Mk1 Focus 1.6 won't start - engine light on
Discussion
Hey guys,
This a bit of a vague issue as I am dealing with the mother in law who knows nothing about cars and I am a few miles away so can't look at it first hand until tomorrow.
The car in question is a Mk1 1.6 focus which we purchased for her a few months back (private sale), it has recently been having a fault that causes the speedo to stop working for a short space of time and then it goes back to normal. It looks to be a Speed sensor issue that's fairly common.
Tonight she went to the shops and the engine warning light came on, she carried on driving (because why wouldn't you
) and didn't notice any loss in power or any odd noises,. When she tried to restart it turns over but won't fire.
I know its a long shot but any ideas? Would a busted speed sensor stop the engine from running?
I guess the only way to find out is to get someone over with diagnostic test.
This a bit of a vague issue as I am dealing with the mother in law who knows nothing about cars and I am a few miles away so can't look at it first hand until tomorrow.
The car in question is a Mk1 1.6 focus which we purchased for her a few months back (private sale), it has recently been having a fault that causes the speedo to stop working for a short space of time and then it goes back to normal. It looks to be a Speed sensor issue that's fairly common.
Tonight she went to the shops and the engine warning light came on, she carried on driving (because why wouldn't you
) and didn't notice any loss in power or any odd noises,. When she tried to restart it turns over but won't fire. I know its a long shot but any ideas? Would a busted speed sensor stop the engine from running?
I guess the only way to find out is to get someone over with diagnostic test.
996Keef said:
Check for a spark because these are very common to have the coilpack fail, and if used whioe misfiring susequently blowing the coilpack driver in the ECU, bit of a pain..
Cool after my ignition issues with the RX7 I have become quite good for checking sparky bits 
would a duff coil pack throw an engine light? After talking to her she described it as "a bit jumpy" before she stopped.
Looks like the fuel pump is at fault. We have a spark and the engine turns over but the pump isnt feeding the fuel rail and isnt priming. Apparently its a fuel tank out job as the access hole in the car is too small. Now as the focus set us back £500 im tempted to get the tin snips out and make an access panel that is big enough.
Hey guys,
Thanks for the replies. The car is due an MOT next week so mother inlaw has dropped it off to me to sort a few bits out (light rust underside etc).
Whilst I have it I thought I would try and sort this non start issue. I left the car standing for 3 days and went to start it:
It will crank and after around 10 seconds of cranking it will attempt to fire.
Battery is new and reading 12.3v
All coils have a spark (not checked condition of plugs)
ECU has no errors
Whilst getting annoyed at the thing I decided to do a hail mary and keep the engine turning over, with my foot on the throttle it eventually coughed into life and seems to be running fine. I can shut down and restart every time without any problem or extended cranking. I am going to give it a few days before trying again.
Could the injectors be weeping and flooding the engine whilst it is stood? Or could it be a Head Gasket issue? Although it doesn't appear to be burning oil or water.
Thanks for the replies. The car is due an MOT next week so mother inlaw has dropped it off to me to sort a few bits out (light rust underside etc).
Whilst I have it I thought I would try and sort this non start issue. I left the car standing for 3 days and went to start it:
It will crank and after around 10 seconds of cranking it will attempt to fire.
Battery is new and reading 12.3v
All coils have a spark (not checked condition of plugs)
ECU has no errors
Whilst getting annoyed at the thing I decided to do a hail mary and keep the engine turning over, with my foot on the throttle it eventually coughed into life and seems to be running fine. I can shut down and restart every time without any problem or extended cranking. I am going to give it a few days before trying again.
Could the injectors be weeping and flooding the engine whilst it is stood? Or could it be a Head Gasket issue? Although it doesn't appear to be burning oil or water.
Right slight update but no idea what it means.
The car once again failed to start after being left 5 days. I used carb clearner down the trottle body and it started striaght away.
Now the confusing part, it will start instantly after i shut it down, i was expecting it to die after it burnt off the carb clearner and then fail to start again.
Am i right in thinking that the next test should be the fuel line? Is the rail getting fuel as it cranks? Could the new pump feck up the pressure? Could it be that its just not getting enough?
Although in my mind that should be the case every time it starts
The car once again failed to start after being left 5 days. I used carb clearner down the trottle body and it started striaght away.
Now the confusing part, it will start instantly after i shut it down, i was expecting it to die after it burnt off the carb clearner and then fail to start again.
Am i right in thinking that the next test should be the fuel line? Is the rail getting fuel as it cranks? Could the new pump feck up the pressure? Could it be that its just not getting enough?
Although in my mind that should be the case every time it starts
Garybee said:
Didn't mean to leave you hanging. As it started quickly with the carb cleaner you know the problem is with the fuel system and everything else is fine. It's not odd at all that it starts straight up 2nd time, that's exactly what happens when the system fails to hold pressure in the fuel rail. The system on a mk1 focus runs a return rail back to the tank so there are 2 [likely] ways you can be losing pressure:-
1) The pressure regulator (sits at the return end of the fuel injector rail) is leaking pressure into the return line to the tank.
or
2) The 'Non Return Valve' (sits after the fuel pump) is leaking and allowing pressure to be lost back through the pump into the tank.
To confirm you're going to need a fuel pressure gauge. The Focus has a schraeder valve on the fuel rail which makes the test very easy.
Thanks, I will give these a check.1) The pressure regulator (sits at the return end of the fuel injector rail) is leaking pressure into the return line to the tank.
or
2) The 'Non Return Valve' (sits after the fuel pump) is leaking and allowing pressure to be lost back through the pump into the tank.
To confirm you're going to need a fuel pressure gauge. The Focus has a schraeder valve on the fuel rail which makes the test very easy.
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