ford focus issues

[bub2006]

A work colleague has spoken to me today about his ford focus. It's a 1.6 petrol on a 05 plate. Early shape model. He says some mornings when he starts it all the dials flicker and engine chugs then it picks up and drives lovely after a few seconds. He also said when driving it occasionally loses power,starts chugging again and only the speedo dies. I've plugged fault code reader in and it comes up with cam shift sensor fault. Can a dodgy sensor cause so much issues? I have a feeling it may be more sinister but thought I'd ask you folks first

thanks

[sierraman]

No it sounds more like the VSS sender in the gearbox, has a tendency to cause speedo faults, I understand the ECU relies on it for readings for various stuff also. Its like a grub screw thing holding it in. Though be warned they are plastic and have a habit of snapping in situ.

[bub2006]

Could that also cause chugging and loss of power then?

[Stixy]

Cam sensors are £10 new off ebay 

[Stixy]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GENUINE-FORD-CAM-CAMSHAFT-POSITION-SENSOR-FIESTA-1-25-1-3-1-4-1-6-FOCUS-ESCORT-/251170784170?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item3a7af203aa

[bub2006]

I know the cam sensor isn't expensive, I just don't want to spend his money on bits that don't need buying

[cort16]

A dodgy crank sensor can cause these issues it can also make the dials act all weird.

[bub2006]

A couple more things to look into then!

[saucedoctor]

Autodata shows Throttle position sensor for this fault, too.

[bub2006]

Oh good, I'll let him know

[bub2006]

why can't cars be simple

[MarvinsMom]

in the olden days they were...

[bub2006]

I know. I've not known a modern engine that's as basic as my punto yet.

[Pillock]

Flickering dials on a Ford could be as simple as dodgy battery, that's the first sign of low voltage. Not sure if this will also make it drive badly, but if you have a battery to swap it might be an easy check.

[meshking]

Isn't there something with these that the dashes become faulty and could cause issues like this? I think Ford reduced the price of the dashes because of this issue. My 04 focus had a new dash before I bought it, I think my sis had a similar issue with her 53 focus.

[tooSavvy]

MrSavvy speedo would 'drop to nil/revs would surge momentarily' - bit worrying the first time it happened!

 

£10 chinkkie 'gbox speedsensor' fixed it (whole drivetrain is D4F 1.2 Clio).

 

 

TS

[beko1987]

My 2000 puma had a fucked battery and if left for more than a weekend needed a jump. Got used to the sweeping dials of death...

 

It never cut out once going though, and I scrapped it without putting a new battery on it so no ides if that will fix it

[mrbenn]

I thoroughly stand to be corrected, but it sounds like more than one issue here.

 

Flicking dials more than likely a dodgy battery. Mine did it yesterday after the alternator took a holiday.

 

Speedo dying and loosing power probably due to speed sensor on gearbox. The speed sensor (vss) will start to fail by the speedo dropping to zero. Then the speedo will fail plus the car will lose power. Eventually it'll do all that, plus cut out.

 

If all the dials cut out and show nothing when driving along, plus often the fuel gauge and temp gauge will sit at the half points even when the engine is off, the instrument cluster needs looking at.

 

Re the chugging I'd be looking at a dirty idle valve (easy to fix) or dodgy pcv valve or piping (easy to fix). But first make sure the battery is good.

 

Guess how I know all this....