2000 Ford Focus: misfire or rough idle

Filed Aug 15, 2007 · Engine · 41,000 miles · CA

2000 ford focus-air intake manifold (failure). Symptoms, rough idle, stalling, causes computer control system to make engine run lean furthering the problem. On the lower side of the air intake manifold is what appears to be an air intake control valve. The material disintegrates over time which allows excessive air into the air intake manifold, causing the oxygen sensor to detect to much oxygen and sending the computer a signal to increase the amount of fuel. The engine speed at idle decreases to around 500 RPM and stalls. At higher speeds, the engine runs rough and has substantial lack of power and misfiring. Dealer examined vehicle and tried to defraud me by encouraging me to replace numerous items at the same time. Inspection cost was excessive, so I took the vehicle home and raised the hood to investigate further. An air sucking sound was heard and it was discovered this air stop or valve had disintegrated. The way it was discovered was by following the sound to the part and touching it to confirm a vacuum into the engine. When touched the part disintegrated into my hand. I proceeded to temporarily seal the leak with duct tape and the idle increased to normal speed and the vehicle quit stalling. Thereafter, I went to my local kragen auto supply and picked up a rubber hose cap about 3/8 inch diameter internally. Then I took the duct tape off and forced the rubber hose cap over the air valve which sealed the leak. Since then I have not had any problem. The dealer recommendations would have cost me around $1,000.00 in repairs. The actual repair cost me around 0.35 cents. Fords original equipment part should be on recall because it should not disintegrate. I can understand wear and tear and mechanical failure, however I can not and will not accept product disintegration as acceptable in current automobile technology, and neither should our governments national transportation and safety administration.

Filed Jan 31, 2005 · Brakes, Engine · GA

The vehicle's brakes had to be replaced about every three months. *nm the rear end was unable to be lined up, if so, the vehicle would fishtail back and forth and the consumer would unable to drive the vehicle. The tires were out of round and the vehicle would run rough, especially when going up hills. *sc

Filed Jan 22, 2005 · Electrical, Suspension · PA

Coming home from work my engine light came on , I took it to a friend and he check it and said it was as cylinder misfire he reset he code(?) and said that he didn't guarantee that it wouldn't come back on . It work fine the rest of the day , but when I was again coming home from work the next day it came on again ,I immediately turn around and took it to the garage where I get repairs done . He also said it was a cylinder misfire and suggests I replace my spark plugs and wires , he also cleaned something else and something iac ( you can tell I don't know squat about cars)I paid 149.00 for this service . A day and half later I was back in the garage with the same problem (engine light on) this time he says it something with my transmission code and to call the co. And see if there is or was a recall on it . Some thing about flashing the computer. I have only had this car since august 2004 and have trouble with all this and with the key not working but the car was still under a 30 day warranty and the car salesman took care of that problem. I am just wondering what next ,how much , money does not grow on trees around here. After reading all the complaints on this here website I wonder why I even bought a ford focus. I also have very squeal brakes constantly , and my rear passenger tire has a problem and my son won't even let me drive my car till I get it check out there is more money. My car only has 44,000. Miles on it.

Filed Oct 25, 2004 · Electrical · NC

I have a 2000 ford focus zx3 which I bought new. I have had to replace the ignition twice and this morning the ignition failed again. This vehicle is no longer under warranty and I last replaced the ignition nine monthes ago. The car has also started to stall when there is a quarter tank of gas or left in the tank. It runs rough at stop lights, then will start sputtering and then stall out. Just before it completely shuts off, the battery warning light will come on.

Filed Mar 21, 2004 · Fuel system · 57,000 miles · MN

I purchased a 2000 ford focus june of 2003. It checked out fine but just to cover myself I also purchased an extended warranty. In december the car began to run rough so I brought the car into the dealer who changed the spark plugs and a hose. All worked fine for about a month, at which point the car began to run rough again. When I would stop or slow down the car would act like it was going to stall and my engine light would come on. At a stop light I would shift into neutral or park to keep it from stalling. Around this time I received a letter from ford that the fuel pump has caused problems just like I was experiencing. I was happy to know this issue was being addressed by ford. I made an appointment at the local ford authorized dealer in town. Later that day they called to let me know it was not my fuel pump and they needed my ok to diagnosis. Well they told me they could not find anything so they called ford. Ford explained there was a design defect in the engine that caused carbon build up and something to "stick" in the valve. Now ford will not take any responsibility, the warranty company won't cover it and the repair is over $2000.00! This has been a nightmare for a single mother who purchase a basic, what I thought economical & reliable car. Now I am forced to use every penny I have saved to use toward owning a home some day into a car that ford designed wrong. Does ford the big company pay?no, the consumer does. This car attracts a certain type of customer, not one with a lot of money to spare! Any advice?

