Welcome to the Australian Ford Forums forum.

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest which gives you limited access to view most discussions and inserts advertising. By joining our free community you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members, respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features without post based advertising banners. Registration is simple and absolutely free so please, join our community today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.

Please Note: All new registrations go through a manual approval queue to keep spammers out. This is checked twice each day so there will be a delay before your registration is activated.

Go Back   Australian Ford Forums > Ford Australia Vehicles > Small and Mid Sized Cars > Focus

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 06-05-2007, 06:30 PM   #1
melbzetec
Old enough to know better
 
melbzetec's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 2,311
Default She won't start

Went to start the car late this afternoon...won't start.

Drove back from the city at 3pm...no problems.

But at 5pm,engine won't even turnover, just a click,click,click sound.

I'm quessing starter motor or battery. Stereo, locks etc however all work.

I clutch started it. Ran smoothly.

Any suggestions? Off to the Auto electrician in the morning I think

__________________
Manual 2003 Machine Silver 5 Door LR Focus Zetec.
Mods: Ford Racing CNC'd cylinder head milled .040", 3 angle valve grind. Ford Racing Stage II camshafts. Ford Racing cam gears. Ford Racing long tube header. Random Technology hi flow cat. Herrod 2.25" stainless cat-back. Pipercross Viper intake. CFM 65mm throttle body. 2000 ported intake manifold. Herrod Custom SCT tune. Eibach suspension. Quaife ATB diff. Wilwood 13" brakes. Custom ST170 leather interior.
www.cardomain.com/ride/2773918

melbzetec is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 06-05-2007, 07:09 PM   #2
photn
AFF Post NAZI
 
photn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Albury
Posts: 3,634
Default

could be your starter motor.... or you batt just JUST didnt have enough...
__________________
"Its not always about power, The car has to handle Beautifully"

photn is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 06-05-2007, 08:33 PM   #3
twistedfirey
Starter Motor
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 24
Default

sounds like a starter solonoid... try a few gentle taps with a piece of timber, has worked for cars I've had in the past... if it doesn't work check the battery terminals are clean, may have enough power for windows etc but low on cranking amps, good luck.
twistedfirey is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 06-05-2007, 09:23 PM   #4
cArSiK
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,861
Default

battery for sure,
cArSiK is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 06-05-2007, 10:33 PM   #5
zetec
Zoom Zoom
 
zetec's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Melbourne, VIC
Posts: 4,352
Default

Your car was telling you it SHOULD have gone on the cruise!!! My guess is Ford Racing has liberated so much horsepower that it just has trouble even starting!!!

Honestly, as mentioned above, battery is suspect number 1, can be easily tested by your local auto mechanic with a battery tester very quickly. Haven't heard of an LR Focus starter motor failing yet...
__________________
2012 Mazda3 MPS
zetec is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 06-05-2007, 10:42 PM   #6
Martyvan
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
 
Martyvan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Brisbane North
Posts: 1,994
Default

If all the electrics are still working ok, and it ran ok with a clutch start, I would imagine that a starter motor is at fault...

just get it checked, im sure it will only delay any future mods... not eat into the home mortgage... hehe
Martyvan is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 06-05-2007, 10:50 PM   #7
eXtremist
2007 Ford Focus Zetec
 
eXtremist's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 431
Default

Check to see if the battery terminals are corroded or loose first before you do anything and then;

* Jump Start the car and If it starts, then you've got a battery problem.

If it still doesn't start but still makes repetitive ticking noise, then you've either got a low battery on your jump starter or your starter solenoid has had it.
eXtremist is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 07-05-2007, 08:26 AM   #8
BlackLS
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Like extremist said check out the terminals first, clean up with small wire brush and put vasoline on the terminals to prevent corroding. Also check if the battery electrolite levels are above the plates.


If both are good, grab your multimeter and see how it goes when cranking the car. It should drop down to about 8 or 9 volts whilst cranking. If it goes down to 1-3v battery has no charge. If the battery is only new you may have problems with alternator not charging the battery properly.

If battery and charging is both verified to be good, then you check out the starter.
  Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 07-05-2007, 08:38 AM   #9
melbzetec
Old enough to know better
 
melbzetec's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 2,311
Default

Thanks for your help guys.

Yes terminals are fine, but took them both off, cleaned and reconnected.

