It has done this since ive owned it a couple of months ago, sods law it didn't do it when i viewed it before buying, and its not that too much of an issue but it does bug me.

Basically it will only do it probably on a one in five chance.

The problem is starting it, now it doesnt matter if the engines hot, cold, been sat overnight, its nothing timing or anything spark plug, related as its just had a major service, everything i know of is spot on, and ive had diagnostic reader on it and reset the ECU and its all 100% fine, fresh and runs well.

Basically when it does decide to do this problem, you turn the key to start it it will turn over say once quick, then slow the second time, then sort of go like its flat and then fire over really quickly and start up, kind of hard to explain, but when it does it, all the dashboard needles, speedo, revs, fuel and temp guage all fire right round as if its some kind of racing car and then they return back to normal position, usually resets the odometer aswell (how many miles ive done) and if theres a cd ive been listening to and say it was on track 7 , 30 seconds into the track, when the car has started, done the odd thing with the needles, reset its odometer the CD player goes back to the first track at the beginning of the CD?

Nothing else is effected by this strange problem, it doesnt loose stored radio stations and nothing else in or on the car resets itself?

I was thinking earth or battery issue? Surely something electrical?

Does anyone have a picture of how big a focus 2.0 petrol battery should be sat in the battery box? as mine only fills half the battery box?

Thanks

 

Had a similar thing with my escort gti a few years ago mate. Car would star no problem then the od time it would seem like the battery was dead car ran great when stared to it turned out to be a break I the main live from the battery to the alternator just had to give it a wiggle then it started no probs.
Was only a fiver for the cable from the scrappies.

 

Ah thanks, it doesnt have an issue starting, only other issue it does seem to idle a little low and when its cold and you give it revs the revs stick..but was told just to clean the throttle body?

Ill have a look at the wiring, i was thinking maybe it had the wrong battery on it? Ill have to get a picture..

 

I changed the starter and the battery on mine but made no difference but yeh good places to start with battery starter wiring etc

 

My focus does the needle round to max thing everytime it's started. Not sure why though.
Makes for a good photo to blag the mates with though!

Gavin.

 

The dial sweep is a sign that the battery is either fooked or is the wrong one fitted so it isn't chucking out enough amps to turn the starter.

 

My 1.8 focus used to do all of the Sh*t that your experiencing, quite bizzare to read your story and think it wernt just mine. Any way went to the scrappy nd bought a Heavy duty battery for £10 Problem solved, apart from the cd likes to choose its own track when started but a can live with that.

 

Make sure you use a silver calcium battery as the smart charge chucks the amps back in much quicker than a normal alternator so will kill a normal battery off in no time. Non-silve calcium batteries can also cause the issues you are having so could be worth checking it's got the right one fitted.

 

The battery does look like its off a 1.1 or something now you come to say it i reckon i could get two of the same battery in the tray.. whats this smart charge system? its only a old mk1 2.0 ESP ?

 

Battery as my wallet unfortunately found out, had to put one on the mrs car last month

 

http://www.petercoopercarrepairs.co....t_charging.htm

read this, tells you about the smart charge system.