Focus 1.8 Ghia Estate. 2000. Tad over 100k miles. Last night, it suddenly
started making a nasty noise from the engine, so bad that even my daughter
commented on it, and it's got to be noticeable for her to hear anything
wrong with a car engine ...

When it's idling, it sounds like a diesel. That's honestly the best way I
can describe it. As the revs build, it becomes more of a growl, until at 2k,
it smooths out like a switch has been thrown. I've had a listen this morning
with the bonnet up, and it sounds as though its coming from around the front
side of the engine, and doesn't sound as though it's anything to do with the
exahaust system. My tame mechanic friend, who hasn't actually heard it yet,
suggests a leaking injector seat can cause this sort of problem, allowing
excess fuel into a cylinder at low revs, causing random detonations. This
sounds a bit fanciful to me. Anyone got similar experiences to share ?
Anything common on this engine ?

Thing is, it sounds worryingly like my little Fester did, when it knocked an
end out, and which ultimately led to my scrapping the car, although that may
have been slightly different in that the worst of the noise was when you
were on a light throttle at any revs, whereas this definitely seems to go
away as you pass 2k revs.

Any thoughts from the (far better qualified than me) 'usual suspects', much
appreciated.

d:-\

Arfa

Arfa Daily wrote:
Focus 1.8 Ghia Estate. 2000. Tad over 100k miles. Last night, it suddenly
started making a nasty noise from the engine, so bad that even my daughter
commented on it, and it's got to be noticeable for her to hear anything
wrong with a car engine ...

When it's idling, it sounds like a diesel. That's honestly the best way I
can describe it. As the revs build, it becomes more of a growl, until at 2k,
it smooths out like a switch has been thrown. I've had a listen this morning
with the bonnet up, and it sounds as though its coming from around the front
side of the engine, and doesn't sound as though it's anything to do with the
exahaust system. My tame mechanic friend, who hasn't actually heard it yet,
suggests a leaking injector seat can cause this sort of problem, allowing
excess fuel into a cylinder at low revs, causing random detonations. This
sounds a bit fanciful to me. Anyone got similar experiences to share ?
Anything common on this engine ?

Thing is, it sounds worryingly like my little Fester did, when it knocked an
end out, and which ultimately led to my scrapping the car, although that may
have been slightly different in that the worst of the noise was when you
were on a light throttle at any revs, whereas this definitely seems to go
away as you pass 2k revs.

Any thoughts from the (far better qualified than me) 'usual suspects', much
appreciated.

I am not a ford expert, but IIRC there's an issue with some ford engines
as fitted to Mondeos and Focuses where a valve or 2 will stick if you
don't use exactly the right spec of oil.

Cheaper than an injector seat, worth a try?

--
Douglas

In message , Douglas Payne
writes

I am not a ford expert, but IIRC there's an issue with some ford
engines as fitted to Mondeos and Focuses where a valve or 2 will stick
if you don't use exactly the right spec of oil.

That was on the original silvertop zetec engines. They got that sorted
by the time the blacktop zetec went into the Focus.

--
Paul Giverin

My Photos:- www.pbase.com/vendee

"Douglas Payne" wrote in message
...
Arfa Daily wrote:
Focus 1.8 Ghia Estate. 2000. Tad over 100k miles. Last night, it suddenly
started making a nasty noise from the engine, so bad that even my
daughter commented on it, and it's got to be noticeable for her to hear
anything wrong with a car engine ...

When it's idling, it sounds like a diesel. That's honestly the best way I
can describe it. As the revs build, it becomes more of a growl, until at
2k, it smooths out like a switch has been thrown. I've had a listen this
morning with the bonnet up, and it sounds as though its coming from
around the front side of the engine, and doesn't sound as though it's
anything to do with the exahaust system. My tame mechanic friend, who
hasn't actually heard it yet, suggests a leaking injector seat can cause
this sort of problem, allowing excess fuel into a cylinder at low revs,
causing random detonations. This sounds a bit fanciful to me. Anyone got
similar experiences to share ? Anything common on this engine ?

Thing is, it sounds worryingly like my little Fester did, when it knocked
an end out, and which ultimately led to my scrapping the car, although
that may have been slightly different in that the worst of the noise was
when you were on a light throttle at any revs, whereas this definitely
seems to go away as you pass 2k revs.

Any thoughts from the (far better qualified than me) 'usual suspects',
much appreciated.

