1999 Ford Focus sticky revs - wont start!

PETELANE77

MEMBER
1999 FORD FOCUS

Engine Mechanical problem
1999 Ford Focus 4 cyl Front Wheel Drive Manual

Hi, first I'd like to thank for any possible help I might recieve.
I have already put this car into a garage who plugged it into diagnostics, to no avail. They also said that they checked all obvious things. I however ended up taking my car home with the same fault.
My problem started with sticky revs, when you relesed the accelerator the revs would stay up for a few seconds then drop down to about 1000rpm. Then one morning it wouldn't start. Well it does start but dies immediatly. If I hold my foot on the accelerator whilst turning the key I can get it started, but as soon as I release it slowly the engine slows down to about 400-500 rpm (irratically). If I take my foot off of the accelerator quickly it just cuts out.
Have been told that this could be the ECT or idle control valve, but, being a complete novice, I didnt want to just start fiddling about with things I know nothing about.

6 Replies

RENAUDTN

MECHANIC
636 POSTS

I'm thinking two things:

dirty throttle body/plate (resulting in the sticky revs)
and problem with the IAC valve.

Remove the air duct and take a look inside the throttle body. If you see a lot of carbon deposit on/around the plate, clean it with a piece of fabric and throttle body cleaner.
As far as the IAC valve, try this:
With air intake ductwork disconnected from the throttle body, start the engine, then increase and hold the idle speed to 1,000 to 1,500 rpm.

Spray the throttle cleaner or engine cleaner into the throat of the throttle body, aiming for the idle air bypass port (usually located on the side or top of the throttle body opening). Give this area a good dose of cleaner (about 10 second's worth).

Turn the engine off to allow the cleaner to soak into the IAC passageway.

Wait about three minutes.

Restart the engine, rev and hold at 1,000 to 1,500 rpm, and repeat the cleaning process again.

Turn the engine off again, and reattach the air intake ductwork to the throttle body.

Start the engine and rev and hold to 1,500 to 2,000 rpm until no white smoke is coming out of the exhaust pipe.

If it doesn't fix your problem, your IAC motor may need to be replaced, or you could have a bad TPS sensor.

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Tuesday, December 30th, 2008 AT 4:27 PM

PETELANE77

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4 POSTS

Hi thanks for your suggestions, although my local garage say that they have already clened the throttle housing - to no avail. They say that they have also cleaned and check all possible valves and sensors and all seems ok.
When I spoke to Fords on the phone they told me that it could possibly be the ect valve, but want an astonomical amount just to plug into the diagnosics, which has already been done, with no codes present. Fords also said that because I have programmed my own new key to it that it may have something to do with the transponder system now? This sounds crazy to me.
Please forgive my lack of knowledge on this, but I may have got the name of the valve Fords have suggested a bit muddled, but they did say that it went into the head.
Thanks once again.

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Tuesday, December 30th, 2008 AT 5:37 PM

PETELANE77

MEMBER
4 POSTS

Hi, a new update, my problem has progressed, now it idles rough at about 500 rpm, still has trouble starting, but now cuts out when I come to a halt. This is making the car undriveable, sometimes it will cut out just by my dipping the clutch whilst in motion. This car is driving me mad!
Spoke to Fords again today and they wont give me any more free advice and want to charge me � 106 an hour to investigate. Unbelievable.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Pete

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Wednesday, December 31st, 2008 AT 1:22 PM

RENAUDTN

MECHANIC
636 POSTS

Hi there,

Ok, if the throttle body and plate are clean, and you have sticky rev, I'm thinking your TPS sensor could be bad.

Now, let's look at something else: Check your fuel pressure. A low fuel pressure could result in the symptoms you describe

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Friday, January 2nd, 2009 AT 9:50 AM

PETELANE77

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4 POSTS

Thankyou for your help. It turns out that my problem was either the ETC (Electronic Temperature Control) valve or the idle control valve. I'm not sure which, as both got changed at the same time. So touch wood, it seems to be running ok at the moment. Thankyou once again for your help (renaudTN). I am very grateful for everything that you suggested.