the gf’s car is 2000ish focus. i was driving it the other day and noticed a little hesitation when accellerationg, but what was really noticable was an odd hesitation while crusing. you can feel that little jerk of it cutting out and coming back (missing). so i am going to replace the plugs and wires. then i noticed that on decel (high vac for more than like 5sec) you get an exhaust smell coming thru the vents. probably an egr thing…
anywho i figured while i am at it i may as well do a full tune up, and try to get that egr thing fixed. the issue is, i dont have a manual for this non honda pos. anyone have it has a pdf? and is there a common issue/part that needs to be replaced fixing this egr issue?
Seafoam that bitch too. I would use a can or two in the PCV hose or through one of the nipples on your intake to the TB. If you really want to get creative, spray 1 can in the TB while the car is running and then remove the plugs and spray another can into the combustion chamber of each cylinder. Let that sit overnight, remove the MPI fuse and crank the car over to drain whatever is left into the oil pan. Change your oil, replace with clean plugs and see if that makes a difference.
Of course it could be the usual suspects being a clogged injector, dirty TB, clogged air filter, etc…
Sorry to Hijack the thread, but while we are talking bout foci…
My focus runs like shit (Knocks, fires just a bit too late) when the outside temp is between 25 and 30… once the car warms up it’s fine… if it’s 20 outside… or 35 outside it’s fine… Any insight on that crap
My guess would be that the timing gets pulled when it sees IAT below a certain threshold. Once the engine warms up and the air gets warmed a bit in your intake tract is when the car starts to drive normal.
^ DRIVEABILITY - ROUGH IDLE, LOW POWER
AND/OR STALL AT IDLE WITH DIAGNOSTIC
TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) P0300-P0304 STORED IN
MEMORY - VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.0L SPI
ENGINE ONLY
^ ELECTRICAL - MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP
(MIL) ILLUMINATED - DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE
CODES (DTCS) P0300-P0304 STORED IN
MEMORY - VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.0L SPI
ENGINE ONLY
FORD:
1997-2002 ESCORT
2000-2002 FOCUS
MERCURY:
1997-1999 TRACER
This article supersedes TSB 02-09-01 to update the service and part information.
ISSUE
Some vehicles equipped with the 2.0L SPI engine may exhibit a malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) illuminated and diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0300 through P0304 stored in memory. The vehicle may also have a rough idle or reduced power condition, and/or may stall at an idle. This may be caused by sticking exhaust valves due to excessive carbon build-up.
ACTION
Check for faulty fuel injectors and ignition wires. One or more exhaust valves may be temporarily sticking due to carbon build-up between the valve stem and guide. If the diagnostic checks point to a sticking exhaust valve, the cylinder head assembly may need to be replaced with a new level cylinder head assembly with revised valve guides, revised exhaust valves will also need to be installed to help prevent carbon build-up. Refer to the following Service Procedure for details.
SERVICE PROCEDURE
NOTE THIS PROCEDURE APPLIES ONLY TO THE 2.0L SPI ENGINE.
This condition usually results in misfire when the engine returns to idle after running approximately 2000 RPM or higher.
Use the worldwide diagnostic system (WDS) to test for Power Balance with the engine at idle. Check for cylinder misfire. If misfire is occurring constantly, go to Step 3. If misfire is not occurring, attempt to induce misfire by performing the following step:
a. Apply the parking brake and keep the transmission in Park or Neutral. Bring the engine to approximately 2800 RPM and hold for one (1) minute. Check the WDS Power Balance display while holding engine speed constant. Allow the engine to return to idle and watch the WDS Power Balance display for a misfiring cylinder.
If WDS Power Balance indicates a misfiring cylinder with the previous test, one or more exhaust valves may be intermittently sticking due to carbon build-up between the valve stem and guide. Replace the cylinder head with the new level cylinder head with revised valve guides. Once stock is exhausted of the loaded cylinder heads, the cylinder head will come bare so revised exhaust valves will need to be installed in place of the original valves. The revised valve guides and exhaust valves help prevent carbon build-up. Consult the appropriate model year Workshop Manual for removal and installation procedures for the Cylinder Head Assembly.
If WDS Power Balance did not indicate a misfiring cylinder with the previous test or a misfire is occurring constantly, the misfire may not be due to a sticking exhaust valve. Refer to the appropriate model year Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) Service Manual for further diagnosis. Other possible causes may be, worn or arcing ignition wires, base engine compression, fuel injectors, fuel injector harness resistance or PCM injector driver signal. Perform diagnosis and repair as necessary.
After completing either Step 2 or Step 3, replace the PCV Valve (YS4Z-6A666-AC) (Motorcraft EV-244) on model year 2000-2002 Focus or 2000-2002 Escort. Vacuum fluctuations from engine misfire may prematurely wear the PCV valve on those applications.
NOTE THE CYLINDER HEAD ASSEMBLIES LISTED BELOW WILL BE BARE CASTINGS ONCE SUPPLY OF LOADED HEADS IS EXHAUSTED, IN MOST CASES IT WILL BE NECESSARY TO REPLACE ONLY THE PARTS LISTED BELOW, ALL OTHER PARTS CAN BE REUSED.
^ DRIVEABILITY - HESITATION/SURGE AT CRUISE
OR LIGHT TIP-IN AT 72-96 KM/H (45-60 MPH) -
VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.0L ZETEC ENGINE
^ DRIVEABILITY - LONG CRANK AFTER HOT SOAK -
VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.0L ZETEC ENGINE
^ DRIVEABILITY - ROUGH IDLE WHEN COLD -
VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.0L ZETEC ENGINE
FORD:
2000-2001 FOCUS
ISSUE
Some vehicles equipped with a 2.0L Zetec engine may exhibit a hesitation/surge at cruise or light tip-in at 72-96 km/h (45-60 mph) and/or a cold idle roughness, hesitation/surge and/or long crank times after a hot soak condition. This may be caused by the calibration of the Powertrain Control Module (PCM).
ACTION
Verify condition. If normal diagnostics cannot pinpoint the condition, reprogram the PCM with the latest level calibration. Refer to the PCM Calibration Information chart for details.
i had a similar problem on mine, there was a recall a year ago on the fuel pumps, did that get taken care of? if not that may be the cause. that or the catalytic converters go on the focus after about 55k miles and you get a noticable drop in performance. is it the SPI or the ZETEC?
The odd issue is… it’ll do it only in 25-30º weather… if it’s 10 below… it starts, runs fine…
Carnut… thanks…
I’m running a 2.0 spi engine… I know that the Zetec motors have had PCM re-programs about 100 times.
I also rarely if ever see a Check engine light… Usually 1ce per winter.
Part of strategy based diagnositics is to first check for bulletins and Recalls to make sure that the factory hasnt already compiled the data from around the country and created a fix.
Three of my friends have focuses(foci) and one works at a ford dealership in rochester they have all experenced this and the engine platforms were all different from…2.0…2.0zetec…2.3. The problems were either found to be from a faulty fuel pump, pcm needed recalibration, or the egr system. From the description you gave and seeing as you allready stated a faulty egr system fix that first. According to the ford dealer tech. the main faulty component in the egr of the 2.0 is the egr soleniod…approximately $130.00 new.
My 01 Zetec had a egr solonoid freeze up. but i think it was $75 otc. its easy to change on top on the firewall. same strange hesitation at 1/4 to 1/2 throttle. nothing at WOT ran fine. also check the egr tube mine was leaking / sucking air which could cause a stinky vent condition. Its a bitch to tighten without the proper tools.