I am not a ford expert, but IIRC there's an issue with some ford engines
as fitted to Mondeos and Focuses where a valve or 2 will stick if you
don't use exactly the right spec of oil.

Cheaper than an injector seat, worth a try?

--
Douglas

Oil is the correct spec, although possibly due for a change. Thoughts noted
though, and thanks for them ...

Arfa

In message , Arfa Daily
writes
Focus 1.8 Ghia Estate. 2000. Tad over 100k miles. Last night, it suddenly
started making a nasty noise from the engine, so bad that even my daughter
commented on it, and it's got to be noticeable for her to hear anything
wrong with a car engine ...

When it's idling, it sounds like a diesel. That's honestly the best way I
can describe it. As the revs build, it becomes more of a growl, until at 2k,
it smooths out like a switch has been thrown. I've had a listen this morning
with the bonnet up, and it sounds as though its coming from around the front
side of the engine, and doesn't sound as though it's anything to do with the
exahaust system. My tame mechanic friend, who hasn't actually heard it yet,
suggests a leaking injector seat can cause this sort of problem, allowing
excess fuel into a cylinder at low revs, causing random detonations. This
sounds a bit fanciful to me. Anyone got similar experiences to share ?
Anything common on this engine ?

Thing is, it sounds worryingly like my little Fester did, when it knocked an
end out, and which ultimately led to my scrapping the car, although that may
have been slightly different in that the worst of the noise was when you
were on a light throttle at any revs, whereas this definitely seems to go
away as you pass 2k revs.

Any thoughts from the (far better qualified than me) 'usual suspects', much
appreciated.

Is there any loss of power associated with the noise? Problems on these
engines are usually related to leads and coilpack.

--
Paul Giverin

My Photos:- www.pbase.com/vendee

Arfa Daily wrote:
Focus 1.8 Ghia Estate. 2000. Tad over 100k miles. Last night, it
suddenly started making a nasty noise from the engine, so bad that
even my daughter commented on it, and it's got to be noticeable for
her to hear anything wrong with a car engine ...

When it's idling, it sounds like a diesel. That's honestly the best
way I can describe it. As the revs build, it becomes more of a growl,
until at 2k, it smooths out like a switch has been thrown. I've had a
listen this morning with the bonnet up, and it sounds as though its
coming from around the front side of the engine, and doesn't sound as
though it's anything to do with the exahaust system. My tame mechanic
friend, who hasn't actually heard it yet, suggests a leaking injector
seat can cause this sort of problem, allowing excess fuel into a
cylinder at low revs, causing random detonations. This sounds a bit
fanciful to me. Anyone got similar experiences to share ? Anything
common on this engine ?
Thing is, it sounds worryingly like my little Fester did, when it
knocked an end out, and which ultimately led to my scrapping the car,
although that may have been slightly different in that the worst of
the noise was when you were on a light throttle at any revs, whereas
this definitely seems to go away as you pass 2k revs.

Any thoughts from the (far better qualified than me) 'usual
suspects', much appreciated.

d:-\

Arfa

try taking off the alternator belt and run it without to see if that effects
the noise.

Arfa Daily wrote:
Focus 1.8 Ghia Estate. 2000. Tad over 100k miles. Last night, it
suddenly started making a nasty noise from the engine, so bad that
even my daughter commented on it, and it's got to be noticeable for
her to hear anything wrong with a car engine ...

When it's idling, it sounds like a diesel. That's honestly the best
way I can describe it. As the revs build, it becomes more of a growl,
until at 2k, it smooths out like a switch has been thrown. I've had a
listen this morning with the bonnet up, and it sounds as though its
coming from around the front side of the engine, and doesn't sound as
though it's anything to do with the exahaust system. My tame mechanic
friend, who hasn't actually heard it yet, suggests a leaking injector
seat can cause this sort of problem, allowing excess fuel into a
cylinder at low revs, causing random detonations. This sounds a bit
fanciful to me. Anyone got similar experiences to share ? Anything
common on this engine ?
Thing is, it sounds worryingly like my little Fester did, when it
knocked an end out, and which ultimately led to my scrapping the car,
although that may have been slightly different in that the worst of
the noise was when you were on a light throttle at any revs, whereas
this definitely seems to go away as you pass 2k revs.

Any thoughts from the (far better qualified than me) 'usual
suspects', much appreciated.

d:-\

Arfa

does it sound like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-4ISeGK6Ek

that was water pump I believe

On 04/02/2010 10:37, Arfa Daily wrote:
Focus 1.8 Ghia Estate. 2000. Tad over 100k miles. Last night, it suddenly
started making a nasty noise from the engine, so bad that even my daughter
commented on it, and it's got to be noticeable for her to hear anything
wrong with a car engine ...

