While driving engine started losing power and shut off

Tiny
ANTHONY RISTAU
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 FORD FOCUS
  • 2.0L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 263,000 MILES
I was driving down the road and all of a sudden it was losing power, the battery light came on, the oil light came on and the car just turned off. It tries to crank over but won't fully crank. Why will my car not start?
Wednesday, March 11th, 2020 AT 8:49 AM

2 Replies

Tiny
BMDOUBLE
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,139 POSTS
There could be several scenarios that can play out for something like this. A failed alternator, failed fuel pump, broken timing belt, and several other mechanical and electrical issues. By you stating that the battery light came on then the oil light before it died sounds like typical loss of voltage due to a faulty alternator, but this is assuming that's how it happened? If so, see if the car will start with a battery pack or jumper cables attached to another car, if the car turns over without the rhythm and rpm variance of compression, you may have a broken timing belt. If it turns over and sounds like it has compression, verify fuel pressure at the fuel rail, or spray brake clean or throttle body cleaner in the intake to see if it starts, if it does then fuel pump is where you are headed, if still no start then verify spark, then compression. The most common issues that I've had with these focus' is fuel pumps, alternators, battery cables in that order.
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Wednesday, March 11th, 2020 AT 10:00 AM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 42,883 POSTS
Hello, when you turn the key to the on position without cranking the engine over can you hear the fuel pump run in the tank for 5 seconds?

This guide can help us get started:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-cranks-but-wont-start

Please run down this guide and report back.
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Wednesday, March 11th, 2020 AT 2:13 PM

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