W Reg 1.8 Zetec. Coils, injectors or just get rid?
Discussion
After my Peugeot blowing up early in the year, the coolant had leaked into the engine and had seized it's completely along with blowing the head gasket, I made a cheap and quick by on a Zyrtec W Reg.
By the time I had got it home I realised the rear brake lights were not working, and so got the switch replaced.
After using it for a few days, I found that the brakes were not working as quickly as they should, I wondered if this was to do with the car being heavier and much older, however I realise they were not responding as they should have and I was having to break well in advance.
I took it straight down to the garage, when inspected it was found that the car had many faults.
It needed new front arms, new CV joint, there was no suspension in the passenger side front, the wheels were badly misaligned, and most importantly the casing inside the rear drums had completely blown. The man I bought the car off sold me and my children a death trap and as you can imagine I was very angry to top it off I then discovered the MOT that he had put it through was fake.
As I work and have two children to support I couldn't afford to buy another new car, it was cheaper (marginally) do you have these problems rectified.
I have been driving the car for around two weeks now and I have noticed that in first and second the car kangaroos unless I coast on the clutch. Stationary it sits below 1000 revs, and splutters quite a lot. sometimes it will stalls when pulling away unless raved quite high, and it also stalls when stationary.
I have also had two or three incidents where it would not restart and would flood.
I don't know much about cars, but I'm wondering if it is either the fuel injectors or the coils? However the reason I'm posting this on here is for you to give me other possibilities and to tell me whether or not to just get rid of this monstrosity.
At least my brakes work now though.
By the time I had got it home I realised the rear brake lights were not working, and so got the switch replaced.
After using it for a few days, I found that the brakes were not working as quickly as they should, I wondered if this was to do with the car being heavier and much older, however I realise they were not responding as they should have and I was having to break well in advance.
I took it straight down to the garage, when inspected it was found that the car had many faults.
It needed new front arms, new CV joint, there was no suspension in the passenger side front, the wheels were badly misaligned, and most importantly the casing inside the rear drums had completely blown. The man I bought the car off sold me and my children a death trap and as you can imagine I was very angry to top it off I then discovered the MOT that he had put it through was fake.
As I work and have two children to support I couldn't afford to buy another new car, it was cheaper (marginally) do you have these problems rectified.
I have been driving the car for around two weeks now and I have noticed that in first and second the car kangaroos unless I coast on the clutch. Stationary it sits below 1000 revs, and splutters quite a lot. sometimes it will stalls when pulling away unless raved quite high, and it also stalls when stationary.
I have also had two or three incidents where it would not restart and would flood.
I don't know much about cars, but I'm wondering if it is either the fuel injectors or the coils? However the reason I'm posting this on here is for you to give me other possibilities and to tell me whether or not to just get rid of this monstrosity.
At least my brakes work now though.
I had one of these that had a failing road speed sensor. That caused it to stall when I pulled up after driving for a while so it might be worth checking on yours. Wasn't expensive to fix. Doesn't explain the spluttering though. Do you think it's had a decent service in the last 10 years? Could be as simple as a clogged air filter?
Thanks guys, will have a look tonight if I get the chance.
Interestingly, when I was driving it today the speedometer dropped out. I was doing 40mph, looked down and it dropped down to 0 for about 10 seconds or so, then picked back up again. Probably completely unrelated but worth a mention.
It also makes a click noise when pulling away and jults, almost like I'm not catching the clutch fast enough and it's cutting out. I've tried many different ways and I have no problem in other cars so I'm hesistant to blame myself when I think the fault is actually the car in this intance 🙈
Interestingly, when I was driving it today the speedometer dropped out. I was doing 40mph, looked down and it dropped down to 0 for about 10 seconds or so, then picked back up again. Probably completely unrelated but worth a mention.
It also makes a click noise when pulling away and jults, almost like I'm not catching the clutch fast enough and it's cutting out. I've tried many different ways and I have no problem in other cars so I'm hesistant to blame myself when I think the fault is actually the car in this intance 🙈
Laura877 said:
Interestingly, when I was driving it today the speedometer dropped out. I was doing 40mph, looked down and it dropped down to 0 for about 10 seconds or so, then picked back up again.
Others with more experience may correct me, but this sounds very much like a faulty road speed sensor, which might explain some (but not all) of your issues. This is a common fault of the Mk1 Focus and I if it were me I would start there.I don't know of any way to make certain myself (other than changing it and testing) but others might.
The symptoms on mine were speedo issues like yours, during which if I depressed the clutch the engine would stall. It would of course restart once I lifted the clutch again, but that was pretty scary at speed. Switching off the ignition completely and restarting the car again would clear it... for a while.
It was sub-£100 to repair that fault on mine, but I know the feeling, any money spent on such a banger of a car is hard to swallow! For me I knew the car was worth it because I knew the history, but it rather sounds like the previous owner of yours might have been running it on something of a budget! Do you have a mechanically minded friend who can look it over for you and give you a better evaluation?
The symptoms on mine were speedo issues like yours, during which if I depressed the clutch the engine would stall. It would of course restart once I lifted the clutch again, but that was pretty scary at speed. Switching off the ignition completely and restarting the car again would clear it... for a while.