When it's idling, it sounds like a diesel. That's honestly the best way I
can describe it. As the revs build, it becomes more of a growl, until at 2k,
it smooths out like a switch has been thrown. I've had a listen this morning
with the bonnet up, and it sounds as though its coming from around the front
side of the engine, and doesn't sound as though it's anything to do with the
exahaust system. My tame mechanic friend, who hasn't actually heard it yet,
suggests a leaking injector seat can cause this sort of problem, allowing
excess fuel into a cylinder at low revs, causing random detonations. This
sounds a bit fanciful to me. Anyone got similar experiences to share ?
Anything common on this engine ?

Thing is, it sounds worryingly like my little Fester did, when it knocked an
end out, and which ultimately led to my scrapping the car, although that may
have been slightly different in that the worst of the noise was when you
were on a light throttle at any revs, whereas this definitely seems to go
away as you pass 2k revs.

Any thoughts from the (far better qualified than me) 'usual suspects', much
appreciated.

d:-\

Arfa


A firend once had a mysterious tapping/knocking on an old escort CVH
that was cured by tightening up the exhaust manifold bolts. Long shot,
but maybe...

My Mondeo did this, like a diesel at Idle and rattles at faster revs. It
turned out to be the cam belt idler/tension pulley had broken up, so the cam
belt goes slack and jumped a tooth. I got away without any other damage, do
not run your engine till you know what it is.


"Arfa Daily" wrote in message
...
Focus 1.8 Ghia Estate. 2000. Tad over 100k miles. Last night, it suddenly
started making a nasty noise from the engine, so bad that even my daughter
commented on it, and it's got to be noticeable for her to hear anything
wrong with a car engine ...

When it's idling, it sounds like a diesel. That's honestly the best way I
can describe it. As the revs build, it becomes more of a growl, until at
2k, it smooths out like a switch has been thrown. I've had a listen this
morning with the bonnet up, and it sounds as though its coming from around
the front side of the engine, and doesn't sound as though it's anything to
do with the exahaust system. My tame mechanic friend, who hasn't actually
heard it yet, suggests a leaking injector seat can cause this sort of
problem, allowing excess fuel into a cylinder at low revs, causing random
detonations. This sounds a bit fanciful to me. Anyone got similar
experiences to share ? Anything common on this engine ?

Thing is, it sounds worryingly like my little Fester did, when it knocked
an end out, and which ultimately led to my scrapping the car, although
that may have been slightly different in that the worst of the noise was
when you were on a light throttle at any revs, whereas this definitely
seems to go away as you pass 2k revs.

Any thoughts from the (far better qualified than me) 'usual suspects',
much appreciated.

d:-\

Arfa

"RD" wrote in message
...
My Mondeo did this, like a diesel at Idle and rattles at faster revs. It
turned out to be the cam belt idler/tension pulley had broken up, so the
cam belt goes slack and jumped a tooth. I got away without any other
damage, do not run your engine till you know what it is.



Well done that man! You get the prize ! Said tame mechanic chum turned up
out of the blue late afternoon and whipped off the belt cover. Lo and
behold, there it was. Belt tensioner broken up. He made a quick call to one
of his suppliers, and we got a tensioner kit for 35 quid. He's only fitted
the actual tensioner right now, as it got dark and cold, but he's going to
come back and fit the idler that was in the kit, as well as a new belt,
which he says is overdue for replacement, and should be done at the same
time as we are changing the tensioner gubbins. Still, like you, no other
damage, and looks as though the timing has remained correct, as the engine
is starting and running fine, and doesn't seem to be lacking any power. I
just took my lad into town, and it was hunky dory out on the dual
cabbageway, so good result all round.

Just out of interest, he said that he had asked another friend who is a Ford
specialist, if the leaky injector thing was valid on Ford engines (he is
mainly BMW which is where he has come across this). That guy said that the
injectors on the Focus engine never ever give trouble, but that the
individual coil packs did, as someone else suggested further up the thread,
and they can produce a very similar symptom of the engine sounding like a
diesel at low revs, and then evening out as the revs come up. Apparently
though, the earlier single four-way coil pack, like mine is fitted with,
doesn't suffer like this.

Thanks all for the suggestions.

Arfa