Focus Mk1 1.6 Zetc Start Issues
Discussion
Hey guys,
Long story short we picked up a 2002 Mk1 focus for the mother inlaw to use. It has a full service history (last service November 2017) and generally well looked after. Recently the fuel pump failed, I replaced the pump and the car started up without issue. However since I have done this she is getting random start issues.
It will crank strong but not fire, it will do this a number of times before finally starting up. The battery is fully charged and everything is back in its normal place. The pump is priming so it's getting fuel.
I have not checked the plugs or sparky bits.
Other than the big 3 (fuel, spark, compression) what else could be stopping it from not starting every now and then?
When its actually running everything seems fine, no smoke, no smell of fuel and no hesitation etc.
Long story short we picked up a 2002 Mk1 focus for the mother inlaw to use. It has a full service history (last service November 2017) and generally well looked after. Recently the fuel pump failed, I replaced the pump and the car started up without issue. However since I have done this she is getting random start issues.
It will crank strong but not fire, it will do this a number of times before finally starting up. The battery is fully charged and everything is back in its normal place. The pump is priming so it's getting fuel.
I have not checked the plugs or sparky bits.
Other than the big 3 (fuel, spark, compression) what else could be stopping it from not starting every now and then?
When its actually running everything seems fine, no smoke, no smell of fuel and no hesitation etc.
Daston said:
she is getting random start issues.
It will crank strong but not fire, it will do this a number of times before finally starting up
Do you have the equipment to measure fuel pressure? The fuel pump would normally have an anti-drain valve which prevents pressurised fuel in the rail from flowing back through the pump while it is off. If that is absent/faulty it might need a few priming pulses to repressurise the fuel rail. If the valve is present but not seating properly the symptoms might be intermittent. It might also be sensitive to how long the engine has been off before restarting.It will crank strong but not fire, it will do this a number of times before finally starting up
One way to check for this is to force several priming cycles by keying on and off repeatedly and see if that prevents the problem.
Good point.
I had a look at it last night, I started it and stopped it around a dozen times and it would start pretty sharpish. Longest crank was a couple of seconds. Took it for a drive and it all felt ok. Ran it up to temp and shut it down. Restarted it 10 min later and turned on first time.
Only things I noticed was the auxiliary belt is slipping like a b
h on start up (its one of those annoying stretch fit ones, will change next week) and the clutch bite point is right at the top of the pedal although can't see this effecting it starting.
I had a look at it last night, I started it and stopped it around a dozen times and it would start pretty sharpish. Longest crank was a couple of seconds. Took it for a drive and it all felt ok. Ran it up to temp and shut it down. Restarted it 10 min later and turned on first time.
Only things I noticed was the auxiliary belt is slipping like a b
h on start up (its one of those annoying stretch fit ones, will change next week) and the clutch bite point is right at the top of the pedal although can't see this effecting it starting. Gassing Station | Home Mechanics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff