Car Shuddering when taking off from a stop.

Outkast_IRE

Basically the last week i have noticed first thing in the morning especially when the car is fully cold the car is very prone to giving a shudder when taking off from a stopped position on a hill.

Its a 1.4 Mk1 Ford focus petrol.

The car is getting a visit to the garage next week anyway for a wheel bearing to be changed, is there something in particular i should ask them to check while working on it.

Also another tiny issue is when coming to a full stop at lights etc the engine on ocassion cuts out, other times it seems to be on the verge of cutting out but the revs go up a bit and its fine ?

Any advice appreciated

mullingar

I'd try cleaning out the throttle body first

Ignition coil.

mickdw

Is this an engine shudder or a drive train shudder?

I mean does the engine splutter/misfire if you were just to rev it on the spot or is it a shudder as you let up the clutch to move off?

Outkast_IRE

mickdw wrote: »

Is this an engine shudder or a drive train shudder?

I mean does the engine splutter/misfire if you were just to rev it on the spot or is it a shudder as you let up the clutch to move off?

Theres no misfire the shudder occurs when leaving up the clutch to move off...... i have been driving this car for about 6 years now so im familiar with how it should feel etc, and something defo feels slightly off...........

Im hoping its not the ignition coil as im already after replacing them twice in the 6 years, and the last time was 2 years ago so im thinking a third time would be a bit excessive ?? as i said there is no misfiring or loss of power during driving , the shudder only occurs when car is completley cold and lifting the foot off the clutch to take off

Outkast_IRE

RoverJames wrote: »

Ignition coil.

I have had to change the igniton coil twice in the last 6 years and the symtoms never produced an engine shudder ..... its not a misfire its a real car vibrating shudder......

Delta Kilo

Sounds like you may have two separate issues, the shudder is your clutch and the car cutting out is something else.

Frankmagnet

Had a shudder in my old car when taking off and it was the fly wheel that needed replacing.

mickdw

You have a clutch issue it would seem. Perhaps something contaminating the clutch surface.

RoverJames

RoverJames wrote: »

Ignition coil.

+ 1 :pac:

Outkast_IRE

Ok guys lets say the 1st problem is either clutch or flywheel is there any easy checks the mechanic can do to identify the issue ?
As i said the car is going in for a wheel bearing to be replaced this week so i can easily ask the mechanic to check it out .......

Any ideas on ballpark figures for clutch or flywheel ? just so i can prepare myself.

Outkast_IRE

RoverJames wrote: »

+ 1 :pac:

Are you sticking with the ignition coil diagnosis for both issues or just the cutting out when coming to a stop issue ??

Both
Let's be fair though, its not a diagnosis.

Outkast_IRE

RoverJames wrote: »

Both
Let's be fair though, its not a diagnosis.

yeah a guess is the best anyone can give over the net, sure im sure the mechanic will quickly root out the cause anyway.

Just thinking on your guess, if it was a flywheel issue you would imagine it would be consistent ? this issue i have seems to be more noticeable when the car is cold and you are starting on a hill etc.

guil

ignition coils are very common failure on the mk1 focus, i had a very similar problem with a 1.4 mk1 focus but it was years ago and i can't remember exactly what it was but i changed the coils a few times

Can't see it being the flywheel literally cannot fathom how it could be.

Outkast_IRE

RoverJames wrote: »

Can't see it being the flywheel literally cannot fathom how it could be.

I will report back anyway once it gets to the mechanic this week.

ballinue

The shudder is possibly a clutch problem, the shudder happens when you release the pedal the clutch disc and pressure plate come together to take up the drive and if for any reason the drive is not taken up evenly you will get a judder until the pedal is fully released at this point the disc is held between the pressure plate and the flywheel so the judder goes.
possible problems warped clutch disc if well worn, overheating from slipping between the plates will warp the disc
also possible problem with fingers of pressure plate or spring from clutch disc centre has become disloged and is loose between the plates.

M44B19

If it was a coil pack it would hesitate slightly on high revs? (Well anyone I'v replaced has)
There €50ish anyway.

Possibly a clutch issue?

TheChizler

Is there a knocking/scraping noise when the clutch is pressed in? I had similar symptoms to you recently and it turned out that two (out of 3!) springs in the clutch pressure plate had snapped.

Merch

Surely if this was a coil pack issue it would be consistent and would not come and go, either it works or it doesn't?
what were the symptoms when the other coil packs went?

