer says. They said to ring them once the engineer has advised either way. They also say I have warranty on the battery installed.
Any specific questions I should the breakdown cover engineer, anything for him to check?
Any specific questions I should the breakdown cover engineer, anything for him to check?
Breakdown engineers are experts at this, most call outs are vehicles not starting so I wouldnt worry about what to ask, quite the opposite, grill them and get as much info as you can out of them.
Sounds like you are on the right track and the garage are on board, its the joy of an older car, things start to go wrong, but they are all fixable and its cheaper than the depreciation etc on new cars and dealer service costs etc.
Let us know how you get on.
Sounds like you are on the right track and the garage are on board, its the joy of an older car, things start to go wrong, but they are all fixable and its cheaper than the depreciation etc on new cars and dealer service costs etc.
Let us know how you get on.
The breakdown cover has postponed me until tomorrow. Just as well it's not an emergency. It's all done online now so not sure how one would declare that.
Now I'm wondering if what I experienced the other (the cranking but no start until the four attempt) was something other than the battery and the battery needn't have been replaced after all. Oh well.
I'll feedback once the engineer comes round tomorrow. Thanks.
Now I'm wondering if what I experienced the other (the cranking but no start until the four attempt) was something other than the battery and the battery needn't have been replaced after all. Oh well.
I'll feedback once the engineer comes round tomorrow. Thanks.
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