Rough idle and Stall - Ford Forums

accessviolatio · 04-04-2004, 11:22

I have a 2000 Ford Focus, automatic, with about 65,000 miles( I don't know
how the previous owner got over 55,000 miles on it. in one year I only put
10,000 on it and that's with a trip that totaled 1800 miles.) this only
happens when it is warmer than about 55 degrees outside. it takes about 25
minutes to get home from work, which gets the engine nice and warmed up. I
get home, go inside for about 15-45 minutes and go out to restart the car
for a trip to the store something (it's also fun when it does this in the
store parking lot). the car will begin to rough idle, and it tries to stall
and sometimes does. if I rev it up, it will help to keep the car from
stalling, but it still seems rough. I have to be quick to get it into
reverse and get moving, and then into drive because the car wants to stall.
when I start going the car will run rough, but as I go it smooths out and
will run fine. after that, it won't rough idle at a stop sign or try to
stall. If I have to sit in traffic for quite a while though, it has tried to
stall. it seems like if it is raining or cool weather will cool the engine
off too quickly for it to do this. It started doing this toward the end of
last year and I took it into ford, all they could come up with was the PCV
Valve was bad causing a vacuum leak. after they replaced it, diag didn't
find anything else wrong. the weather was cool after that for about a week
then it got warm and the car started doing it again, on a friday night when
they weren't open, of course. then the weather turned colder till one day
last week.

I am wanting to know if anyone has any ideas before I go into Ford next week
to get an "in-flight" recorder put in to isolate the problem, since the
weather here looks like it will get warmer. I need to get this taken car
of before April 27th due to needing to take that 1800 mile trip again.

Thanks in advance,

(I originally posted this in the ford focus forum Rough idle and stall )

LunaticSVT · 04-04-2004, 12:57

The sputtering engines in the 2000 models are plagued by a dirt and sludge buildup in a fuel delivery module. it was recalled by Ford for the 2000 models. They say those that are affected by the engine problem will get an extended 10-year vehicle warranty on the fuel replacement part.

There is a TSB on this as well. Cant recall thenumber off hand but this will be fixed by Ford.

accessviolatio · 04-04-2004, 13:39

I talked to them about that and it doesn't fit the situation. That's supposed to be a problem with the cars stalling while going down the road and surging. I only have a problem in idle, once I get going there is no problem.

(also, since it doesn't really fit this problem, ford won't replace it, go figure)

ebxr8240 · 04-05-2004, 04:32

Yes I thought it was a fuel pump or filter problem ???
About this many Klrs things like leads, plugs etc need replacing along with filters.
Check for vacuum leaks, esp between maf and inlet.If its idleing too low it just may need turning up alittle???

LunaticSVT · 04-05-2004, 12:20

Could be any of the following.....

1. fouled plugs,
2. bad wires,
3. your iac,
4. the dpfe. -- The DPFE should set of the CEL but 9 times out of 10 I have seen it not set of the CEL.
5. Fuel Filter is clogged up
6. Fel pump failure.
7. your O2 sensors,
8. MAF sensor -- Remove the elec connector on it. If it idles better than the sensor is dirty.

I do know that there was a reflash of the PCM issued last year for the Focus. It was supposed to cure issues that the SVT owners were having. The TSB # 03-19-11
The name of the PCM update is YRF0

Symptoms that this update is supposed to cure:

-High Idle on cold start
-Surge under light throttle (cold or warm) 2500-3000 RPM
-Sputtering on cold starts
-Rough Idle
-Low RPM Dips
-Battery light flicker
-Hard to start
-Slow Return to idle
-Lacks power on initial pull away

accessviolatio · 04-06-2004, 13:43

I went into my ford dealer to get a new crankcase filter (breather element, pcv filter, depends on who you talk to. 2 other ford dealers didn't know what a breather element was, even though that's what the Motorcraft name for it is.)

Apparently, when I was having problems last year they replaced the pcv valve but neglected to replace the filter! I didn't know that thing was yellow. And it was disentegrating. I'll get to see if that's the problem later today.

also there is apparently a fuel filter issue that the parts guys informed me about..

Fuel Filter info (apparently ford knows something)

accessviolatio · 04-08-2004, 09:08

PCV Valve is working fine, replaced air filter and breather, it was fine that night, next day it was fine for a while, then it up and seemed to act worse! I did discover something though. to make it not stall when I try to reverse (due to not being able to depress the gas peddle very much because I don't want to hit another car), if I turn on the air conditioner and rev the engine, it will force it to idle higher and prevent it to stall. I also noticed that the car really sounds like it might be running on only 3 cylinders (no it is not a zetec) then it kicks in and wants to go...

I am planning on checking the spark plugs, distributor, and wires this weekend. I think I remember being told that one of the spark plug... 'caps' came off in the wire, and it might not be making a good enough connection... but it only has a problem in idle and just starting to move, when warm outside, and engine is warmed up. hopefully that's the problem, but I don't want to spend $40 dollars, but that will be cheaper than the $100 deductible or more (as I'm sure if it's another problem It won't be covered)

dogmaiwli · 06-02-2004, 15:52

Check this thread it may help

LunaticSVT · 06-02-2004, 20:06

no reason to redirect to any other site that covers what i have discussed that being the dpfe issues as the thread you tried to direct them too. Simply put It was covered in the response above as it could be any of the other items as it was shown on that site as well.