Ford Focus starting problems, car just won't start

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I bought a Ford Focus 1.8TDCi brand new in April 2003 it has now done 22,000 miles with a full Ford service history.  However, on the 14th of May 2007 the car began to have quite pronounced problems starting from cold.

The RAC took my car to a Ford Dealer I didn't get it back until 19 June 2007 (yes it took them just over a month to get it to start and then they had to 'test' it, so they had it almost 5 weeks in total!).

The total bill for the work came to 1919.22 during which they fitted a new battery, PCM module, fuel injection pump, crankshaft sensor etc.  You could have knocked me down with a feather at this point.

Starting problems, dealer blames Ford diagnostics

When I queried the bill they said Ford told us to fit these parts due to readings off the diagnostics on the fault code reader.  On the 27th of June and only a week after I got it back, I had exactly the same starting problems, i.e. after a short run from cold, switched off engine which then just refused to start again.

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I feel that I have been ripped off and the Dealer blames Ford diagnostics, meanwhile Ford says that it is down to the dealer.  Is this just a big game to Ford and am I just caught in the middle?

Can anyone tell me what to do here and does anyone know exactly what causes starting problems on the Ford Focus?  I'm at a loss with this because it would seem that FORD themselves and their experts do not have a clue, so any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

By: GK

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fedup

I never got to celebrate I am giving my car to a garage this week it starts with a push but not with a jump .i think this has to be a fault on the focus I have tried and I think I will get shut of it and go back to an old corsa at least you can get to things under the bonnet .

01/12/10 fedup

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Lee

If your car has air shut off valve it could be stuck closed, preventing it starting. If you have a haynes manual (2001 - 2005) look in section 4C page 6.

01/12/10 Lee

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dave

I have recently purchased a 1.8 TDCi Focus Zetec Sport, had the car 2 days running fine, since then its refused to start. RAC have been out and couldn't get it running, I've replaced since then, glow plugs, Cam Sensor, starter motor and battery and still it refuses to spring to life. Sprayed some easy start into it and it coughs but thats it! does anyone have any clues as to my next move apart from leaving it in a ditch?

29/11/10 dave

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fedup

I was advised to put some detox in my fuel so we tried it an the car now starts im not holding my breath though will wait a few days before celebrating .

25/11/10 fedup

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cliff

ford focus 1.8 petrol ghia. had the same problem with it cutting out when I was slowing down. I took it apart and discovered that a pipe had snapped on the back of the carb, also changed the potentiometer, it now runs like a dream. hope this helps.

24/11/10 cliff

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fedup

ford focus 1.8 cdti 53 plate has been difficult to start for a week now wont start at all plenty of life just wont turn over my engine management light hasnt come on changed heater plugs and battery still wont start is there any way of checking fuel pump before I pay out for this as I know this fault has shown up for people and it didnt cure the fault

20/11/10 fedup

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derek storrie

yip I have a ford ranger 2007 model tdci with the same probs
do you know the engine in it is a Mazda 2.5 so ford do not have a clue about this engine
whach out that your engine is not a mazda engine???????/ if so they can test the full engine ..

02/11/10 derek storrie

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Barry

Hi, I've got a 2006 focus 1.8tdci. Car wont turn on, have changed ecu three times bloody diagnostics doesn't want to communicate with ecu. When turning the key I can hear a click comming from one of the engine relays but thats about it. Really stuck! can somebody help please!!

14/10/10 Barry

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Scott

Hi, can anyone help???? having an intermitent problem with my Focus 2.0 tdci (55) sometimes the car hesitates to start and other times it starts straight away and always drives fine but then during a some journeys I hear and feel what sounds like a metal clunk and from then on it judder's when not harshly accelerating, seems to lag then pick up then lag then pick up etc and when I change gear the car seem's to uncomfortably hold back then lunge forward....this comes and goes regulaly and has been like this for a year.

there are no lights on the dash and is no smoke or any other clues, the car has been hooked up to a computer about 6 times! and there are no fault codes
i'v had the flywheel and clutch replaced and it seemed to be ok for a month and has just started again....i'v been on loads of forums and cant find anyone mentioning the above problems and have also been to three diff garages and all are clueless,

i think the next step is crankshaft or camshaft sensor but does anyone have any ideas or have heard of anything similar?

13/10/10 Scott

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JamesG

Does your car make quite a rattly noise while it's turning over and not starting, kicking a few times but unless you keep the key turned until it's really running properly it just stops? Mine did that, especially in the cold. Keeping the ignition on for several seconds helped, sometimes going through several cycles of that when it was very cold. The solution (in my case) was quite unexpected and found by accident - the dual mass flywheel was broken and there was too much rotational play between the two halves. Getting a new flywheel (not cheap) completely cured the starting problem.

07/09/10 JamesG

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Billg

no-one has mentioned this, but it is my experience on a 205 fiesta tdci. The fuel lines seem to be letting air in, the car runs fine, and will start immediately after stopping, but after a while it will not. Pumping the fuel primer to expel air / push diesel through will result in a start. The pronlem now is finding this slight leak???

01/09/10 Billg

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Manc Lad Chris

Had similar starting problems with my Focus 1.8 TDCI. Heater plug light on dash only stays on for about 1 second. Changed heater plugs, then changed heater plug relay. Car starts OK now but heater plug light still goes off after 1 second. I just wait 10 seconds before starting car. This does the trick. You can do a very basic test to see if power is getting to your heater plugs. Turn on your interior fan before you turn the ignition key. You will hear the fan pitch change when heater plugs turn off since they draw significant current.

03/07/10 Manc Lad Chris

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Lee

NICKTHESMOGGIE

I had the same problem, new glow plugs, struggled to start when cold. Changed starter motor and all is well

26/06/10 Lee

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red robbo67

focus 2000 1.8 endura diesel.After 3yrs faultless running it just packed in.Took it to my local garage who had a diagnostic done and it showed up as the throttle sensor was not working.Changed the item and it worked for for three days then cut out again.Currently back in my local garage having further checks carried out.have seen a couple of things on the forum that I will mention to my garage,but if anyone else has had similar problems and had it cured would like to know what the problem was?????

23/06/10 red robbo67

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NICKTHESMOGGIE

I also have had trouble with starting my Ford Focus 1.8 tdci (04). Coil light on dash not staying on for more than split second (should be about 6 sec). Having to turn ignition part way about 3 times now before daring to fire it up, struggles on cold start, usually ok after run. Have had new glow plugs fitted, relay changed, but problem still persists. I am at a loss, any ideas (beyond the ones already given?).

08/06/10 NICKTHESMOGGIE

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