Ford Focus Misfire

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Andrew Wilde - 04 Oct 2004 14:07 GMT

I posted a message a while ago about a 1999 Ford Focus 1.6 Zetec with
an intermittent misfiring problem.

The misfire usually occurs during acceleration in 4th or 5th gear or
when accelerating hard in lower gears. Most of the time the engine
idles fine however on two occasions the misfiring has been pretty
severe and the engine has stalled whilst idling.

Two seperate garages have looked at the car (one a Ford Dealer) and no
obvious problem has been found by diagnostics. The confusing thing is
that when the plugs and coil were changed, the problem disappeared
completely for a while but returned very slowly.

It seems as though there is a problem which is having a go at the
ignition system. Any ideas? Anyone had a similar problem?

Thanks for any words of wisdom!

Andrew

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Kaiser - 04 Oct 2004 21:40 GMT

>I posted a message a while ago about a 1999 Ford Focus 1.6 Zetec with
> an intermittent misfiring problem.
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>
> Andrew

I have a 1999 1.8 Zetec with a similar problem.
It is becoming more regular. The speedometer will drop to zero
intermitently whilst travelling at normal speed, and when I slow down the
engine will cut. Occassionly the digital mileage display will become a
series of dashes and the tyre tracking light will display.

I too have had this looked at and the garage have said that they cannot find
any problem.

If you get any answers please let me know. pg003d0289@blueyonder.co.uk .
Cheers

Kaiser

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Chris Whelan - 04 Oct 2004 22:41 GMT

>>I posted a message a while ago about a 1999 Ford Focus 1.6 Zetec with
>>an intermittent misfiring problem.
[quoted text clipped - 29 lines]
>
> Kaiser

Kaiser

I think your problem is different.
Your fault is a very common early Focus one. It is caused by progressive
failure of the Vehicle Speed Sensor.
If you search in this NG using Google Groups you will find loads of info
to help you.

HTH

Chris.

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Kaiser - 04 Oct 2004 23:34 GMT

>>>I posted a message a while ago about a 1999 Ford Focus 1.6 Zetec with
>>>an intermittent misfiring problem.
[quoted text clipped - 40 lines]
>
> Chris.

Cheers Chris,

I've found the thread. I can now begin to get it sorted. It's a real pain.

Kaiser

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Tharkin - 19 Oct 2004 20:20 GMT

This may be the same problem i was haven, I though it was a misfire, and
though it was the EGR was gloged. Very confusen. It would run great some
times, and other times run like sh.t. Stalling out. burning fuel ( smell
from the cat) so i figured it was a bad spark plug. Well i got to work
and it cut off on me. So i started up and messing around the hood.. and
well the

""Postive Battery cable"" was well in another word shitty.

It was arching and metaling the battery little by little, so i replace the
Terminal end and walla its good. Check the negative as well.. there are
recalls on them

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Gary - 04 Oct 2004 22:19 GMT

Andrew,

I assume you changed your high tension wires. I saw this problem in a
Miata and like most cars, it has the plugs deep in the head and a long
wire to get to it. In this case, you could see where the spark was
jumping through the plastic insulator and to the head. New wires cured
it in this car. It sounds like the problems is in your secondary
ignition system and when you need the power, the voltage isn't there.
An ignition scope may help you but I would start with new plugs and
wires. Make sure ther wires are fully on the plugs too. It sounds like
ignition vs fuel and I would think that a fuel injection problem - too
lean mixture to fire under heavy load - would set a check engine light
but maybe not.

Gary

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TooBusy - 24 Oct 2004 03:31 GMT

Andrew: Im having same symptoms.2000FF with 80K miles.
yes I changed wires and plugs and have had all recall work done.Am waiting
to stall out,have come close.Computer diagnosis is negative.

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