03 Focus "sputters" when accelerating... need help

Thread view:

Enable EMail Alerts

Start New Thread

Thread rating:

Pharaoh5304 - 07 Jul 2005 00:34 GMT

I have a 2003 Ford Focus with 42500 miles on it. Recently my car
began to act rather oddly... when I slow down or come to a complete
stop and then press down on the gas, the car begins to sputter like
as if there is pockets of air in the fuel. The car does accelerate
but it takes the car some time. There has been several times when I
turn on the car and the air conditioner and the car begins to shake.
No warning lights come on when these things do occur. On July 1st I
took my car into the dealership for the 42000 mile check up and
everything was concluded to par. This problem was first noticed
yesterday on the fifth. What can be the problem? I have scheduled to
take the car back into the dealership on Friday of this week, but it
would be so lovely if I could figure this out before then. I hope
that someone out there may know what the problem may be.

Reply to this Message

Dave Gower - 07 Jul 2005 20:01 GMT

>I have a 2003 Ford Focus with 42500 miles on it. Recently my car
> began to act rather oddly... when I slow down or come to a complete
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> turn on the car and the air conditioner and the car begins to shake.
> No warning lights come on when these things do occur.

Could be fuel pump but this is not quite the normal symptoms. It could
simply need a tune-up i.e. plugs and wires. You could also try a can of
injector cleaner, but this sounds a little sudden and extreme for that.

Might also be a vacuum leak, possibly from a split hose, or a malfunctioning
EGR. One simple check: leave it idling, open the hood. If you hear a hiss,
it's vacuum. One final thing, you could have gotten a tank of bad gas.

Reply to this Message