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Thread: Daughter's 2003 Focus has acceleration problems

  1. #1

    Default Daughter's 2003 Focus has acceleration problems

    Car has always been pretty peppy (for a automatic) up until recently. Now, you step on the gas and it will ever-so-slowly accelerate. It will cruise at 70 fine, once you get there, but getting there is the problem. Any ideas where to look for the problem? I did just replace the fuel filter, by the way, and that didn't help. Oh, it is a 2.0L zetec engine, if that makes any difference. Thanks.
    What's left of a '96 Miata with stock clutch.
    My car exceeds my driving ability. That's the only possible explanation.

  2. #2

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    Transmission been serviced lately? Fluid still look nice and red and not smell burnt?

    Lot of miles on the car?

  3. #3
    Orange cones fear me. cone-cerned's Avatar
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    Any DTC? How many miles on the car? Maybe the timing belt jumped a tooth?
    On the track, I am fearless.
    If you were as slow as me, you wouldn't be afraid either.

    1994 M Edition
    CSP 67

  4. #4
    Driver general default's Avatar
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    What do the spark plugs indicate? Coil packs?

    Did you install your megasquirt on that car too... :)

  5. #5

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    Quote Originally Posted by POS Racing View Post
    Transmission been serviced lately? Fluid still look nice and red and not smell burnt?

    Lot of miles on the car?
    115K miles on it. I believe the son-in-law had the trans serviced a couple years ago, but I'd better check and make sure.
    What's left of a '96 Miata with stock clutch.
    My car exceeds my driving ability. That's the only possible explanation.

  6. #6

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    Quote Originally Posted by cone-cerned View Post
    Any DTC? How many miles on the car? Maybe the timing belt jumped a tooth?
    No DTC. It idles pretty smoothly, so I'm thinking the timing is probably OK. In my experience, if the timing belt has jumped a tooth, you won't have a smooth idle or good performance, is that correct?
    What's left of a '96 Miata with stock clutch.
    My car exceeds my driving ability. That's the only possible explanation.

  7. #7

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    Quote Originally Posted by general default View Post
    What do the spark plugs indicate? Coil packs?

    Did you install your megasquirt on that car too... :)
    I could be wrong, but if any of these were the culprit, wouldn't the check engine light come on?
    What's left of a '96 Miata with stock clutch.
    My car exceeds my driving ability. That's the only possible explanation.

  8. #8
    Driver general default's Avatar
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    When the RX8 coil packs start to go out you may or not get a cell code. They just start to loose power and don't accelerate well.
    But from what you are describing it sounds like you would have a warning light by now if it was a coil pack.

    Banana in the tail pipe? You know kids...
    The other end is the intake side. Some kind of blockage in the intake air box.

    Quote Originally Posted by Mark52 View Post
    I could be wrong, but if any of these were the culprit, wouldn't the check engine light come on?

  9. #9

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    I've had catalytic converters fail that had similar characteristics. Car still runs ok, but loses all its "ooph", eventually wont rev past a certain rpm, top speed gets weak. Essentially, its clogged. Might not set off cel's right away.
    Polished Turd Racing

    Mick wrote: "I think Jerrett is the best autocrosser I have ever seen naked."

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    I was thinking cat or MAF/ferd equivalent.

  11. #11
    MME Goodwill Ambassador onething's Avatar
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    I can't think of anything constructive to say. Been happening a lot lately.

    Good luck.
    Bidden or not bidden, God is present
    "Up until the moment of impact, I was still having fun." Bob J. Hall San Francisco Region



  12. #12
    Orange cones fear me. cone-cerned's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mark52 View Post
    No DTC. It idles pretty smoothly, so I'm thinking the timing is probably OK. In my experience, if the timing belt has jumped a tooth, you won't have a smooth idle or good performance, is that correct?
    When the timing belt on my 2.0 Zetec lost some teeth the idle was OK but it was way down on power. I did get a Service Engine Soon light. I have forgotten the number of the DTC but it was for exhaust cam overly retarded.
    On the track, I am fearless.
    If you were as slow as me, you wouldn't be afraid either.

    1994 M Edition
    CSP 67

  13. #13

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    Thanks, guys (except Onething). I'm thinking either the cat con, or the timing belt. We're going to put a new TPS on it and then probably a new cat con and maybe O2 sensor. Then if that doesn't solve the problem we'll delve into the timing belt issue.
    What's left of a '96 Miata with stock clutch.
    My car exceeds my driving ability. That's the only possible explanation.

  14. #14

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    If the died wouldn't a 2002 have 2 O2 Sensors one which would be monitoring the health of the ??

    Disco the exhaust and take it for a run that will tell your right away if it's a clogged issue and dollars spent would be $0.00!

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by POS Racing View Post
    Disco the exhaust and take it for a run that will tell your right away if it's a clogged issue and dollars spent would be $0.00!
    The TCB president has spoken. I agree with this though. Should be OBD with two o2 sensors. An weird smells from the exhaust or overly sooty? If the primary o2 sensor is going out then that can cause it to run rich.

    A MAF going out will cause issues too, but you'll normally get a code on that as well.

    Google results (although I'm sure you've read these):
    http://forums.focaljet.com/problems-...esitation.html (cat, fuel pump, PVC)
    http://forums.focaljet.com/team-tech...lem-fixed.html (Cat)

  16. #16

    Thumbs up

    Quote Originally Posted by general default View Post
    Did you install your megasquirt on that car too... :)
    Well played General!!!

  17. #17

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    I had a few problems with the fuel pickup filter on my 2000 Focus. It would clog easily. But that should effect the 70mph cruise also.

  18. #18

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    Additional info: there is no odor noticeable at the exhaust and the tailpipe is clean, not sooty. Does that eliminate the cat and O2 sensor being the problem?
    What's left of a '96 Miata with stock clutch.
    My car exceeds my driving ability. That's the only possible explanation.

  19. #19

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    Sell Focus, buy Civic or Corolla, Profit.
    VW Bug in running shoes
    M Porcupine sedan
    M Porcupine coupe
    Crusty old e46 beater
    Battery Powered appliance car

  20. #20

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    Quote Originally Posted by Mark52 View Post
    Additional info: there is no odor noticeable at the exhaust and the tailpipe is clean, not sooty. Does that eliminate the cat and O2 sensor being the problem?
    I would think so.

    Compression check?

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