Ok, so driving home tonight my car decided to completely die!!! Going up a steep hill with plenty of traffic behind me, which was nice..

I managed to get the car started but every time I put my foot down at all it was as though the power just disappeared and the engine died on me.

I got home by constantly dipping the clutch and accelerator which seemed to keep my momentum. Doing about 20-30mph. For a short distance the car would seem fine, but then suddenly start stuttering and die.

I have repaired my IMRC control unit this week, not sure if that would be coincidence but thought I would mention it. I had the air box and throttle body off, could this cause the issue and fault code?



This is the description given for the fault code.

Any help is fully appreciated!!!

 

I would be checking your in tank fuel pump filters. I replaced my pump and i found these filters to be blocked.

My ST17O wouldnt rev up over 4k. The car was just holding back.

 

Ok so I have started the car after work with the MAF removed. Left it running for a while, turned off the engine, reconnected the MAF and now it seems fine?

Admittedly it was only idling but it was revving right up to the limiter (and IMRC was functioning correctly!!)

I have bought a new fuel filter anyway so tomorrow will change this. Along with disconnecting battery for a while and cleaning the inlet.

I plan to check as much wiring as possible around the fuel rail area in case there's anything obviously damaged.

Am I best to fill the petrol up before attempting the filter so any sediment in the tank is not likely to go through the new filter??

 

for the fuel filter it makes no difference as the pump controls it so as long as engine is off you will only lose 1/4 cup of fuel if tank is empty or full, and the pump itself has its own filters in the bottom of the tank so any crud normally gets caught there wshich is main cause for pump failure as they can get clogged

 

Thanks for your help. I have asked about any pump filters but did not see any available ? Are these something that only come supplied with the pump itself? (Quoted Ł333 from Ford for this!)

If I can't buy and replace the actual pump filters, is there any way to clean them out at all?

 

the pump itself where its mounted in the tank can be dismantled, but to do this you need to drop the tank to do a proper job, and simply a rinse filter in petrol etc and will clean it, most though take this chance to uprate the pump from places like matt lewis.demon tweeks/burton etc at same time, as when they do get clogged it puts them under huge strain so they will no longer be as good, but thats worst case scenario as a new fuel filter may do the trick as that traps far smaller particles

 

So everything seemed to go well this morning... fuel filter changed, IMRC disconnected and transistor re-soldered. Opened throttle body valve to clean inside and sprayed the carb cleaner through into the inlet manifold to give it a clean.


All put back together, turned the key to start and BANG! Small amount of vapour coming from the engine bay and the whole inlet manifold has popped off of the four connection points?!

I held the throttle body valve open for a while to dry it out, but would this noise and pressure be from the carb cleaner igniting inside the manifold or something???

Doesn't look to be any physical damage, just as though the pressure has removed the rubber hose connections. Anybody else had this experience?!!

 

simply sounds like you never gave it enough time to evaporate and fumes caused a blow out

 

That they did! Haha Shocked the chap cycling by the house anyway!

Back together, started again and it started first time. No hesitation at all, idles really well. Let it warm up for a few minutes, no stuttering at all. So I thought I would try a drive, a mile down the road and the hesitation starts again!!!!

It's fine if I'm not pressing the accelerator too hard but as soon as I give it any at all the revs drop until I lift my foot back off? Managed to get it home by driving slowly, but this isn't ideal... once home and with the bonnet up I get the EML back on with code P0190 back again.

All the injectors sounded as though they are working. Is this looking like the fuel pump? Ł333 plus vat from Ford...

 

Ł60ish from burton or demon tweeks

 

Is something like this the best to get..?

http://www.burtonpower.com/sytec-in-tank-electric-fuel-pump-ford-fiesta-st150-focus-mk1-facitp303.html


Ok so slight update...

I put 2 petrol cans of fuel in the car yesterday and then cautiously went to the garage. Filled the tank up to top and the problem has magically gone away! I've done about 20-25 miles since but there has been no hesitation at all, right around the rev range.

I think I can safely assume my fuel pump needs replacing. Is there any harm waiting and just keeping the fuel level high?? Will this do any damage?
(Completing on a house this month so could do with waiting until next really!!)