Ford Focus engine problem since service

dutopia

I have a Ford Focus Ghia 1.6 auto. Dropped in to a local garage about 2 weeks ago for a full service but have been having engine problems since.

They changed a spark plug, air filter, oil filter and engine oil.

This could be related to something done during the service, or could be coincidental but I've never had this problem in the last 2 years I've had the car.

Driving along sometimes when I accelerate the car starts to vibrate more than normal and the car loses acceleration, it shudders a bit and the engine malfunction light continually flashes. A few seconds later everything continues as normal and the light stops flashing.

Any idea what this could be? Should I bring it back to the original garage or to an official Ford dealer?

Kenny Logins

I'm going to guess coil pack.

jca

Wrong plugs fitted I'd guess.

L-M

Sounds coil pack related. From personal experience I'm going to advise you to get it looked at immediately! You can buy a full kit from Ford with new coil packs, they're known for going.

dutopia

Thanks guys, good to know. Never heard of a coil pack before. Wrong spark plug could also be the cause. I'm going to drop it back to the garage and see if they know what's wrong, if it happens again after that I'll bring it to a Ford dealer.

dutopia

Limerick man wrote: »

Sounds coil pack related. From personal experience I'm going to advise you to get it looked at immediately! You can buy a full kit from Ford with new coil packs, they're known for going.

What happened to your car?

kildarelad

No need to bring it to Ford sounds like the coil pack can be ought in a kit from a motor factors for small money

Bigus

Coil packs go alright ,


BUT, Focus are temperamental if you don't put genuine motorcraft Ford spark plug in, even using good brands like Bosch NGK or Denso upsets them, recent thread somewhere here about exact same issue.

L-M

dutopia wrote: »

What happened to your car?

A car I sold to a friend. Drove it on a broken coil, engine clogged up with sut and bent 8 valves. Replaced one coil, did all the work, then another coil went and he drove it again. Same thing happened but it goosed a piston second time.

Sitting the lads few months now as an engine can't be found.

beefjerky

Happened on mine too, coil pack.
As well as replacing the coil pack check for water getting in from the top via washer line or seals around washer jets.

dutopia

I brought it to the garage this morning, they discovered a hairline crack on one of the spark plugs which was causing a misfire.

dutopia

To follow up again, car is still not fixed properly.

Since changing the spark plug the problem has occurred much less, but now when it happens, it's even worse. It seems to only happen when going from completely stopped to a hard acceleration. I basically lose all power and the engine malfunction light stays lit for a few seconds, then everything goes back to normal. This happenened while coming out of a t-junction and needless to say, other drivers were annoyed.

The mechanic replaced the coil pack and checked the sealing to make sure no water is leaking into the coil pack or spark plugs. He thinks it's fine and when I left it into him last time couldn't replicate the issue.

Very frustrating.

jca

I think it's a wire chafing under hard acceleration as the engine moves more than it normally does under these conditions. What faults are stored in the ecu? It could be the throttle position sensor either, not easy when we don't know what component is causing the light to illuminate.

jetfiremuck

Have someone pull the codes. It will lead the mechanic to the general area at issue. Engine light flashing indicates major fault while flashing. You are doing damage to the cat sending rich fuel mixture thru it.

jca

jetfiremuck wrote: »

Have someone pull the codes. It will lead the mechanic to the general area at issue. Engine light flashing indicates major fault while flashing. You are doing damage to the cat sending rich fuel mixture thru it.

Unless it's an injector failing, but yes you are right it's very difficult without the ecu readout.

dutopia

jca wrote: »

Unless it's an injector failing, but yes you are right it's very difficult without the ecu readout.

When I drop it down again I'll make sure he gives me the full ECU readout.

Daniel S

I had this problem, frost plug had completely eroded and was letting water in. Had to replace coil pack, leads and plugs also along with a few other bits which I can't remeber...

It's some balls to diagnose/solve though!

bbability

Check air flow meter hoses. Just fixed an 05 which has given no trouble from its purchase. Found a crack in one of the hoses two weeks after it was serviced.

aisr1ofk43dpy5

Could be high tension leads

toyotaavensis

OP did they change all the spark plugs (4) when they serviced the car?

dutopia

toyotaavensis wrote: »

OP did they change all the spark plugs (4) when they serviced the car?

No, I think they changed one as they only charged for one on the invoice.

toyotaavensis

Ah they shouldnt have just replaced one plug. Should have changed all four together.

toyotaavensis

Ah they shouldnt have just replaced one plug. Should have changed all four together.

martinr5232

This problem is common on the 1.6 focus its either spark plugs , plug leads ,ignition coil or engine wiring harness.

Check the plug and wiring going to the ignition coil peel back the conjute and make sure the wiring is intact.