2002 Ford Focus Is this a short? Or a bad battery? Or WHAT?

DCLARY

MEMBER
2002 FORD FOCUS
4 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
70,500 MILES

I just bought this car, and it ran great for the first week. But all of a sudden, now the car seems to be having some sort of electrical problem.

Symptoms: While idling, the dash lights and headlights will flicker, and dim considerably.

While driving, same thing. All of a sudden the dash will dim, the headlights will fade, the radio will turn off, the AC will turn off, and the car will rev like crazy, like it got downshifted into a lower gear. Then a second later, it'll be fine again. It does this every couple of minutes.

I'd like to hope this is just a battery issue. Anyone have any ideas?

3 Replies

RASMATAZ

MECHANIC
75,992 POSTS

Sounds like an alternator problem involving the voltage regulator not controlling the alternator's field windings.

Was this

answer

helpful?

Yes

No

Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008 AT 5:45 PM

DANABR2002

MEMBER
4 POSTS

Hi,

I've got the exact same problem. Interestingly enough, my car has been in the shop for over a week. We've change the alteranator and the ignition switch, but the problem persists. Mine's a Focus 2002 SE / 4 cylinder and symptoms that you've described are an exact match: light go in and out, car sounds like it's working hard radio goes out, and then it clears back up a few minutes later.

So far, nobody has been able to figure it out. The mechanic says they need to experience the problem to properly dianose it. Please let me know if you've found the problem and I'll do the same.