Focus TDCi starting issues

[gingeRS]

Right then, its my folks car, an 04 plate Focus 1.8 TDCi. its just been serviced at SCC, and they couldnt find the fault with it, they've done a fault code check and major service, all filters etc. right then it just struggles to start from cold, its had new glowplugs etc, and i cant think of what else it could be, are there any issues with the Delphi Fuel injection system (i'll make some calls at work, seeing as i work for them, LOL). Dont want to have to put another set of glowplugs in as this didnt cure it last time. it always starts eventually, but struggles most times in the morning, its getting to the point where my folks ust want rid as its becoming a pain to them any suggestions appreciated cheers

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[Lloyd]

have you checked the cam timing?

[James]

cam senser?

[tabetha]

Have you actually checked for power at the plugs ?
tabetha

[djcossie]

check the egr mate

[runty176]

sounds like the cam sensor at fault (very commen poor starting fault)- wont show up on a snap on scanner .
u can check the wave form with an ossicilascope

[gingeRS]

will look into that, is it a case of a faulty sensor then, so it'll just need replacing???

[vyper developments]

Could possibly be an injector fault causing fuel pressure drop in the fuel rail. happens quite often with cold starts on the tdci engine. The injectors require re-programming after replacement.

CheeRS, Mike

[RS20004x4]

there is an udate in fords ids for cold start on focus's, did one on a car that used to live in spain a while back.

[gingeRS]

so the concencus would be to take it to a ford dealer then........more expense!

[gingeRS]

just done some googling.....

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/po...ex.htm?t=31396

seems odd it didnt show up on SCC's engine scanner though???

[paceo]

glowplugs i would of said if you didnt mention this, is there any power fromthe wire to the glowplugs?

[B19 JUB]

is it noisy when it starts?could be dual mass flywheel has so much movement in it that the crank sensor cant synchronise with the cam sensor.another common thing id say is cam sensor.check the colour,early shit ones were black,later modified ones are grey.
very rare for an injector to fail on the 1800 lynx diesel tbh,could be pump issue

[gingeRS]

Originally Posted by B19 JUB

is it noisy when it starts?could be dual mass flywheel has so much movement in it that the crank sensor cant synchronise with the cam sensor.another common thing id say is cam sensor.check the colour,early shit ones were black,later modified ones are grey.
very rare for an injector to fail on the 1800 lynx diesel tbh,could be pump issue

as far as i know it had a replacement dual mass flywheel back when it was almost new, i remember it going into the dealers for it.

will check the cam sensor then, and if its a black one, i'll replace it with a new one

irony is......i work for delphi, and have e-mailed a few of my colleagues in the light duty diesel section and cant seem to dig up much on it!

[krm199]

I have an 02 1.8 TDCI Ghia 115ps, bought in 04 with full service history, and the battery failed on me 2 years ago. Breakdown man came out and sold me, at the roadside, an 065 type (I later find out that this is not compatable with the Ford Smart Charging System but it fixed it at the time so thought nothing more of it) and had issues ever since with poor cold start performance that I didn't attribute to the battery. If the temp dropped below 5 degrees then the engine would turn over for 10 - 20 secs before catching, below freezing and it wouldn't start and it'd drain the battery. In the cold snap at the beginning of Feb 09 I had to boost from my 2nd car to get it going - not good. Lots of forums suggested Fuel pump/injector failure (injectors tested Jan 08 with no problem but low boost pressure suspected), DMF failure, CPS (that was changed and updated 3 years ago) and Mass Airflow Sensor. Resigned myself to a big bill and took it to an independant and reliable diesel specialist and they couldn't find/replicate the fault and stated that they'd had the same issues with other TDCI's which replacement fuel pumps didn't fix - £2500 later!! In the end I investigated the battery, got an insight that the batteries fail after a period of time and that replacement batteries must be calcium based and have sufficient cold cranking amps (informative discussion at http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/po...ex.htm?t=64215), invested (£90) in a Varta Silver E38 (750 Cold cranking amps with full details here http://www.varta-automotive.com/index.php?id=100, battery search here http://www.varta-automotive.com/index.php?id=43 and stockist can be found through their search function on any of the above pages) and at 1 degree the day after installation it started within 2 seconds. Hopefully that's the problem solved as in all other respects the car is as sweet as a nut.

[liarco2001]

I know this was posted a while back but is there any updates to how this car was fixed? I also have a 2004 focus tdci 115 that is difficult to start when its cold. I have read that this may be crank sensor or cam sensor. Just wondering what it was in this particular case?

[krm199]

Following on from my earlier post, the battery still works ok but, on cold days the car is still more reluctant to start (but does eventually, it wouldn't with that previous 065 battery). To put belt and braces and allow for the current drain that happens with the alarm set I purchased a solar powered trickle chager from Maplin for £10 (it was on sale, now £20 and here: http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=98358, a better one is now in their sale for £13 here: http://www.maplin.co.uk/Module.aspx?ModuleNo=223251). I have put some stcky back velcro on it and secured it straight to my rear parcel shelf with th power lead feeding into the socket in the back of the centre console - feeding the cable between the split rear seats. We've had -3 temperatures and she's fired up with no problems - this issue is now put to bed in my case. All I have to do now is sort out why my o/s rear door doesn't lock/unlock with the central locking - going to check my fuse 63 at the weekend!

I hope this helps.

[st3v3]

cam sensor, black sensor with a 1 x 8mm bolt somewhere on the head, cant remember as im a bit pissed, but about £17 from Fords, please try a search on MEG just because i cant help you enough.

[liarco2001]

Replaced the cam sensor about 2 weeks ago. Hasn't made any noticeable difference. Still it does start after 2 or 3 attempts even on the coldest mornings -5ish it took 5 attempts max. Not what i want really but i can live with it. The sensor was the black one replaced with a new grey one. I paid about 23 quid for it but got a service hil for 25 at the same time so the money i saved on filters and oil paid for it

[deltham]

I also have cold start problems with an 03 TDCi 100hp. However, having read the user manual I'm not so sure it's a problem.

The user manual suggests you should crank the car up to 3 times, for a period of 30 seconds in cold weather. Only then should you consider you have a problem.

This morning it was -4 degrees, and it started on the second crank after 10 seconds.

Should I still think about a new battery? The car currently has its original battery, which is 7 years old.

Thanks

Doug

[krm199]

A follow on from my post on 31 Dec 09. Even after the solar powered trickle charger there were still problems in severe cold. On investigation I realised that the new battery I bought 2 years previously was not a Calcium Battry. Bought a Varta Silver Calcium Battery and fitted new glow plugs - starting issues now resolved - even in this recent cold spell down to -8.