2001 Ford Focus I'm not sure if it's electrical or not - pl

JW01689

MEMBER
2001 FORD FOCUS
4 CYL
2WD
AUTOMATIC
97,000 MILES

Hello - I have a 2001 Ford Focus. When I'm just beginning to give my car gas, such as starting to go from a red light, or backing out of my driveway, my car starts to sputter, jerking back & forth, acting like it's not wanting to go anywhere. When I get to about 35 mph, it begins to drive fine, only "sputtering" every now & then. I have been told it could be a fuel injector problem. But what kind & what do I do? I have been using good gas, & I've been using the stuff you put in your tank before you fill up. They did a diagnostic & said it was a cylinder (I think?) #4 MISFIRE.I got the wires, plugs & a connector changed. For about a day, it ran great. Then it started doing the same thing again. My "mechanic" is clueless. I have been told it sounds like my plugs are fouling out. I know there are many different reasons why my plugs could be fouling out - could you please give me a list of things that I can ask my mechanic to take a look at, to help him troubleshoot this problem?

Tuesday, August 5th, 2008 AT 10:26 AM

4 Replies

RASMATAZ

MECHANIC
75,992 POSTS

Do you have a check engine light?

Tell the parts changer to check compression and injector for cylinder no.4 and comeback with his findings-

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Wednesday, August 6th, 2008 AT 4:36 AM

JW01689

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Thank you immensely for your response ;)

Yes, the check engine light is on. He did do a diagnostic and it did come back with a hit on cylinder #4 so he said it was probably a clogged up fuel injector and/or a fouled out spark plug so that's when we did the plugs and wires and gas treatment and good gasoline and all that. The engine light went off and it was great for a day and now it's doing the same thing.

Let me ask you this.I looked online at a service bulletin for 2001 Ford Focus and in 2004 there was a fuel delivery module defect so I have Ford looking at it now.(I know they can probably figure out what my problem is immediately and they can fix it, but I'm trying to save some money b/c I don't happen to have an extra arm and leg.) Anyhow, they said that since a problem is present, they'll check the fuel delivery module and see if it needs changing. Do you think this might be at least part of the problem?

Will a defective fuel delivery module defect cause my plugs to foul out?

I can't figure out why the car ran like a dream for a day and then started doing the same thing again almost immediately. It makes me feel like something is causing the plugs to foul out. Is that what it sounds like to you?

Thank you so much for your help, you have absolutely NO idea how much I appreciate this.

Jennifer ;)

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Wednesday, August 6th, 2008 AT 8:36 AM

RASMATAZ

MECHANIC
75,992 POSTS

2001 Ford Focus and in 2004 there was a fuel delivery module defect -due to its redesigned

Misfires can be caused by worn or fouled spark plugs, a weak spark (weak coil, bad spark plug wire), loss of compression, vacuum leaks, anything that causes an unusually lean fuel mixture (lean misfire), an EGR valve that is stuck open, dirty fuel injectors, low fuel pressure, or even bad fuel.

The FDM could be the problem it controls the fuel delivery-they checking it now they should confirm it and give you some results then comeback with that info

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Wednesday, August 6th, 2008 AT 4:15 PM

JW01689

MEMBER
3 POSTS

Thank you so much for your response regarding my 2001 Ford Focus!
They're not done replacing or repairing my FDM but I will get it tomorrow and after I pick it up, I'll get back to you.
Since the FDM could be causing my plugs to foul out, I wonder if I would be justified in asking them to replace my plugs since I just had them replaced 3 weeks ago and the FDM is most likely the reason they're fouling out?
Thank you so much,
Jen ;)

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Wednesday, August 6th, 2008 AT 4:24 PM