Focus petrol problem

corktina

when my tank is lowish and I accelerate up hill, the engine stutters sometimes as if it isn't drawing petrol....it's fine when I lift off a bit.

What do you think?

faulty/weak pump?
water or diesel contamination in the tank?
dirt in the lines?

pudzey101

corktina wrote: »

when my tank is lowish and I accelerate up hill, the engine stutters sometimes as if it isn't drawing petrol....it's fine when I lift off a bit.

What do you think?

faulty/weak pump?
water or diesel contamination in the tank?
dirt in the lines?

A new fuel filter would be a good first try, if it does not help do a fuel pressure test or have your mechanic do a fuel pressure test. If the fuel pressure is low the fuel pump is defective and needs to be replaced. If the fuel pressure tests okay it is also a possibility that the timing is off though that is not as likly.

Try putting some Fuel injector cleaner in the with the fuel .

corktina

The filter sounds a possibility I suppose but doesn't explain why it only does it up hill with a low tank.
I guess a partly blocked filter would explain the power coming back when I lift off a bit.

guil

The fuel pump in a focus is up near the front of the tank and held on the bottom of the tank. There's a few lugs and it twists into position. If it's so low I suppose going up hill could move the petrol away from the pump.

corktina

I thought of that, but the petrol wasn't that low...the light wasn't lit so I'd say there might be 2 gallons in the tank. Where's the filter?Is it a canister thingy like on the Escort?

guil

It's in front of the tank. Supposedly a right pain to change.

Stoolbend

I've read about the wires going from the temperature sensor in the head (between the spark plugs) interfering with the plug leads.

Cable tie the wires to keep them away from the plug leads and try that.

corktina

i can't see that's anything to do with it but thanks for your interest

Hal1

This thread mentions the fuel pump being at fault: http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/46001-focus-st170-fuel-pump-issues/ also mentions a module under the drivers seat. Between the fuel filter and the module I would imagine they would be the cheaper / easier items to rule out first. The fuel pump out job means the tank being dropped which would be a pain in the hoop.

corktina

that does sound similar....but my issue is only when pulling hard up hill, not right hand bends.... i'll try the filter first I think

guil

Has to be the pump if its only happeneing when the petrol is low and you're going u hill. The pump is held inside a plastic box with a mesh filter on the bottom of it.