Ford Focus jerking issue

marno21

I own a 2008 Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi. In November I had an issue whereby the engine malfunction light came on while doing fast speed on the M18 and when I took it to the local Ford garage it transpired that it was an issue with the diesel particulate filter, which they solved by regeneration in the garage.

However, from time to time I have an issue. Take for example, on a Friday evening I would leave Castletroy in Limerick usually with myself, 3 others and a boot fairly full of luggage (not heavy luggage by any means). After driving the on the M7 for 2/3km and the 8km's of the M20 at motorway speed (~75mph, sometimes close to 80 on the speedo as the speedo overreads), the car begins "jerking", where it jerks when the accelerator is pressed, the car feels low on power and the on board trip computer tells me that the instantaneous fuel consumption is high (~20mpg).

Is this an issue or just something normal when carrying a load/after heavy driving in a 1.6 diesel?

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime

shouldn't be that bad,

when was last service ?

or fuel filter or possible fuel pump from the sound of that.

berger89

I've a 00 `corolla and not sure if its the same thing..but i find (and it happened tonight coming home from work) that every once in a while, the engine seems to turn itself off for like half a split second, and the car kind of jolts. its weird. i get a mini heart attack. the RPM's go over 4000, the lights flicker off. its just for the bare split second. i was told before it could be dirt in the petrol tank, but I don't think so..

marno21

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »

shouldn't be that bad,

when was last service ?

or fuel filter or possible fuel pump from the sound of that.

Last serviced in October, DPF issue happened a few weeks after the service.

Pablod

Kopparberg Strawberry and Lime wrote: »

shouldn't be that bad,
when was last service ?
or fuel filter or possible fuel pump from the sound of that.

+1 on the fuel pump/filter

I have 2010 Diesel focus and this happened twice in 1 year
Engine would cut out when accelerating coming onto a motorway or accelerating going up a hill.

Even with Engine malfunction light on a Ford garage could not find any error or problem logged when they hooked it up

Turns out it was dirty diesel clogging the fuel filter/pump causing the cut-outs.
Because I have a DCI card I was going a particular truckstop for diesel (unmanned pumps) -
I have since changed and have not had any problems in last 2 years or so

Atomic Pineapple

Pablod wrote: »

+1 on the fuel pump/filter

I have 2010 Diesel focus and this happened twice in 1 year
Engine would cut out when accelerating coming onto a motorway or accelerating going up a hill.

Even with Engine malfunction light on a Ford garage could not find any error or problem logged when they hooked it up

Turns out it was dirty diesel clogging the fuel filter/pump causing the cut-outs.
Because I have a DCI card I was going a particular truckstop for diesel (unmanned pumps) -
I have since changed and have not had any problems in last 2 years or so

Same as this in a 2010 TDCI Focus, I changed the fuel filter and where I got diesel and had no issues since.

dr.fuzzenstein

It also depends on the fuel line. If there are any nicks or kinks and it's drawing air or leaking fuel, this will happen.
I had a mechanic wanting to replace pump and all injectors to solve my issue and the scary part, it wouldn't have made any difference! :eek:
Sometimes it is better to check the tank for crud, check the fuel sender unit, the line going to the filter and from filter to pump.
The mantra for fault finding:
Always go low tech before going high tech!
(repeat 17 times, this will save your ass and your wallet more than you can imagine):D

Row

I'd be suspecting your having dpf problems,when it warms up its trying to regenerate the dpf....could also be egr problems as they can create problems like this.
I know there was a forced regen carried out but if the filter is saturated then its either a new filter of map it out.....What mileage is on the car..?

To confirm its best get it plugged in to see what faults are logged and check the condition of the dpf etc.

ohbygod

Im having the same problem on my mazda 323. Its very slow to take off and sometime its sounds like its backfiring. Someone told me it could be the air mass sensor. I failed the nct on the emissions had 2 get a cat converter. I hope it passes

marno21

This happened again Friday on the M8. I had driven all the way from Limerick and just before the toll plaza I hadn't realized I had accelerated above 140km/h while overtaking and next thing the jerking started. It stopped about 5/10 minutes later after taking it easy

9935452

marno21 wrote: »

This happened again Friday on the M8. I had driven all the way from Limerick and just before the toll plaza I hadn't realized I had accelerated above 140km/h while overtaking and next thing the jerking started. It stopped about 5/10 minutes later after taking it easy

I was going to suggest mass air flow sensor. a friend had a petrol micra which when ticking over sounded like he was constantly pressing the accellerator and letting off but it sounds like the engine is being starved of diesel.
If you travel in 3rd or 4th gear fairly revved up for a while does it do it as well

ECsack

Hi @marno21, has this ever happened since or did you find a solution for it? I have a very similar sounding problem with my 2009 ford focus. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

marno21

ECsack wrote: »

Hi @marno21, has this ever happened since or did you find a solution for it? I have a very similar sounding problem with my 2009 ford focus. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

My main solution was when joining a motorway to accelerate more slowly, so I wouldn't hit top speed until around 15/20km after joining. It usually stopped it or else I must have just got used to it.

I've since upgraded to a 2011 Focus and haven't had any similar issues.

The DPF was a pain in the arse since though. Required regeneration in May 2016 & November 2016.

sellasheep

Recently stated happening with my 1.8 TDCI Ford 2007. Starts to jerk and then cuts out with the engine malfunction light coming on. Nobody could find out why. Hasn't happened for a few weeks. So odd.

dr.fuzzenstein

sellasheep wrote: »

Recently stated happening with my 1.8 TDCI Ford 2007. Starts to jerk and then cuts out with the engine malfunction light coming on. Nobody could find out why. Hasn't happened for a few weeks. So odd.

For the 1.8 I refer you to my earlier post.
In had the 1.8 and if the fuel line has the tiniest kink or pinhole, this will happen.