Car died on motorway

macgabhs · 08-03-2011 12:36AM #1

My Ford Focus 1.6 petrol died today while on the motorway. The timing belt going was my initial fear but thankfully the belts ok. Once I was happy that the belt was not broke I tried to start her up but despite the starter turning the engine wouldn't start. Roadside assistance suggested that the alternator or fuel pump might be gone. I'm expecting a phone call tomorrow with a diagnosis but just wanted to get an opinion from some of the experts on here. So my question is given the symptoms what are the likely culprits and what should I expect to pay for a repair? Thanks for any help.

Abelloid · 08-03-2011 12:40AM

Seriously though, more information is needed.

Owen · 08-03-2011 12:46AM

Main Motors forum would also be better.

macgabhs · 08-03-2011 12:50AM

Sorry what do you need to know? I was driving at 120 on the motorway when the engine cut out. The engine light lit up. I coasted to a stop had a look under the bonnet to see if any of the belts had snapped none had so I tried to start it. The engine turned over but would not start. All the electrics were still working and I've noticed no problems with them over the past while. I've had no symptoms like lack of acceleration or anything recently. Seemed a bit heavy on fuel over the last while but that's probably just the price of petrol going up!

LookBehindYou · 08-03-2011 12:50AM

Could be fuel pump or COILPACK more likely (it gets very hot and stops working, but may work when cold again).

http://cgi.ebay.ie/Ford-Fiesta-Focus-Fusion-Spark-Plug-Ignition-Coil-Pack_W0QQitemZ360339870668QQcmdZViewItemQQssPageNameZRSS:B:SILF:IE:105

macgabhs · 08-03-2011 12:50AM

Sorry mods feel free to move this if it's in the wrong place.

macgabhs · 08-03-2011 12:51AM

The coilpack was replaced about a year ago. Symptom there was a lack of acceleration.

the_syco · 08-03-2011 12:53AM

macgabhs wrote: »

All the electrics were still working

How do you know this, and how old is the car? I ask as I know someone who had a newish car die on them due to the electronics in the engine dying. Similar thing to you: driving along, engine stopped, all lights came on.

macgabhs · 08-03-2011 01:05AM

Hopefully that has not happened me! What I meant was the radio, electric windows, starter motor etc were still working so the battery seemed good. My understanding of an alternator is that it charges the battery. Is this correct? I assumed that if the battery was not dead or dying then the alternator might be ok?

-Chris- · 08-03-2011 10:14AM

Thread moved from DIY to main Motors forum as there's no element of DIY here.

Mr Magners · 08-03-2011 10:27AM

OP, did that happen on the M7 yesterday evening at 4 o'clockish?

I saw a huge cloud of white smoke ahead of me on that road yesterday and a maroon Focus drifting in to the hard shoulder.

Didn't look too good from where I was sitting. Hope you get it sorted without too much bother.

stevenmu · 08-03-2011 10:32AM

Would you know where to look for the timing belt? It's usually not very visible.

When you turned it over did it seem to turn over as normal, or did it turn over quicker as if it was spinning more freely? If the latter it could very well be the timing belt gone.

smokie2008 · 08-03-2011 10:35AM

macgabhs wrote: »

My Ford Focus 1.6 petrol died today while on the motorway. The timing belt going was my initial fear but thankfully the belts ok. Once I was happy that the belt was not broke I tried to start her up but despite the starter turning the engine wouldn't start. Roadside assistance suggested that the alternator or fuel pump might be gone. I'm expecting a phone call tomorrow with a diagnosis but just wanted to get an opinion from some of the experts on here. So my question is given the symptoms what are the likely culprits and what should I expect to pay for a repair? Thanks for any help.

Absolute Cowboys if they called out and couldn't tell the difference between a failed alternator or fuel pump.

Its definitely not your alternator or your car would have slowly died and the starter would not be turning when you turned the key. It could be your fuel pump.

The speed sensors give trouble in those two.

Best to just wait for the call tbh as not really enough information and people will be just throwing any suggestion at you.

Mar4ix · 08-03-2011 10:35AM

on fords sometimes immobiliser goin off.. ... even if alternator would be gone, car would go with red batery on dash, ... i'd say its fuel pump, ignition coil, immobiliser or one of sensors. I dont know much about ford, but my nissan died on m50 once... and that was camshaft angle senssor ... wich reads exhaust camshaft possition, and ecu from that readings set spark in coils.

yknaa · 08-03-2011 10:36AM

Something very similiar happened to me and it turned out to be the 3rd fuel injector. I stated it again but it cut out a few more times on my route home. Scary. I got the car serviced and the injector seems to be oke now but I expect I will need it replacing before long.
Actually I wonder if I will be more damage to the car if this happens again? Is it safe enough to continue on a journey if this happens? It is an 08 diesel Focus.

Ev84 · 08-03-2011 10:44AM

My alternator went last year while i was stopped up at traffic lights. I was the first one at the lights too and everyone started beeping for me to drive on but it just wouldn't start. The starter was turning but the engine wouldn't start. radio was still fine. On my approach to the lights the car was driving really sluggish, maybe a 1/4 of the power and when i came to a stop it just died.

