billsguy

weird situation here:

30,000 miles, car normally runs fine. maybe once in 20-30 starts, it
just whines... no engine attempting to turn over, no clicking, just an
electrical whirrrr. took it to the dealer and they swear nothing is
wrong, and that the only way they can fix it is if they see it.
understandable, but when it doesn’t start, it may not start for a
while. as far as i can tell, it doesn’t matter if its a cold/warm
start, with/without much gas. also, occasionally the remote unlock
and the drivers side unlock fail, but very occasionally. obviously
seems electrical, but for a 2003, can’t think of what it’d be. i plan
to take it to another dealer because this one basically said, wait
till it dies and tow it here. this is impossible, since i, as most
people do, rely on the car. any ideas? i saw it may be a loose
battery cable, but wouldn’t a dealer check this? any other ideas? is
it right to take it to another dealer?

Mike

PS, thanks for the board here, helps out a ton

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Dave Gower

"billsguy" <UseLinkToEmail@AutoForumz.com> wrote

>... maybe once in 20-30 starts, it
> just whines... no engine attempting to turn over, no clicking, just an
> electrical whirrrr.

See if you can borrow another battery (known to be good) and try that out
for a while. Sometimes batteries have loose plates or dirt which can cause
intermittent random internal shorts and therefore low voltage.

slo

battery wouldn't be it. sounds like it's the typical focus fuel pump
problem. it was a problem on the 00's and 01's but more 02's + are seeing
this too.

www.focusfanatics.com and www.focusmotorsports would be able to give you
more details on this if needed.


"Dave Gower" <davegow.removethis@magma.ca> wrote in message
news:gNGdndeuEqpNyDXfRVn-iQ@magma.ca...
>
> "billsguy" <UseLinkToEmail@AutoForumz.com> wrote
>
>>... maybe once in 20-30 starts, it
>> just whines... no engine attempting to turn over, no clicking, just an
>> electrical whirrrr.
>
> See if you can borrow another battery (known to be good) and try that out
> for a while. Sometimes batteries have loose plates or dirt which can cause
> intermittent random internal shorts and therefore low voltage.
>

Tony Wesley

slo wrote:
> battery wouldn't be it. sounds like it's the typical focus fuel pump
> problem.

Can't be the fuel pump. The original poster said

> >>... maybe once in 20-30 starts, it
> >> just whines... no engine attempting to turn over, no clicking, just an
> >> electrical whirrrr.

Tony Wesley

billsguy wrote:
> weird situation here:
>
> 30,000 miles, car normally runs fine. maybe once in 20-30 starts, it
> just whines... no engine attempting to turn over, no clicking, just an
> electrical whirrrr.

Bit of a stretch here, but you have something like a Mobil Speed Pass
on your keys? They may interfere with reading the chip in your
ignition key.

Once in a great while, my 2001 won't start. Turn the key and
absolutely nothing. I don't recall any whirrrr. I take the key out,
hold the key ring by the ignition key so everything (including the
Speed Pass) hangs down, try again, and it works.

slo

Ah, good call.. Thanks for clearing that up. :)

"Tony Wesley" <tonywesley@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1118589218.657996.109570@g44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>
>
> slo wrote:
>> battery wouldn't be it. sounds like it's the typical focus fuel pump
>> problem.
>
> Can't be the fuel pump. The original poster said
>
>> >>... maybe once in 20-30 starts, it
>> >> just whines... no engine attempting to turn over, no clicking, just an
>> >> electrical whirrrr.
>

Dave Gower

"Tony Wesley" <tonywesley@gmail.com> wrote

> Once in a great while, my 2001 won't start. Turn the key and
> absolutely nothing. I don't recall any whirrrr. I take the key out,
> hold the key ring by the ignition key so everything (including the
> Speed Pass) hangs down, try again, and it works.

Yes, for me the whirrr is the key piece of data. Chances are it's the fuel
pump. There's enough voltage to power it up, but not activate the starter.

Henri

Try taking the speed pass off the key ring.
The speed pass could be screwing up the Passive Anti Theft System causing
the starter to be intermittently "locked out". The speed pass could be
blocking the signal from the key chip. When you have this problem does the
red light on the dash flash or flash rapidly? If it does, the chip in the
key is not communicating with the transceiver around the lock cylinder.

You should also rotate the use of the second key and remote control about
every 3 months.


"Dave Gower" <davegow.removethis@magma.ca> wrote in message
news:XN6dnV6IiKQcxjHfRVn-3w@magma.ca...

"Tony Wesley" <tonywesley@gmail.com> wrote

> Once in a great while, my 2001 won't start. Turn the key and
> absolutely nothing. I don't recall any whirrrr. I take the key out,
> hold the key ring by the ignition key so everything (including the
> Speed Pass) hangs down, try again, and it works.

Yes, for me the whirrr is the key piece of data. Chances are it's the fuel
pump. There's enough voltage to power it up, but not activate the starter.

Tony Wesley

Dave Gower wrote:
> "Tony Wesley" <tonywesley@gmail.com> wrote
> > Once in a great while, my 2001 won't start. Turn the key and
> > absolutely nothing. I don't recall any whirrrr. I take the key out,
> > hold the key ring by the ignition key so everything (including the
> > Speed Pass) hangs down, try again, and it works.
>
> Yes, for me the whirrr is the key piece of data. Chances are it's the fuel
> pump.

That is, it's the fuel pump that's whirring? You might be right.

> There's enough voltage to power it up, but not activate the starter.

I think your suggesting is better than mine.