My 2002 2.0L Focus Zetec is having power problems. I have taken it to my local ford dealership service centre. They ran a diagnostic which did not show any flags. They found pinging and ran a cleaner through the head which has improved that problem.

The other issue is that when accelerating the engine is not going as well as it used to or should. The problem is worse going up hills, and also seems to be extremely bad when in 2nd or 3rd gear going up hills (with foot to the floor).

I also found that the problem will occur when I am accelerating with my foot to the floor in any gear (even 5th on the freeway at 90km/h +)

If anyone has any tips or has encountered problems like this before any help would be appreciated.

My thoughts is that it is 'choking' and not getting enough air, but the service centre didn't find anything wrong with that as far as they could tell and the car has been logbook serviced for its entire lifetime.

95,000kms ODO or roundabouts.

Thanks
Focus owner

 

Check the MAF sensor these got clogged up, unplug and go for drive if better then clean it but do not poke the delicate wires to clean.

Martin

 

Other possibilities are the cat breaking up and causing a partial blockage, and fuel/air filters blocked.

 

I will try this. Just for confirmation, the MAF is the thing plugged into the air filter housing?

Cat being catalytic converter?

The engine buildup they said could be due to using low octane fuel, but I always fill my car up with premium (costs a bloody fortune). So unless the fuel company is fuel swapping and ripping me off, it must just be bad luck.

Thanks

+Edit+
Just discovered that they did investigate the MAF and clean it as part of the service done yesterday.

 

I'd be looking at lambda readings with pinking, or pinging as you call it!!
Also when was the fuel filter last replaced, sounds like a lean problem.
tabetha