Outkast_IRE

Merch wrote: »

Surely if this was a coil pack issue it would be consistent and would not come and go, either it works or it doesn't?
what were the symptoms when the other coil packs went?

When coil packs went before the symptoms changed but experience

1. A lack of power in a certain rev range constantly
2. Just before it went fully a backfire.
3. Engine management would always kick in when it went fully .

Merch

Merch wrote: »

Surely if this was a coil pack issue it would be consistent and would not come and go, either it works or it doesn't?.......

Electrical component issues are often linked to temperature, moisture ingress etc etc etc and so can be quite intermittent.

Applying the consistent logic, the clutch only gives trouble when cold ??

Mickolob

Maybe a few driving lessons could be good for you . Are you familar with the biting point ????

Merch

RoverJames wrote: »

Electrical component issues are often linked to temperature, moisture ingress etc etc etc and so can be quite intermittent.

Applying the consistent logic, the clutch only gives trouble when cold ??

Well, I was going my coil pack going in a Ford, just ran rough but all the time.
I knew someone that had a similar sounding problem in another make of car, it was only when engaging the clutch when taking off level (and on a slight hill) vibrations and rough running sounding but levelled off when driving, was a clutch/edit gearbox problem, the clutch was done on that recently at the time and gearbox wasn't bolted back fully, easily similar if there was a clutch fault.

sure joe

RoverJames wrote: »

Can't see it being the flywheel literally cannot fathom how it could be.

but you can see it being the coil...........interesting

sure joe

sure joe wrote: »

but you can see it being the coil...........interesting

So you reckon the flywheel on a mark 1 1.4 petrol Focus is a likely root cause ?
Please do answer

Kenny Logins

I've had the coil pack in our Focus give up twice, symptoms were a loss of power in the 1.5k to 2k range which lead to kangarooing on hills and pulling away at junctions.

Outkast_IRE

Should also mention car is at the 50,000 miles stage and is a 2001 Focus....
Timing belt and water pump was changed last year as the car was then 10 years old.

sure joe

RoverJames wrote: »

So you reckon the flywheel on a mark 1 1.4 petrol Focus is a likely root cause ?
Please do answer

i would have thought the clutch. but sure go for the obvious answer

Merch

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

Should also mention car is at the 50,000 miles stage and is a 2001 Focus....
Timing belt and water pump was changed last year as the car was then 10 years old.

well, let us know what the outcome is
most seem to think its one or the other of the two things mentioned.

Id be going at more of a clutch problem, but interested to know the real cause.

Outkast_IRE

Car is booked in for the wheel bearing to be done on wednesday, i have informed them of the issues and they said they check the clutch etc and try to pinpoint the problem.

will post wednesday again once im back.

MrFrisp

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

Car is booked in for the wheel bearing to be done on wednesday, i have informed them of the issues and they said they check the clutch etc and try to pinpoint the problem.

will post wednesday again once im back.

Hi OutKast...

Who's doing the work for you?? Local jobbie?
.

mickdw

Be sure to tell them its only when cold or else they might not find a problem.
I sticking with clutch. Most likely something slightly contaminating the clutch and being burnt off quickly.

Outkast_IRE

MrFrisp wrote: »

Hi OutKast...

Who's doing the work for you?? Local jobbie?
.

Using Automotif on kinsale rd, have used them for a few bits in the last year and found them excellent to deal with and prices are about the norm.

JohnBoy26

As others have said it's more than likely your cluth. However i doubt very much it being a flywheel issue. Anyway it's quiet an annoying thing to happen so i hope you get it sorted.

Outkast_IRE

JohnBoy26 wrote: »

As others have said it's more than likely your cluth. However i doubt very much it being a flywheel issue. Anyway it's quiet an annoying thing to happen so i hope you get it sorted.

Over the phone he suggested a few likely things he would check for , he said clutch is defo one, and he said he will look at engine mountings just to rule that out. But as everyone knows you would need to see it and drive it etc to narrow it down.

guil

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

Over the phone he suggested a few likely things he would check for , he said clutch is defo one, and he said he will look at engine mountings just to rule that out. But as everyone knows you would need to see it and drive it etc to narrow it down.

do you know anyone with another focus that you could try the coil pack, takes 2 mins to change

JohnBoy26

Outkast_IRE wrote: »

Over the phone he suggested a few likely things he would check for , he said clutch is defo one, and he said he will look at engine mountings just to rule that out. But as everyone knows you would need to see it and drive it etc to narrow it down.

That's it exactly.