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Focus failed start

  • 09-04-2017 8:06am
    #1
    BanjoSpanner
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 94 ✭✭


    Would appreciate some help. Much dad in law has a 2007 1.4 petrol focus, about 70k miles up. Maybe 4 times a year it fails to start. I haven't witnessed it myself so I'm only going on what he's told me but when the key is turned the dash lights up as normal. He describes a "faint clicking noise in the distance" but he's half deaf so I reckon it must be loud enough. It seems the starter does not engage with the flywheel because the engine doesn't turn, and to describe the noise he picked up a TV remote and dragged it along the front of a standard domestic radiator!! He has to call the AA every time and all they do is hook up a booster pack to the battery which gets him going. He's had a full diagnostic check done at the Ford main dealer (€800!!), they could find nothing wrong. The AA guy usually doesn't speculate when he comes out. In my mind it sounds like it must be a solenoid issue, sticking starter motor or something. Perhaps the starter relay in the ebox under the bonnet though I can't see how the relay would cause a noise like the one he describes. The Ford main dealer says the starter is fine, battery and alternator all fine, they've "never come across this issue before" and would be very happy to accept the car as a trade against another! My dad in law knows where the petrol goes in and that's about it. And he's the type who would be very trusting of the Ford main dealer, but I think he's being taken for a ride.

    Anyway, considering that all it takes to get him going each time is a booster pack, it seems that the extra juice unsticks whatever is stuck and away he goes until the next time it sticks weeks or months later. He's otherwise happy with the car and doesn't want to change it. If anyone has any ideas I'd certainly appreciate it. Cheers!


Comments

  • #2
    martinr5232
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,298 ✭✭✭martinr5232


    Is it keyless entry or normal ignition ??


  • #3
    BanjoSpanner
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 94 ✭✭BanjoSpanner


    martinr5232 wrote: »
    Is it keyless entry or normal ignition ??

    It's not keyless, just normal.


  • #4
    my3cents
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,764 ✭✭✭my3cents


    Buy him a booster pack show him how to use it and check that he keeps it topped up. The modern ones even warn you and cut the power off if he connects them the wrong way around.


  • #5
    martinr5232
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,298 ✭✭✭martinr5232


    Sounds like a battery to me. Has it ever been changed , is it a genuine ford silver calcium battery if not cheap batterys can cause trouble.


  • #6
    BanjoSpanner
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 94 ✭✭BanjoSpanner


    martinr5232 wrote: »
    Sounds like a battery to me. Has it ever been changed , is it a genuine ford silver calcium battery if not cheap batterys can cause trouble.

    Battery was changed by the main dealer and alternator was given a clean bill of health.


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  • #7
    my3cents
    Closed Accounts Posts: 9,764 ✭✭✭my3cents


    martinr5232 wrote: »
    Sounds like a battery to me. Has it ever been changed , is it a genuine ford silver calcium battery if not cheap batterys can cause trouble.

    While I'd agree that cheap batteries can cause problems Ford Silver Calcium is just a gimmick for after sales. I've never had problems with Yuasa batteries.

    While I'd change the battery anyway unless thats recently been done personally I'd always want the belt and braces of a decent booster battery handy.

    If changing the battery I'd be looking to put in the highest amperage version that is compatible so there is less strain on the battery and more oomph when needed.


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