Ford focus issues

derf · 09-06-2009, 02:27 PM

My wifes car has been running like shit for a few months, not a persistant problem, but every once in a while it gets a nasty stumble and looses power for a second. I couldn't figure it out and I brought it to a shop a while ago and they said there was nothing wrong with it. Anyway, last night she went to a friends house and on the way home the car would die as soon as she would hit the brakes.

So I went out to look at it this morning and it worked fine until I came to a stop light then it started to sputter and tried to die again. I was able to quickly find a leaking vaccum line by the sucking sound I heard. There was a small but visible hole in ths line so I took the problem line off the spare focus in my yard, and replaced it. Car ran fine for a few miles then all of a sudden it started to stumble again. same thing vaccum line leak, I can hear it, not as loud as the last one but still there.

So then i spray all the lines down with starter fluid, and nothing no surge like it would if it was sucking air, but a second after I pull the spray away it surges like I just gave it some starter fluid. My guess is that it took a second to work its way through the system.

Anyway, now I'm stuck with a diagnosed problem and can't find the damn problem area.

Btw, car is an '00 with 125k miles, and I am the only owner.

And as an added bonus I replaced the front brakes for the 9th time last thursday.

derf · 09-06-2009, 03:51 PM

Found it, the large hose under all the small vac hoses had a crack in it, the same hose off the spare focus was dry rotted to all hell, probably something to do with not being used for 3 years. So off to the auto parts store I go

Dave · 09-06-2009, 04:05 PM

hooray!

derf · 09-06-2009, 05:25 PM

Effing ford. Apparently they arent selling specialty parts to auto stores any more in a bid to raise revenue. The hose I needed, well I need to get it from ford directly. In the mean time I rigged up a hose that works for the time being, will have to get the real part later in in the week to do it right. I need a hose that starts out as 3/4" id then a small 90 degree bend straight for 6 inches, up and back in 2 more 90 degree bends, and ends with a 1/2" id. I wound up having to modify a check valve to get the two different id hoses together and wrap the whole thing around the back of the engine to keep it from kinking.

Dave · 09-06-2009, 06:11 PM

fuckers

TommyHotWheel · 09-08-2009, 09:36 PM

Cant make your own? The make kits with different size bends, step downs and adapters and different size hose.

09-06-2009, 02:27 PM	#1
derf token jewboy Join Date: Nov 2008 Moto: CBR 900, KLR ugly ass duckling, Gas Man Posts: 10,799	Ford focus issues My wifes car has been running like shit for a few months, not a persistant problem, but every once in a while it gets a nasty stumble and looses power for a second. I couldn't figure it out and I brought it to a shop a while ago and they said there was nothing wrong with it. Anyway, last night she went to a friends house and on the way home the car would die as soon as she would hit the brakes. So I went out to look at it this morning and it worked fine until I came to a stop light then it started to sputter and tried to die again. I was able to quickly find a leaking vaccum line by the sucking sound I heard. There was a small but visible hole in ths line so I took the problem line off the spare focus in my yard, and replaced it. Car ran fine for a few miles then all of a sudden it started to stumble again. same thing vaccum line leak, I can hear it, not as loud as the last one but still there. So then i spray all the lines down with starter fluid, and nothing no surge like it would if it was sucking air, but a second after I pull the spray away it surges like I just gave it some starter fluid. My guess is that it took a second to work its way through the system. Anyway, now I'm stuck with a diagnosed problem and can't find the damn problem area. Btw, car is an '00 with 125k miles, and I am the only owner. And as an added bonus I replaced the front brakes for the 9th time last thursday. __________________

09-06-2009, 03:51 PM	#2
derf token jewboy Join Date: Nov 2008 Moto: CBR 900, KLR ugly ass duckling, Gas Man Posts: 10,799	Found it, the large hose under all the small vac hoses had a crack in it, the same hose off the spare focus was dry rotted to all hell, probably something to do with not being used for 3 years. So off to the auto parts store I go __________________

09-06-2009, 04:05 PM	#3
Dave Chaotic Neutral Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Cherry Hill NJ Moto: GV1200 Madura, Hawk gt Posts: 13,992	hooray! __________________ TWF Post whore #6

09-06-2009, 05:25 PM	#4
derf token jewboy Join Date: Nov 2008 Moto: CBR 900, KLR ugly ass duckling, Gas Man Posts: 10,799	Effing ford. Apparently they arent selling specialty parts to auto stores any more in a bid to raise revenue. The hose I needed, well I need to get it from ford directly. In the mean time I rigged up a hose that works for the time being, will have to get the real part later in in the week to do it right. I need a hose that starts out as 3/4" id then a small 90 degree bend straight for 6 inches, up and back in 2 more 90 degree bends, and ends with a 1/2" id. I wound up having to modify a check valve to get the two different id hoses together and wrap the whole thing around the back of the engine to keep it from kinking. __________________ Last edited by derf; 09-06-2009 at 05:27 PM..

09-06-2009, 06:11 PM	#5
Dave Chaotic Neutral Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Cherry Hill NJ Moto: GV1200 Madura, Hawk gt Posts: 13,992	fuckers __________________ TWF Post whore #6

09-08-2009, 09:36 PM	#6
TommyHotWheel Imported from Detroit Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Michigan Moto: 2001 Suzuki TL1000R Posts: 989	Cant make your own? The make kits with different size bends, step downs and adapters and different size hose. __________________ Cry Havok! And let slip the hogs of war!