It was sub-£100 to repair that fault on mine, but I know the feeling, any money spent on such a banger of a car is hard to swallow! For me I knew the car was worth it because I knew the history, but it rather sounds like the previous owner of yours might have been running it on something of a budget! Do you have a mechanically minded friend who can look it over for you and give you a better evaluation?
Laura877 said:
.
Interestingly, when I was driving it today the speedometer dropped out. I was doing 40mph, looked down and it dropped down to 0 for about 10 seconds or so, then picked back up again. Probably completely unrelated but worth a mention.
that bit of it is the speed sensor...£15 or so from ebay and easy to swap on mine , although the internet suggests its a hard job Interestingly, when I was driving it today the speedometer dropped out. I was doing 40mph, looked down and it dropped down to 0 for about 10 seconds or so, then picked back up again. Probably completely unrelated but worth a mention.
Not really, I know a guy in a garage to say hi to but not enough to call him out the check the car over for free.
It's strange, I'm sure these problems are all related because they all flare up at the same time.
I'm finding myself coasting in first and second whenever I slow down because I'm scared I'm going to kangaroo into the car infront. I should be able to slow down in second but the car just won't have it.
The click noise feels and sounds like the engine is shutting off when pulling away, but it only does this in first. Additionally, there's a thud when I change gear unless I'm doing high speeds.
If I didn't know I was driving no different to any other car I would say it's me lifting the clutch too soon but it does it regardless, no matter who drives it.
I'll have a look about for the sensor, it could probably do with a change anyway, the cars like a fossil 😂
It needs to go in for a service but I'm struggling t swallow the fact it's going to cost a fortune. I was hoping I could wing it for a few more months and save enough for a "new" (er) car
It's strange, I'm sure these problems are all related because they all flare up at the same time.
I'm finding myself coasting in first and second whenever I slow down because I'm scared I'm going to kangaroo into the car infront. I should be able to slow down in second but the car just won't have it.
The click noise feels and sounds like the engine is shutting off when pulling away, but it only does this in first. Additionally, there's a thud when I change gear unless I'm doing high speeds.
If I didn't know I was driving no different to any other car I would say it's me lifting the clutch too soon but it does it regardless, no matter who drives it.
I'll have a look about for the sensor, it could probably do with a change anyway, the cars like a fossil 😂
It needs to go in for a service but I'm struggling t swallow the fact it's going to cost a fortune. I was hoping I could wing it for a few more months and save enough for a "new" (er) car
Yeh you've definitely got more than one problem there. You know this already, but start by fixing the simple and cheap things and see how many issues remain. Then you can decide whether it's worth the bigger money to resolve them.
Have you checked the air filter? It's very simple to do (as is changing it). I'm not suggesting it will cure all your ills but it's worth doing it yourself just in case if you're not going to get it professionally serviced.
Have you checked the air filter? It's very simple to do (as is changing it). I'm not suggesting it will cure all your ills but it's worth doing it yourself just in case if you're not going to get it professionally serviced.
I've had a failing speed sensor...symptoms were the speedo would just drop to zero and then come back when it felt like it...usually a few miles later. I don't think it ever actually failed at low speeds, so I have no idea if it'll make the car stall.
Despite what the chap said above - it's an absolute mare to replace. There's a silly little pin that you have to wiggle out and there's very little room to get any hold on it. By contrast, replacing the cambelt and water pump was a doddle!
The clicking thing sounds odd though.
Despite what the chap said above - it's an absolute mare to replace. There's a silly little pin that you have to wiggle out and there's very little room to get any hold on it. By contrast, replacing the cambelt and water pump was a doddle!
The clicking thing sounds odd though.
Ordered new speedo sensor, run some injector cleaner through it and it seems to be running marginally better (could be my imagination).
Found an additional problem, pulled off drive this morning and noticed a puddle of something, managed to borrow a jack and got the car up enough to oook under it, it's a dark brown oil, looks like it *may* be coming from gearbox.
Car wouldn't pull up a hill this morning either, stalled in second (usually can get up in second/third). Had to restart, turned over fine but had to rev to 4000 to get it to pull up, any lower and it kept rolling back even solidly on the bite.
Found an additional problem, pulled off drive this morning and noticed a puddle of something, managed to borrow a jack and got the car up enough to oook under it, it's a dark brown oil, looks like it *may* be coming from gearbox.
Car wouldn't pull up a hill this morning either, stalled in second (usually can get up in second/third). Had to restart, turned over fine but had to rev to 4000 to get it to pull up, any lower and it kept rolling back even solidly on the bite.
Sounds to me like you might have gearbox, clutch and speed sensor problems all at the same time. If that turns out to be case then it's definitely not worth the money to fix it unless you can find someone to do it for free with spare parts they happen to have lying around!
At this point I would want to get the car into a garage for a review of what's wrong. If they confirm the worst, I would just scrap it. If not then they can tell you what it needs, even if you decide not to do it yet.
At this point I would want to get the car into a garage for a review of what's wrong. If they confirm the worst, I would just scrap it. If not then they can tell you what it needs, even if you decide not to do it yet.
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