Hey All

I'm wondering if someone might be able to help diagnose a problem I've been having with my Focus 1.6 Ghia recently.

It started off a few weeks ago with a bad egg smell coming from the car, 1st reaction is that the catalytic converter is on it's way out. Took it to a garage who tested it and said it seems okay and to see how it goes.
The next week or so, the smell disappeared but the car stopped starting properly in the morning. It either almost cuts out or does cut out, revving the engine a bit seems to stop this. Once the car has warmed up this problem doesn't occur and it idles as perfectly as ever.
The other thing that's been happening is that below 2000-2500rpm there is no power and it seems like the engine is partly stalling or being flooded. This is becoming quite dangerous pulling out at junctions etc as the car acts very sluggish until after this point, it then accelerates as well as ever.

It's recently had an MOT test and passed at the same garage, they again tested the cat and said it still isn't showing any signs of falling apart and to keep going for the time being.

The only ideas I have is that either the cat has gone but it's not showing the normal signs. Or, there is something wrong within the carburetor/fuel/air mixture etc. Any ideas?

Please, please help! :help: :help: It would be much appreciated!

we had similar symptoms when the silencer failed, all the silencing material was partly clogging up the exhaust, so it was having difficulty expelling the waste gases.

Check with your hand to ensure that you can feel reasonable pressure from the exhaust when it's ticking over.

Originally posted by Cyclone
we had similar symptoms when the silencer failed, all the silencing material was partly clogging up the exhaust, so it was having difficulty expelling the waste gases.

Check with your hand to ensure that you can feel reasonable pressure from the exhaust when it's ticking over.


Thanks for the advice, I'll have a go at that tonight! :thumbsup:

(Anything that is cheaper than replacing the cat I'd be happy with :D )

It'll be either:

restriction in exhaust system - knacked silencer for eg.
air mass meter mucky or failing
dodgy injector
ignition problem
filthy spark plugs.

Spark plugs are a doddle to do. Injectors can be tested by diagnostics, as can the mass meter and ignition system. Oh, or it might be that the Lambda probe, which sticks into the exhaust to anayse exhaust gas temp, is busted. Again, a diagnostic will reveal that.

Good luck

Hi

Thanks for that. :thumbsup:

Where would be the best place to get this looked at, a local garage?

Cheers

Just adding myself to this thread, as we have been noticing a couple of problems with ours.

Sluggish acceleration when setting off, and the clutch (biting point/pressure) appears to fluctuate.

N

I thought this thread was about his specs not being made properly, and was expecting a rant about Spec Savers :P

Originally posted by owdlad
I thought this thread was about his specs not being made properly, and was expecting a rant about Spec Savers :P

Lol, took a while but I thought SOMEONE might find it amusing!! :clap:

Have you noticed your fuel consumption increasing at all?

I'd check to see if your lamda sensor is switching with a multimeter.

Also not sure how the garage tested your cat, did you ask them? As the only method of checking that I know off is a visual one, which will mean taking it off the car.

If it is the cat that has gone, you will probably have to also replace the exhaust system backwards from the catylytic convertor if it has broken down as the particles will be lodged in the exhaust system.

Thanks for that, unfortunately I think this goes a little beyond my technical abilities though I do own a multimeter...

I think fuel consumption is worse. The garage tested the cat by sound i.e knocking it as this seems to indicate if it has broken down inside. They also did an emissions test which passed - unsure what this means in terms of the exhaust output if the cat has failed though.

Do you think it would be better to have the car looked at sooner rather than later then as this could be causing more damage?

The consumption could be declining because the brain, or Electronic Control Unit (ECU), is being told lies by the air mass meter if it's on the blink. It'll chuck in more fuel to match the huge volume of air it thinks is entering, and hey presto, rubbish fuel consumption. But I also think this is bad for the cat. You need a Ford specialist, or a garage with diagnostic equipment. Or indeed a Ford dealer, but this is always the most expensive option.

Good luck

Originally posted by joyphil
The consumption could be declining because the brain, or Electronic Control Unit (ECU), is being told lies by the air mass meter if it's on the blink. It'll chuck in more fuel to match the huge volume of air it thinks is entering, and hey presto, rubbish fuel consumption. But I also think this is bad for the cat. You need a Ford specialist, or a garage with diagnostic equipment. Or indeed a Ford dealer, but this is always the most expensive option.

Good luck

Thank god ours is under warranty is all I can say.

Originally posted by Briano
Thanks for that, unfortunately I think this goes a little beyond my technical abilities though I do own a multimeter...

I think fuel consumption is worse. The garage tested the cat by sound i.e knocking it as this seems to indicate if it has broken down inside. They also did an emissions test which passed - unsure what this means in terms of the exhaust output if the cat has failed though.

Do you think it would be better to have the car looked at sooner rather than later then as this could be causing more damage?

Phil is right, if one of your sensors has gone be it the air one or the lamda one the ECU will be fed lies and be over compensating hence a reduction in MPG.

I wouldn't go by the knocking effect myself to see if the CAT is in good condition. Why? Because the Cat that has just come off one of my cars was completely empty having broken down entirely and been spat out ages ago, so it wouldn't have made any sound as there was nothing in it. However if they did an emmisions test and it was okay, my suggestion would be on a dodgy sensor which would make sense with the low RPM's.

My suggestion is book yourself in with a specialist with a diagnostic tester, I would expect it to be about £30ish so won't break the bank and it should throw up any electrical sensor problems.

Now I remember why I love classic cars, simple no electronics to worry about when trying to diagnose a problem ;)

Originally posted by Skatiechik
Phil is right, if one of your sensors has gone be it the air one or the lamda one the ECU will be fed lies and be over compensating hence a reduction in MPG.

I wouldn't go by the knocking effect myself to see if the CAT is in good condition. Why? Because the Cat that has just come off one of my cars was completely empty having broken down entirely and been spat out ages ago, so it wouldn't have made any sound as there was nothing in it. However if they did an emmisions test and it was okay, my suggestion would be on a dodgy sensor which would make sense with the low RPM's.

My suggestion is book yourself in with a specialist with a diagnostic tester, I would expect it to be about £30ish so won't break the bank and it should throw up any electrical sensor problems.

Now I remember why I love classic cars, simple no electronics to worry about when trying to diagnose a problem ;)

lol, tell me about it! :rolleyes:

You seem to know a lot about this kind of stuff... what's the best way to find a specialist with this kind of equipment, Yellow pages? :confused:

Yeah yellow pages will be the best bet, it should say ford specialist on their advertisement unless someone on here has been to one and can reccomend somebody?