funky07

Its winter and my 2007 focus with 11,000 miles just started running poorly. The engine bucks and loses power intermittenly especially while going uphill. I put a bottle of dry gas in the tank and it was ok for a sort while but then repeated. After the last episode it threw an engine code P0102. I haven't refuelled the car yet. Is it possible that water in the gas could have caused and error for the MAF sensor? The car is a rebuilt so I don't have a warranty to fall back on. The car was hit in the rear end so I don't think it had any damage or repairs to the engine compartment.

360ci

Any refurbished vehicle after an accident can show problems down the road that may have never arose if it was never involved in an accident. I'm sure you don't know; but depending on the severity of the rear end collision it may have loosened some components ever so slightly. It would be similar to driving over a curb, head on, at say 20-30mph! I'd make sure everything under the hood is secure and in place.

When you refuel, try 89 or 91 octane instead of 87. That may smooth out the power delivery. As the vehicle is two years old and with low mileage, change out the spark plugs for some new ones. Nothing too fancy is needed, just regular copper spark plugs every 30-40K will suffice.

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'00 Durango R/T 360ci 290hp (modded); 138,500m
'06 Pontiac G6 GT 3.5L 220hp; 44,000m
'12 Chrysler 200 Limited 3.6L 283hp; 13,000m
'99 Taurus 3.0L 2V Vulcan 145hp; 154,300m - Traded
Amsoil in all vehicles!