Car help

ChristianJames

ChristianJames

Member
so my 2002 ford focus sedan(automatic) is acting strange. while ideling at lights or stops, the engine jumps, a lot. the other day it just shut off on me too. also this morning the battery was just randomly dead. anybody have any idea of whats going on?
 
check the alternator. it could be a bad connection so its not always charging the battery when you drive.

or it could just be on the verge of going bad.

it could also be the fuel pump that's bad, explaining the alternations in idle... and it dying.

and i would check the spark plugs to. those can make a big difference.
 
How many miles are on her? Id guess its either miss firing, or not getting fuel. See if you can pull the plugs, should be easy on that little I4. If they are all gummed up and discolored, should be time for a swap. Plugs are probably about 2.50 a piece at any auto store. Also check the wires going from the plugs to the distributer. If those are frayed or cracked, replace those as well. Could be a fuel pump, you should have a fuel pressue check valve somewhere on the fuel rail, looks just like a bike tire fill valve. Unscrew the cap, and press the indent on it. If fuel spays a bit, your pump should be good.
Is the car throwing any CELs? Does it start up right away? Is it a rough idle from startup on?
 
I am a mechanic at a high end german car company. I suspect its either a bad ground for the charging circuit or a faulty alternator. The easiest way I could suggest you do a basic basic check is to start your car and take a digital multimeter and check the voltage at the battery while running the engine. If the alternator is charging the car at all, the voltage should read around 14volts. If you are still at 12 volts while running, you most likely have an issue with the charging circuit. Dont get me wrong, I can rifle off atleast 20 different issues that can cause your issue but this is the most basic check i believe anyone is able to perform. Another easy way to check the ground side of the charging circuit is to take a multimeter lead to the negative battery post and run the other lead of the multimeter to the negative terminal of the alternator or the casing itself MAY also work and check for voltage while runing the engine at 2000 rpm to get the charging voltage loss in the ground side of the circuit. If this exceeds .5 volts, you have a ground side issue with your charging. Another good indication of alternator circuit issues is that your little battery light in your dash should illuminate prior to your car stalling, try to pay attention next time it happens and see if you get any sort of lights on the dash PRIOR to it stalling. Once the car stalls, all lights will be illuminated, so you have to catch it before the car dies.
 
this sounds simular to what happened to my familys old camry a while back. then it started leaking a shit ton of oil, i think it was the transmission so i would get that checked out
 
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