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'02 Ford Focus won't start
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Ray L
New User
Aug 20, 2011, 5:20 PM
Post #1 of 4
(5323 views)
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'02 Ford Focus won't start
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My car has 100K+ miles on it, and as far as I know the engine size is 2.0.
The other day I was driving on the highway when suddenly it felt like my car downshifted--my speed leveled off for a moment and there was that small "catch" feeling when the gears shift--and I started losing speed, and was unable to accelerate. I was going about 70mph at the time, so there shouldn't have been any shifting at the time. After a few seconds, it seemed like the correct gear caught, and the car accelerated again, but only for a few more seconds before it lost speed again and the gas pedal did nothing at all.
There weren't any odd sounds or jerking feelings when any of this happened; as far as I can tell the car simply lost acceleration suddenly, regained it, and lost it again. I wasn't low on gas, had an oil change recently, and hadn't been pushing the car too hard at any point prior to this happening.
My first thought was a flat tire, so I pulled off to the side of the road and checked, but the tires were fine. Unsure what the problem was, I got back in the car to try to get the rest of the way home before checking for other problems, but my car wouldn't start up again.
I had the car towed to a relative's body/repair shop, where they looked the car over and checked under the hood for any obvious problems. The only thing they noticed was that I had almost no coolant. After trying to start the car while checking for engine problems, gas flow, ignition sparks and so on, they still couldn't find a problem. They tried using ether to start the car it wouldn't work; apparently there was no suction taking the ether/fuel in. Since then they're tried a computer reading and didn't receive any error codes, so up to this point, there is no apparent reason for the car to not start. We're currently speculating that there could be an issue with the timing belt (and hoping that it isn't the case).
Any ideas what could possibly be causing this problem?? Any input will be appreciated.
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Aug 21, 2011, 10:28 AM
Post #2 of 4
(5291 views)
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Re: '02 Ford Focus won't start
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You could have a compression check performed. Low or no compression and the engine won't run.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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zmame
Veteran
/ Moderator
Aug 21, 2011, 7:31 PM
Post #3 of 4
(5283 views)
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Re: '02 Ford Focus won't start
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More then likely have a timing belt blown they are clearance engine so no worries of damage.. Do compression test like mentioned then pull the timing belt cover off and inspect. I recommend chaning the tesioner and water pump while you are in there. If that is indeed whats wrong with it. If the car did overheat may have cause more sever damage, If it's just a timing belt make sure you fix whatever is leaking too. You will have to fill the system and pressure test it and look for leaks.
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Ray L
New User
Aug 22, 2011, 8:02 AM
Post #4 of 4
(5272 views)
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Re: '02 Ford Focus won't start
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Thanks for the suggestions guys, I'll let them know and see if these are indeed the problem. I hope you're right and neither issue is a big deal.
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