Fox, sometimes the boring and infinite information I have at my fingertips comes in super handy. Napa's data base is immense.
Yeah....I never really thought about stored info on car parts as a tool for diagnostics, dewsat. Might not always work, but, if the symptoms are similar to what a certain bad part could cause and the parts houses have sold a ton of them it would be worth a dice roll if you have no testing equipment.
Excatly Fox, I have been doing parts a long time, and frequently diagnose problems for customers. I definitely still miss on occasion but many times save them a $75.00 diagnosis at the dealer or shop. You get to know symptoms to parts pretty well. The sales info just gives you a look at what has been a problem in the past for a particular car or truck...or wagon.
Checked with one of my Ford factory techs as also he says the symptoms sound like a possible TPS as well. He told me the TPS can be unplugged and the plugged back in with the negative battery cable disconnected then put the cable back on. This should reset all the sensor reading to the cars ECU. Sometimes the sensor just loses signal to the ECU. If it runs normal again (even for a short time) that is probably the issue. If it doesn't change he also suggested cleaning the Air Flow meter out with cleaner designed to do so.
AH! Still another benefit of working behind a parts counter. You get mechanics in and out a lot. And you would be able to distinguish the good from the bad over time.
Yes sir! This guys is a good one too, started out with Ford about 20 years ago. He called me for a price on a fuel pump for his Dodge (ha ha) and I quized him about the Focus. He asked first thing if it was dual cam or single (which I didn't know) but said the dual cams have more trouble with sensors.
my money is on the TPS. the TPS and IAC don't always throw a code. but if it were an IAC it would usually make an odd humming noise and you would notice it going bad over a couple days. IAC's dont usually $hit the bed all of a sudden. the question is ....does he have a focus with the little split port escort engine or does he have a zetec underhood. edit: just saw he has a zx5, that is a zetec.
thats what i don't get... i have never heard of an issue with that engine in the focus.....in the contour yes..but that was a wire harness thing. mine was awsome and ...yes i had it riced out a bit. it was all engine and performance (apart from the word STEEDA across the top of the windshield it was bone stock on the outside) 24lb injectors, underdrive pulleys, 65mm throttle body, cold air induction, computer flashing, borla/steeda exhaust system. short throw shifter...i also figured out how to remove the reverse safety so i could mount a b&m hammer knob. pounded the car to hell and back...never skipped a beat. maybe they are like chevy cavaliers. if you pound a cavalier into the dirt...it'll run forever, take care of it...and its a problem child.
A guy I work with here has one thats been fairly free of problems, he came to work mad as hell the other morning because it would'nt go any faster than 40 mph and then bucked and chugged like crazy. After throwing a couple parts (two being sensors) then found out it all it needed was some fresh spark plugs. Damn pesky cars. My advice to my customers is always the same..."start simple".
Maybe try some fresh plugs, hell it worked for my buddy Josh on his Focus, they seem a little picky in the plug department.
Wow, you guys are a wealth of info! Like what was said, I'll start simple and work my way up. Its probably something stupid. 2002 ZX5 with the 2.0 Zetec and auto transmission. It has right about 48K miles on it. For the most part its still factory. I haven't done much to the car other than drive it, since for the most part its been worry free. But I'll have to work on it tomorrow, just getting home from class and its just getting dark.
I worked on it some today. I'm guessing maybe the fuel pump, cause when I turn the key I don't hear it "prime" or have the typical sound its just silent. I'm just frustrated with it. I've thrown plenty of money at this car and I just want to be sure what it is before I spend another dime. (not trying to sound like an a-hole but I'm just frustrated with this car.) Anyways, I was able to get it starting this morning. It sat for 24hrs with out being touched. It did run, but it ran terrible. Like it was starving for fuel/running on bad gas. Here's a video of how it ran, maybe you guys have an idea. I was able to drive it around my complex some but driving it didn't change how it ran any.
I'd suggest changing the fuel pump and filter then. I know it is not easy or cheap... but way cheaper than buying a new car.
A filter is way cheaper (and easier) than a pump and should be changed every now and then anyway. Since it's been running pretty consistently bad or not at all lately, I'd change the filter first and see how it runs. If it runs great then you can probably return the pump new in box, or not have to buy it to start with (depending on how convenient a parts store is for you).
