Got an eml light and found that the code refers to imrc being stuck open.Now i Know this is a common fault with this and am wondering how the system works.Basicly i Need to know if when i start the car the cable should pull the lever on the inlet manifold or should this only happen when the engine is reved to 6k.
Is the flaps open or closed when the engine is switched off?
Going to have a look at the weekend and im just trying to get a handle on how it works so i can see what mine is doing.
Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

Ok had a look today and when i start the car the cable pulls on the lever on the inlet manifold and when the engine is reved the lever moves again as it should.So i take it the actual control box is working as it should but are there any sensors in the inlet manifold that know when the intake flaps are open or is the box just not reading when they are closed?

 

Sounds like it is working, as you said when you start the car, it pulls the cable, then when you go past 6000rpm, the cable tension releases as it should. Have you tried clearing the fault code and seeing if it returns?

 

Remove the box from the bulkhead. Remove the back and greese the cogs and manually move them. Done this to mine and worked perfect.

 

Cleared the code last night but it came back today.
Not sure if its getting a false reading from somewhere.

 

check that the cable is actually moving the lever on the end of the inlet, the lug can snap off so when the cable moves it isnt actually do anything, or the manifold has failed internally, they do tend to stick, move the lever with your hand and you should hear the inlet runner switch inside the manifold, if not something is wrong

 

Checked the cable mate that seems to be moving when the car starts and again when you rev the car past 5k or so

 

but have you checked its actually attached to the end of the inlet manifold? if the inlet manifold is working fine then the imrc is at fault for sure

 

The cable is also attached to the inlet manifold. Could it be a case of a flap broken inside the inlet manifold?

 

yes it could definately be that. If you remove the air box you can reach down and grab the end of the lever the cable is pulling, turn it with your hand and you can feel/hear the runners move inside. The imrc can cause a fault when one of its electrical componants starts to fail, if your handy with a soldering iron you can swap this part out with a 95p part from e-bay if not a new imrc is around Ł180 and inlet is around Ł600
i will post a link tomorrow which will take you to a guide on how to swap the electrical componant in the imrc

 

Hi guys I have the engine light on my ST170 apparantly something to do with Inlet Manifold Runner? - The car drives ok but I do hear a strange popping noise coming from the rear exahust. Is the car safe to drive with the light on as it hasn't gone into limp mode. I dont want to rush out and spend Ł260 on a new IMRC box until I know that is the problem. I can't find where this box is located. I tried removing the airbox but seems stubborn to move. I guess I remove the ducting attached to it first? Seen on here people mention this cable which moves on ignition and at 5,000 revs, but can't even find that. a picture where this cable and IMRC are would be greatly appreciated!

 

The runner controll is located behind the inlet manifold mate its a silver box with a cable coming out of it there is a transistor that burns out on them you can buy it for Ł1 off ebY if I remember correct and just get someone to solder it in for you there is a how to on the net to do it

 

Here's a link to dismantle it as sometimes the cable can pop off the reel
http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/s...d.php?t=164269

 

Thanks mate! - I took the airbox off and had a look at the cable and it was slack and still slack when I started the engine. so dismanted the IMRC and moved the cream cog thing from under the circut board a few times and put WD40 all over it and the cogs which were stiff to move beforehand. and now no more engine light and so much more torque at low RPM!! Only thing now is I can hear a constant knocking noise when stationary. hard to work out where it is coming from. Just had cambelt kit changed so not that

 

Normally the plastic quadrant breaks off the manifold where the IMRC cable attaches to, this causes the IMRC to cycle all the time when running, and can hear it from inside the car.

Ignore me if that's ok

 

It's hard to locate the noise but hear it most when stationary. I will check under car for any exhaust issues when it stops raining again. These cars are so low to the ground that you cant just crawl under like most cars. Bit annoying

 

Can't hear this knocking noise when looking under the bonnet so don't think its the IMRC.

 

Is it more a rattle as mine use to rattle a bit when stationary but it was the dmf
See if it goes away when you press in the clutch.

 

Will have another look tomoz and let u know. Its much louder stationary sat in car. can't really hear it with bonnet up. Defs not a rattle. More of a constant knocking noise. I can live with noises but just for my own peace of mind be nice to know where it's coming from. Can't hear it when crusing along

 

Hi guys, went out for a drive to Weston and since fixing the IMRC, it sound great at high revs!! I do however have this nasty knocking noise which I can't work out where it's coming from. Most noticeable when stationary. Noise don't change when I use the clutch. Doesn't get louder when moving so not wheel bearing. The IMRC doesn't make any knocking noise in fact I don't think it comes from the engine bay.

 

Does it sound inside car?

This may sound completely daft, but check your recirculation motor on the heater box that activates the re-circ flap behind the glovebox, they can fail and cause a knocking.

Little black motor with 3? phillips screws that are a twat to get to.

Unplug it and see if noise stops.

The gears slip inside and can make a hell of a racket.

 

Ok thanks for the tip. I will try it tomoz. Only heard while in the car. If I sit in drivers seat, it sounds like its coming from left of the car and vice versa if i sit in the left. Driving me nuts. Won't bother me if it's something which isn't going to cost ŁŁŁŁ's to fix. It's a 03 plate so don't expect it to be perfect. But just annoying!!!

 

Just pop your glovebox down and have a listen behind there.

Used to be a common fault on mk1 Focus.

 

Thanks again will look into and while I'm there I need a new relay for the front wipers cos if i turn them off while they are wiping, they will just stop where they are instead of returning to the original position. Bit dangerous!!

 

When you've got the glove box out the way, on the fuse box, 2 small black relays at the top of fusebox, swap them round, don't ask me how/why, as I don't know - but it sometimes fixes the front wipers parking, and the rear still works fine

 

I have fixed the wipers by swapping the relays! That knocking noise, I have worked out its coming from the exhaust right below the rear cup holder in middle of car. Too chicken to get underneath with just a small jack holiding up a tonne of weight!!! Any ideas what that noise is?

 

Seen the brackets for the cat break/rot through on them.