2006 Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi - Starting up/Cutting out/Engine Sporadic Idling

Honest John Back Room » Technical matters
View Threaded
Tue 22 Oct 2013 11:02
2006 Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi - Starting up/Cutting out/Engine Sporadic Idling - stewil007

Hi All,

For the last few weeks when starting the car for the first time in the morning, the engine will turn over straight away, but after a few seconds will cut out. I will then have to try again and this time it take maybe 15 or 20 seconds before the engine kicks in. If I get high revs with my foot on the accelorator on initial start up then the car will tick over by itself after 10 or so seconds of keeping it at 2500-3000 revs.

Once the car is ticking over, it is far from smooth, the rev vounter will go up and down between 700 - 900 revs and when i listen to the engine it sounds quite rough.

Once the car is driven for a short while then its not too bad, the idling is steady and the engine sounds better.

I am probably due a service in the next 2000 miles so it will be going in, but just wondering if there is anything i could be looking at now??

Thanks for your help

Steve

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 5 Nov 2013 11:28
2006 Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi - Starting up/Cutting out/Engine Sporadic Idling - stewil007

Bump.

Any ideas anbody?

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Tue 5 Nov 2013 16:39
2006 Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi - Starting up/Cutting out/Engine Sporadic Idling - elekie&a/c doctor

I would suggest you get the fuel filter changed first.You may want to wait for the service,it is a bit of a fiddle to change yourself if not mechanically minded.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Thu 7 Nov 2013 15:02
2006 Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi - Starting up/Cutting out/Engine Sporadic Idling - stewil007

Its been for the service today......and i'll report back later, but he mentioned over the phone about resetting a PCQ or something and replacing a cracked metal pipe - he thinks this might be the cause...fills me full of confidence when he 'thinks' it 'might' solve the issue.

he wanted to charge me £30 to change the windscreen wiper blades....even though i put new ones on 2 weeks ago....he then said the smearing might be because they hadn't washed the car yet. my response was to tell them to wash the car and then see instead of assuming its the blades.......that is just the tip of the iceberg tho, so like i say, i'll report back later as i do have follow up queries :)

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 8 Nov 2013 07:51
2006 Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi - Starting up/Cutting out/Engine Sporadic Idling - stewil007

OK, i've got the report in front of me. I will just say that my car was serviced at a Fod Garage.

To fix the starting issue, they believe i need a PCM update - £90, and to replace a metal boost pipe - £306.

As i understand it the PCM update is a ford dealership only thing, cant get round that anywhere else. Is the boost pipe a DIY'ers job? I'm not the most technically minded, but my dad knows his way round an engine,

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 8 Nov 2013 08:07
2006 Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi - Starting up/Cutting out/Engine Sporadic Idling - elekie&a/c doctor

The metal boost pipe is probably the one that runs from the turbo ,down the front of the engine ,to the intercooler.It has flexible rubber hoses at each end.If one of these hoses is split,then this will definitely cause running issues.You could change the boost pipe yourself,but it a lot easier with the car on a ramp.No point having the pcm update (ford only,or persons with the Ford diag system)unless the boost pipe is replaced.hth

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 8 Nov 2013 08:29
2006 Ford Focus 1.6 TDCi - Starting up/Cutting out/Engine Sporadic Idling - stewil007

Thanks for the reply.

i'll look at getting the pipe changed over the weekend then get the update done next week.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link