00 Focus - My Big Problem...

Hello All,

I am hoping some of you might be able to help me. I own a 00 Ford Focus with 80,000 miles on it and its a 1.8TDI. Anyhow, for the past few months it has been causing me some real problems. When I go on a long drive (3 hours or more) I find that I lose power, the ignition light starts flashing like crazy, but the engine doesn't cut out. I pull over to the side, turn the key off, but the light on the dash-board, like you just turned the key to start, is still on (despite key being taken out). Then I start again and all is fine, but if I don't keep accelarate more and more, it happens all over again. The worst thing is that its fine until I pull in for a break, and then the problem starts. The return journey is a nightmare, especially worring about being on a motorway.

Then, out of no-where it fixes itself. I have taken it back to the garage and they couldn't find a problem on their diagnostics, making me wonder could it be a problem somewhere else (altough electric would be the obvious one). I feel like I'm boing robbed because I bought a Focus for reliability, and don't appreciate this happening. Can anyone shed any light?

I'm really not familiar with diesels, so the best advice I can offer is maybe to get the car scanned when the light is on to see if it reads anything then. Other then that, I can't really offer much advice...maybe a tune up, but other aside from that, it sounds like it may be an electrical problem, but again, I'm not all that knowledgable on diesels, especially since they definitely aren't as popular as they are in Europe. Again, sorry I can't be of any more help, but maybe someone else can?

Well, its a major disappointment having bought a car that has given me nothing but trouble. The last time I got it checked, I was told by my dealers "Its like trying to find a needle in a haystack". They could tell I was really pissed off, I mean, I have to go on a 3 hour trip on Saturday and am seriously considering taking the train its that farcical. Paying back a car loan for the privilege of using public transport. A real morale destroyer if ever. Thanks for reply anyhow. Anyone else out there who can shed some light?

have your alternator checked out

diesels are wired man they run off there own heat or some crud, where do u live, i didnt even know themy made a diesel focus

There is a Turbo Diesel Focus in Europe.
To answer to your question, diesels ignite their fuel from sheer compression and the heat generated by the previous explosions...no spark plugs, just glow plugs to get the heat going.

Well, was thinking it could be a fuel pump problem as I don't think the garage checked that one. All I got was "I drove that car for a good hour and could find nothing wrong with it". Well, wish the mechanic came with me on a trip to Manchester at the weekend where on a busy Motorway the problem re-emerged. Lucky the traffic was light and I could clutch across lanes and pull in. I am from Ireland, but am based in the UK for the next few months which really multiply's the problem as I'm away from my dealer and now have to go to a Ford Dealer here instead.

Was the mechanic able to pinpoint anything on the trip? This really sounds like some sort of phantom problem, and could be anything...

Those were his words exactly! He described it as an "intermettant problem" (at least its a new word for me - means an irregular occurance). He said that the Diagnostics showed nothing up. He also said he checked the fuel lines. Now, whether that extended to checking the fuel pump I don't know. Either way, I've a week off work in two weeks time. I'll leave it into Ford and get them to give it a serious look over. If the problem still can't be found, I am seriously considering just having it scrapped (even though I still owe the equivalent of $6000 in repayments) as its useless to me like this. I don't particularly intend paying for tax and insurance for the next 3 years for something that's mainly parked up.

Those were his words exactly!
I'm a Ford mechanic by night... :grinno: j/k.
As partial as I am to the Focus, I don't blame you at all for selling it if the problem can't be found.

no kidding people know what a diesel is

It might have something to do with the cooling system. I don't know if the Diesel engines have a Fail-Safe cooling system like the 2.0 Zetec, but your symptoms of lack of power and flashing lights sound like what the US owners manual describes as the Fail Safe system in operation.

Simply put, the fail-safe cooling system is designed not to let the engine destroy itself from overheating. A sensor determines cylinder head temperature and begins shutting down cylinders to keep the engine from overheating. If this is indeed the problem with your car, it explains the loss of power and why shutting it off "resets" the situation.

In your case, the car might be cooling fine, but maybe there is a bad sensor or something of that nature. Either way, it sounds like an electrical problem and those are ALWAYS a pain in the arse to diagnose.

I wish Ford had brought the diesel Foci to this country. Hopefully the next generation car will have a diesel option, but with how unrefined our diesel fuel is here in the US compared to Europe, I doubt it very much.

Too many people in the US still have a lingering taste of 80's domestic diesels in their mouths.

Keep us posted!

Yes, I'll keep everyone posted and thank you all very much for the contributions. Even just to talk to someone about it helps alot! Will be sending it in the next couple of weeks, so I'll let you know what happened.