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Will not start

Tiny
KEDJR
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 FORD FOCUS
  • 180,455 MILES
Car runs fine then all the sudden it won't start. Some have said to take the gas cap off and try to start it. Removed the cap and the car started. I have since put it back on and it is still running at this time, but it has done it before. Have scan for codes no codes. Any idea would help.
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Monday, August 12th, 2019 AT 4:02 PM

13 Replies

Tiny
BMDOUBLE
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,139 POSTS
Fuel pumps are extremely common on these vehicles. If your scanner can read the sensor parameters (pids), monitor the frp sensor and while revving the engine, if it goes any less than 30 psi, replace the pump and inspect the tank for contaminants.
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Monday, August 12th, 2019 AT 6:37 PM
Tiny
KEDJR
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Don't know if you got the last message, but 38 to 41 psi. So I don't think it is the a fuel problem.
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Tuesday, August 13th, 2019 AT 12:20 PM
Tiny
BMDOUBLE
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,139 POSTS
No I didn’t catch the last message, sorry about that. I have also had cars with great pressure one minute, then drop to 20psi the next or even lower on acceleration, but you are having a no start condition. Disregard if you’ve done this, but have you verified that fuel pressure when the no start is actually happening? If it has good pressure than go on to a different system, like engine grounds which are super duper common on focus! Especially the small grounds behind the battery on the 8mm bolt, and the battery cable set itself. Also the square capacitor mounted on the passenger side strut tower that has the wire pull out from time to time. I’m just giving you my brain dump from many years of working on these cars lol. Let us know if you have any luck with my clues.
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Tuesday, August 13th, 2019 AT 3:36 PM
Tiny
KEDJR
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
I just find it weird that the removal of the gas cap made it start.
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Wednesday, August 14th, 2019 AT 6:51 AM
Tiny
KEDJR
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Could the purge valve cause this? I did a EVAP systems test and it passed.
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Wednesday, August 14th, 2019 AT 6:52 AM
Tiny
BMDOUBLE
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,139 POSTS
In theory that’s possible if the fuel tank was absolutely full and the purge valve was drawing in raw fuel instead of vapors, open the cap, fresh air= start. Totally possible, but I have yet to see that happen. I’ve had some vehicles like escapes, complain of a hard start after filling up the fuel tank, just haven’t had a focus with this issue but it’s entirely possible.
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Wednesday, August 14th, 2019 AT 8:12 AM
Tiny
KEDJR
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Well what would you check next the tank is not full? I still haven't had it do it to me but the customer has had it happen twice to them. It has been here for days and running it and still not going into the no start. I would love to be able to get it to do it to me.
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Thursday, August 15th, 2019 AT 7:06 AM
Tiny
BMDOUBLE
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,139 POSTS
So lets get away from fuel completely, a crank sensor can also not leave a code in the system but is not super common on Focus. Also try to unplug the A/C compressor if you can duplicate the concern because the coil in the A/C clutch will induce noise in the system and disrupt the crank sensor signal. And the typical Focus square capacitor on the right strut tower with the wire breaking off. Just a few options from my mental Rolodex.
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Thursday, August 15th, 2019 AT 7:42 AM
Tiny
KEDJR
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Okay, I well try that and have a look. Thanks for the second brain sometimes you just need that fresh thought. I will get back to you.
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Friday, August 16th, 2019 AT 7:20 AM
Tiny
BMDOUBLE
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,139 POSTS
Awesome! You’re welcome!
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Friday, August 16th, 2019 AT 7:23 AM
Tiny
KEDJR
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Okay, i'm back this is what I have done and what it is doing now. I might of not told you that this is a zx3 Focus 2.0 vin three. Okay, so there is not one of those capacitor on the strut tower at all not even a connector for one. I redid some grounds that was green. This is when the car started to start and not start and what I noticed was if I started it and shut it off it might start it might not, but if I cycled the ignition, it would sometimes want to start or just start. So I thought put a fuel gauge on it and watch what it does 45 - 50 psi even when it is running. So that can't be it. Then I put a crank sensor in it still is doing the same thing, but at least I ruled out having to take the gas cap off. Also I can smell gas when it doesn't start. Then I thought well they said they put spark plug in this thing so I really haven't looked at them. So when I checked them they where all gaped 20 under 37 in. When they needed to be about 52 in, but still doing the same thing driving me nuts. Any other ideas?
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Tuesday, August 20th, 2019 AT 10:43 AM
Tiny
KEDJR
  • MEMBER
  • 8 POSTS
Are you here still looking for something that is causing this?
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Wednesday, August 21st, 2019 AT 6:34 AM
Tiny
BMDOUBLE
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,139 POSTS
I would verify if you are or aren’t in fact losing spark when this happens. Also does your scan tool have the capability of looking at sensor pids? If so look at your tpmode pid which should read ct (closed throttle), ftp sensor-2.65 volts, dpfe volts-1.0.
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Wednesday, August 21st, 2019 AT 7:07 AM

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