hi my mates got a 52 reg focus zetec and the speedo has a mind of its own, clocks work fine one minute and die the next, he says the car is loosing power when clocks play up, are the clocks tied into the ecu? also would this be a problem with the clocks or something else such as speedo drive on gearbox, please help

 

the cloocks do go bandi_coot on the focus but never heard of losing power ive change the cloocks on a few with no probs

 

had that myself as its dead common for focus clusters to go doo lally, never lost any power mind

 

change the coilpack and the speedo

 

its the vss (vehicle speed sensor) mounted in gearbox, when the speedo drops out thats when you feel the power loss?

 

My mrs has got a 1.8 Zetec (53 plate) - I have done the following: had cam belt, ISCV and the breather hoses are perfect. I cleaned the MAF and gave it a full service but the bloody thing wont pull the skin off a rice pudding.

Clocks have always been perfect and so have not bothered with the VSS. If its 4 up, in 5th gear and you hit a slight incline it slows down!

Hate the bloody thing - I had a 1.8 16v Escort and it was sooooo much more nippy.

The tickover is shite too - 550 - 600 rpm - don't get the stalling at junctions though.

 

thanks for replys, ill get him to look at vss, cheers

 

Understand the gearbox mounted VSS has a plastic moulding which tends to fall inside the gearbox when you try to change it. How can this be avoided, please?

 

Look at it close and you will see a roll pin that goes through the gearbox holding the sensor in place. You need to get the pin out first and if you manage that your half way there. Once the pin is out soak the sensor in oil and gently clamp some mole grips on it and start moving the sensor side to side until it moves freely. DO not force it to move otherwise it will snap and then takes ages to get it out. Once moving i tend to turn side to side and pull upwards at the same time and out it will pop. If your lucky it will take a few hrs to get out even tho it looks easy they are a twat to get out.


Good luck with it

 

Thanks friend. If you break it is that when pieces of plastic fall into the gearbox?

 

Thanks friend. If you break it is that when pieces of plastic fall into the gearbox?