I pushed it to the side of road after some embarrassment and rang Quinn Direct. They sent a tow truck a while later and the driver suggested it might be the fuel pump and towed it to my mechanic. Turns out the it was the alternator coil as Lookbehindyou stated... There are many other things it could be though.

Ev84 · 08-03-2011 10:47AM

smokie2008 wrote: »

Its definitely not your alternator or the starter would not be turning when you turned the key.

Not true. happened me and starter turned fine.

Edit- Emphasis on definitely.

Mar4ix · 08-03-2011 10:53AM

Ev84 wrote: »

Not true. happened me and starter turned fine.

It is possible, there is lot electronic involved... ecu can't see alternator charging, an cut out engine. By the simply car , where is not much electronics, car would drive on battery charge(same time red battery would light up on dash), until it will be flat.

macgabhs · 08-03-2011 11:20AM

Mr Magners wrote: »

OP, did that happen on the M7 yesterday evening at 4 o'clockish?

I saw a huge cloud of white smoke ahead of me on that road yesterday and a maroon Focus drifting in to the hard shoulder.

Didn't look too good from where I was sitting. Hope you get it sorted without too much bother.

It was around 4 o clock and I do have a maroon focus but it was the M4! Either it was somebody else in some crazy coincidence or you mean the M4 in which case it was me. Didn't notice the white smoke myself but I defintely drifted to the hard shoulder - could it have been the dust kicking up from the gravel in the hard shoulder?

@stevenmu - I was guessing but I could see a belt in to the left of the engine plus the alternator belt both seemed ok so I took my chances that it wasn't the timing belt and tried to start the car. There was no whirring just sounded like the normal startup noise without the engine firing. The roadside assist guy - who may be a cowboy! - agreed that it wasn't the belt. Fingers crossed we were both right on that one.

Thanks for all the replys - I'll just wait on the call from the garage and see what the story is. Just hoping it's nothing too major I could really do without having to buy a new car at the moment!

Mar4ix · 08-03-2011 11:24AM

macgabhs - let us know where was a problem... good to know for experiance .

Mr Magners · 08-03-2011 11:25AM

macgabhs wrote: »

It was around 4 o clock and I do have a maroon focus but it was the M4! Either it was somebody else in some crazy coincidence or you mean the M4 in which case it was me.

It's a crazy conicidence so, it was defo the M7 yesterday evening @4ish just after the motorway begins near the Naas exit/entry, a maroon focus h/back and a huge cloud of smoke.

Weird

Twilight Zone music:eek:

smokie2008 · 08-03-2011 11:28AM

Ev84 wrote: »

Not true. happened me and starter turned fine.

Ev84 wrote: »

My alternator went last year while i was stopped up at traffic lights. I was the first one at the lights too and everyone started beeping for me to drive on but it just wouldn't start. The starter was turning but the engine wouldn't start. radio was still fine. On my approach to the lights the car was driving really sluggish, maybe a 1/4 of the power and when i came to a stop it just died.

I pushed it to the side of road after some embarrassment and rang Quinn Direct. They sent a tow truck a while later and the driver suggested it might be the fuel pump and towed it to my mechanic. Turns out it was the alternator coil as Lookbehindyou stated... There are many other things it could be though.

Its 100 percent true.

And theres no such thing as an "alternator coil"

If your alternator goes on a focus the the red battery light will come on and the car will drive fine on the battery power..... when the battery runs out of power the car will slowly stop and there certainly wouldn't be even nearly enough power in the battery at that stage to turn the starting motor.

davidd24 · 08-03-2011 11:29AM

Id put my money on fuel pump.
done three this week.Pain in the ass to do on them.
whole tank has to be dropped...

MrDerp · 08-03-2011 11:34AM

smokie2008 wrote: »

If your alternator goes on a focus the the red battery light will come on and the car will drive fine on the battery power..... when the battery runs out of power the car will slowly stop and there certainly wouldn't be even nearly enough power in the battery at that stage to turn the starting motor.

Yep, I can vouch for this. I've had my alternator replaced

Ev84 · 08-03-2011 11:35AM

smokie2008 wrote: »

theres no such thing as an "alternator coil"

Of course there is. What are you on about?

Mar4ix · 08-03-2011 11:38AM

Ev84 wrote: »

Of course there is. What are you on about?

agree.. there is coils in alternator. Actually possible fix it.. i was doing myself on mazda. some soldering work.

kazul · 08-03-2011 12:02PM

I'm assuming you didn't just run out of fuel?
Could be something very simple but almost impossible to diagnose in this way with so little info/detail.

macgabhs · 08-03-2011 12:08PM

Just heard back. Timing belt snapped. One word for this - balls!

Ev84 · 08-03-2011 01:48PM

macgabhs wrote: »

Just heard back. Timing belt snapped. One word for this - balls!

Sorry to hear that buddy. bad one.

@smokie2008, Was thinking about it all morning and remembered it was my distributor coil that packed in and not the alternator coil. sorry.

Mr Benevolent · 08-03-2011 02:03PM

macgabhs wrote: »

Just heard back. Timing belt snapped. One word for this - balls!

Ouch. An expensive mess. When was it last changed?

Mar4ix · 08-03-2011 02:46PM

google for these engines.. there is some engines which cant be damaged when timebelt snapped. look in forums.

Car died on motorway

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