Need help with my Mk2 focus!!

[GAMEOVER IVI IB]

I have a Focus Zetec 1.8 petrol (duratec engine) 56 plate it’s done about 66k miles.

I’ve only just started to drive this as I’ve only just passed my test but something just doesn’t seem right with it…

It seems sluggish when pulling off and easy to stall and at times it won’t start unless I press the accelerator. I’ve done some research and I’m going to have a go at cleaning the throttle body to see if that helps. I was also going to clean the MAF sensor but I’ve just read that the 1.8 doesn’t have one? I’m also going to look at replacing the coil pack but I’m unsure of which one is the right one to buy as there are lots of different designs out there.
It’s just had a major service but that didn’t seem to help either.

There is a code showing on the OBD2 Reader - P2008 - this might be unrelated though.. also the engine management light is NOT on but when I fist started driving this the light did come on and go off on its own, usually after it stalled or failed to start first time.

Any help would be appreciated guys!

[Blaster72]

The fault code is a good place to start, points to the intake manifold vacuum solenoid. Get it to someone with the right diagnostic kit to check it out.

If it's stalling easily it's probably a leak somewhere in the intake manifold. Do the revs drop and it stalls as you pull up to a stop? If so a vacuum leak is likely.

[GAMEOVER IVI IB]

Blaster72 said:

The fault code is a good place to start, points to the intake manifold vacuum solenoid. Get it to someone with the right diagnostic kit to check it out.

If it's stalling easily it's probably a leak somewhere in the intake manifold. Do the revs drop and it stalls as you pull up to a stop? If so a vacuum leak is likely.

The revs do drop sometimes as I pull up but not stalling. It seems like it wants to stall when taking of from a junction though.

[Athlon]

First thing to check is the breather pipes from the PCV valve, if the intake manifold is at the front of the engine it is the one where they often fail, look carefully and one pipe goes to a joint where two other pipes branch off, they are a bit hard to see kind of under the intake, they perish and collapse or split, replace them (tricky but no other parts need to come off) and it makes a world of difference.

[GAMEOVER IVI IB]

Athlon said:

First thing to check is the breather pipes from the PCV valve, if the intake manifold is at the front of the engine it is the one where they often fail, look carefully and one pipe goes to a joint where two other pipes branch off, they are a bit hard to see kind of under the intake, they perish and collapse or split, replace them (tricky but no other parts need to come off) and it makes a world of difference.

Whats a PCV valve? Would it be easily noticeable if the pipes are shot? Also the engine management light has come back on and I seem to have lost a lot of power now.

[Athlon]

Just have a look for a set of pipes about an inch thick under the manifold, if the engine is running you might be able to hear them hissing if they have gone.