Filed Feb 27, 2004 · Engine · 28,809 miles · CT

Took my 2000 ford focus to dealer for 30,000 mile service, and to have them fix whatever was causing the engine light to blink and the car to idle roughly, and to fix the problem with the car engine turning off while driving. The service was done and the fuel filter "recall" would fix the engine problem. Was told the computer did not register an error code and that the rough idleengine light problem was likely fixed as a result of the fuel filter replacement. The next morning, the engine light came on and stayed on and the car was still idling rough. Drove straight to the dealer and was told that my car had excessive carbon in the cylinder head and that the cylinder head might need to be replaced. They would try to clean the carbon, which they did and billed me $205. Don't understand why such a problem wasn't noticed the day before when I spent over $500. The problem is that this car has less than 30,000 miles on it and it makes no sense that not only do I possibly face having an expensive cylinder head repair, but I have already replaced the front pads and rotors (at 25,000 miles) and have had numerous recalls. I have consistently followed the scheduled maintenance plan and am concerned that not only is this car defective, but that it is unsafe. What are my options and what can be done to ensure focus owners that the car is safe? Is there some way to make this car reliable? It has some really great features (like the interior roominess), but it is proving to be a major disappointment.

Filed Jan 15, 2004 · Engine, Transmission · 32,655 miles · NY

I purchased a 2000 focus se on june 5, 2001 with 23,000 miles. I was told that I would be covered under the original factory warranty 3yr./36,000.I also purchased an extended warranty from the api company at the cost of $1,069 to cover 6yr./60,000.I thought I'd be protected. Wrong ! The vehicle always had horrendous brake dust but the worst was yet to come. In december 2002, my husband and I were in the process of moving and began to notice a rough idle. Well, it's cold in buffalo, ny so we thought it just needed more time to warm up. By early march we experienced stalling problems and the check engine light was on. After stalling at 45mph we had enough. The car was taken to basil ford. With only 32,000 miles on it we were informed that the cylinder head was cracked and the original warranty ran out on 1/29/03. Ford wanted about $1,700.00 to replace it. Well, we thought if ford wouldn't cover the repair that the api extended warranty would. Another error in judgment ! Api said there was carbon in the cylinder and they wouldn't cover. Finally, after threats to leave the car at the dealer or seek legal advice to remedy, basil replaced the cylinder head for $400.00. Who ever heard of a cracked head at 32,000 miles ? We had only put about 10,000 miles on it ! Also the keyless entry on the driver door would only work on occasion and the key never did work on the trunk (told the lock needed replacement) which we would have to pay for if we wanted fixed. Since the inspection was coming up in june 2003 and the brakes and rotors would probably need replacement just like all focus's do, we traded in the car to avoid the money trap. That car was the worst hunk of junk I've ever heard of! I paid $10,500.00 for the car in june 2001 with 23,000 miles on it and had a hard time getting $5,000.00 as a trade with 33,000 miles in may 2003 ! It was the biggest rip off of my life also I lost out when I cashed in the worthless api warranty.

Filed Oct 10, 2003 · Engine · 55,000 miles · NC

Own a 2000 ford focus se wagon. Car runs rough at low idle and is stalling out. We see this listed as a possible investigation under investigation number ea02-022.

Filed Sep 29, 2003 · Engine, Fuel system · 96,000 miles · AR

My wife has a 2000 focus for the past 3 months when she is driving it will die. It can be restarted quickly but it will die multiple times. It will tend to run rough as well when it has this problem and will have no power. The problem now has become and all the time thing. Last week after having it at the ford dealer a couple of weeks back, they left all the connections loose and the car had gas running out every were. Also have had a code that said we had a bad gas cap. We have replaced everything that has anything to do with the fuel system and it did no good. Fuel pump 2 times, fuel regulator, fuel control module. Also checked all the connections as per ford bulletin.