04 reg Ford Fusion woes...

[Lankytim]

Hi Shiters.

 

The inlaws have recently purchased my Mums old Ford Fusion 1.4 petrol semi-auto. Its a lovely car, just clocked 30k, spotless inside and out.Overall they're pretty pleased with it BUT, when approaching junctions the engine will cut out, if there is enough speed left it will bump start itself (which is a bit weird in itself, being an auto) but often it will just stall when approaching a junction and need to be restarted. It's a total pain in the ass but does seem to get better as the engine warms up. The Fusion ran perfectly before but has been parked up for 6 months or so, save being started to move to the end of the drive and back occasionally.

 

Any ideas on what the fault could be? Idle control valve maybe?

 

I'm taking the Fusion home with me tonight so I can have a poke about and clean the throttle body and idle valve. With a bit of luck that could cure it!

[hairnet]

youve answered your question

 

its just gummed up/choked

 

we have an 02 mk5 fezza and the idle flutters now and again 90% of its life is town it does mway only now and again when i borrow it

 

clean the body and regular air filter and its fine

[outlaw118]

I'm no expert, but having had a relative with a similar car and issue, might i recommend an "Italian Tune Up" - it's more fun than pissing about with valves and shizz...it worked on the relly's that I "advised"...I AM MEKANIK GOD

[Lankytim]

Ok, I checked the throttle butterfly (i'm told these don't have an idle control valve) and it was indeed caked up with oil and cack, a bit of raw alcohol on a rag had it all cleaned out. Test drive revealed no change.

 

Next I took the air filter out, it's held in with about 12 screws! I found it to be pretty filthy and clogged- I think it's probably the original. Took that out, reassembled and took it for a test drive. It's exactly the frigging same! OBV during the test drives I was caning the shit out of it to try and clear out 8 years of old codger driving clag but it didn't work.

[hairnet]

throttle position sensor........

 

8v motah its on the throttle body

 

if its 16v its part of the accel pedal assembly OMG FORD DEALER KAOS

 

same as carbs they need resetting now and again ( i have bike that needs this - cos it cures surging that happens)

[hairnet]

throttle position sensor........

 

8v motah its on the throttle body

 

if its 16v its part of the accel pedal assembly OMG FORD DEALER KAOS

 

same as carbs they need resetting now and again ( i have bike that needs this - cos it cures surging that happens)

[Lankytim]

Any idea how I can reset it? I'm almost tempted to drill a small hole in the throttle butterfly!

[Lankytim]

Any idea how I can reset it? I'm almost tempted to drill a small hole in the throttle butterfly!

[blackburied]

Vacuum Pipe?

 

Our lads Focus had the same issue and a new pipe cured it.

[blackburied]

Vacuum Pipe?

 

Our lads Focus had the same issue and a new pipe cured it.

[hairnet]

hbol says speak to frod

 

unless you know someone with multimeter type skillz

[hairnet]

hbol says speak to frod

 

unless you know someone with multimeter type skillz

[Rocket88]

What's the temp gauge reading? If it's not where it should be, temp sender unit may be knackered

[Rocket88]

What's the temp gauge reading? If it's not where it should be, temp sender unit may be knackered

[Lankytim]

The vac pipes all look mint but i can check again. Temp gauge seems to behave itself. Guess the next stop may be a ford specialist!

[Lankytim]

The vac pipes all look mint but i can check again. Temp gauge seems to behave itself. Guess the next stop may be a ford specialist!

[Pete-M]

Have you had the brain interrogated?

[Pete-M]

Have you had the brain interrogated?

[Lankytim]

Not yet no. I'm guessing that would be a Ford job?

 

Anyway, spent my lunch break probing about and when I removed the spark plug leads I noticed they looked pretty tired, looking down the spark plug bores the plugs themselves look pretty corroded. There is a very good chance the plugs/leads are the originals and shagged out, especially with the corrosion. Google recons seized plugs are quite a common problem on these though. I broke my plug socket removing a stubborn wheel nut on the SAAB so it would be difficult for me to get em out... we will see!

[Lankytim]

Not yet no. I'm guessing that would be a Ford job?

 

Anyway, spent my lunch break probing about and when I removed the spark plug leads I noticed they looked pretty tired, looking down the spark plug bores the plugs themselves look pretty corroded. There is a very good chance the plugs/leads are the originals and shagged out, especially with the corrosion. Google recons seized plugs are quite a common problem on these though. I broke my plug socket removing a stubborn wheel nut on the SAAB so it would be difficult for me to get em out... we will see!

[RichL]

If it's on the original spark plugs that could well be the problem. Ford fitted longlife plugs on the Zetec SE designed to last 40k miles before being changed. We have had a few of these cars in our family and the plugs have always been changed well before that cos I don't think it's right, plugs should be changed over time and not mileage in my opinion. Hopefully it will be an easy fix

[RichL]

If it's on the original spark plugs that could well be the problem. Ford fitted longlife plugs on the Zetec SE designed to last 40k miles before being changed. We have had a few of these cars in our family and the plugs have always been changed well before that cos I don't think it's right, plugs should be changed over time and not mileage in my opinion. Hopefully it will be an easy fix

[Lankytim]

Right, despite all being corroded the spark plugs came out without a fight, much to my surprise. Rain runs through the screen jets on the bonnet and fills the spark plug valleys with water, causing corrosion. Apparently ford fixed this issue on later models. After removal I inspected the plugs and they all looked to be in reasonable nick with a nice biscuit colour as shown in every haynes manual evAr. Gaps looked to be pretty large though so I closed em up a bit. Did it make a difference? Did it bollocks. I'm going to stick new plugs in anyway and see what happens.

[Lankytim]

Right, despite all being corroded the spark plugs came out without a fight, much to my surprise. Rain runs through the screen jets on the bonnet and fills the spark plug valleys with water, causing corrosion. Apparently ford fixed this issue on later models. After removal I inspected the plugs and they all looked to be in reasonable nick with a nice biscuit colour as shown in every haynes manual evAr. Gaps looked to be pretty large though so I closed em up a bit. Did it make a difference? Did it bollocks. I'm going to stick new plugs in anyway and see what happens.

[cort16]

Do you have an iphone? If so I could post you my iphone obdII code reader thing so you could plug into it to see if it was showing any fault codes?

[cort16]

Do you have an iphone? If so I could post you my iphone obdII code reader thing so you could plug into it to see if it was showing any fault codes?

[Pete-M]

Ooooh, are those iphone OBD things any use?

 

I have access to super duper Snap-On stuff, but an iphone one could be handy...

[Pete-M]

Ooooh, are those iphone OBD things any use?

 

I have access to super duper Snap-On stuff, but an iphone one could be handy...

[Lankytim]

I have a Samsung Galaxy.... I guess that won't work?

[Lankytim]

I have a Samsung Galaxy.... I guess that won't work?