(ps I also checked out the fuel cutoff valve. No issue)

Multimeter is not something I have...so it's off at the Auto Electrician this morning.... just waiting for the call.
__________________
Manual 2003 Machine Silver 5 Door LR Focus Zetec.
Mods: Ford Racing CNC'd cylinder head milled .040", 3 angle valve grind. Ford Racing Stage II camshafts. Ford Racing cam gears. Ford Racing long tube header. Random Technology hi flow cat. Herrod 2.25" stainless cat-back. Pipercross Viper intake. CFM 65mm throttle body. 2000 ported intake manifold. Herrod Custom SCT tune. Eibach suspension. Quaife ATB diff. Wilwood 13" brakes. Custom ST170 leather interior.
www.cardomain.com/ride/2773918

melbzetec is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 07-05-2007, 12:25 PM   #10
eXtremist
2007 Ford Focus Zetec
 
eXtremist's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 431
Default

Try jump starting the car before you take it to a pro.
eXtremist is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 07-05-2007, 01:23 PM   #11
fordel
Tricolore Tard
Contributing Member
 
fordel's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 1,954
Default

No RACV or anything like that ?

They can come in handy just for their tools at times hehe
__________________
fordel is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 07-05-2007, 03:02 PM   #12
melbzetec
Old enough to know better
 
melbzetec's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 2,311
Default

In the past my cars have been covered by rodaside assist, and I have let the RACV membership lapse. They wanted $188 to join me up and come and have a look.I'll join up again this week

Anyway the Auto Elec just rang. A weird one but not serious.

Apparently the earth cable to the engine has broken, and the current ended up going through a more narrow gauge wire and eventually burnt out. All replaced...$88.

How the hell the earth cable got broken (polishing the engine too much perhaps??????!!!!LOL)

I'll find out more when I pick it up
__________________
Manual 2003 Machine Silver 5 Door LR Focus Zetec.
Mods: Ford Racing CNC'd cylinder head milled .040", 3 angle valve grind. Ford Racing Stage II camshafts. Ford Racing cam gears. Ford Racing long tube header. Random Technology hi flow cat. Herrod 2.25" stainless cat-back. Pipercross Viper intake. CFM 65mm throttle body. 2000 ported intake manifold. Herrod Custom SCT tune. Eibach suspension. Quaife ATB diff. Wilwood 13" brakes. Custom ST170 leather interior.
www.cardomain.com/ride/2773918

melbzetec is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 07-05-2007, 03:15 PM   #13
Martyvan
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
 
Martyvan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Brisbane North
Posts: 1,994
Default

I just thought thats incredible you got a auto electrician on a public holiday, but then realised its only a day off in Qld today!

Interesting fix, but awesome that he was able to fix it soo cheaply..!
Martyvan is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 07-05-2007, 03:34 PM   #14
melbzetec
Old enough to know better
 
melbzetec's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 2,311
Default

What's the excuse for a public holiday in Qld? Russ Hinze Memorial Day or something?
__________________
Manual 2003 Machine Silver 5 Door LR Focus Zetec.
Mods: Ford Racing CNC'd cylinder head milled .040", 3 angle valve grind. Ford Racing Stage II camshafts. Ford Racing cam gears. Ford Racing long tube header. Random Technology hi flow cat. Herrod 2.25" stainless cat-back. Pipercross Viper intake. CFM 65mm throttle body. 2000 ported intake manifold. Herrod Custom SCT tune. Eibach suspension. Quaife ATB diff. Wilwood 13" brakes. Custom ST170 leather interior.
www.cardomain.com/ride/2773918

melbzetec is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 07-05-2007, 04:14 PM   #15
Martyvan
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
 
Martyvan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Brisbane North
Posts: 1,994
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by melbzetec
What's the excuse for a public holiday in Qld? Russ Hinze Memorial Day or something?
Think its labour day, believe you guys have the day off in October?

Was thinking it was the Sir Joh's stutter appreciation day...
Martyvan is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 07-05-2007, 04:34 PM   #16
Marlene
Starter Motor
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Ipswich, Qld
Posts: 12
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by melbzetec
What's the excuse for a public holiday in Qld? Russ Hinze Memorial Day or something?
Labour Day.
Marlene is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 08-05-2007, 09:11 AM   #17
photn
AFF Post NAZI
 
photn's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Albury
Posts: 3,634
Default

sorry to hijack the thread steve, but what the hell is with that... shouldnt labour day be held on the same day all around australia... did queensland just decide. a feck it... well do it when we can be bothered...... ????
__________________
"Its not always about power, The car has to handle Beautifully"

photn is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 08-05-2007, 06:31 PM   #18
Mick K.
Regular Member
 
Mick K.'s Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Brisbane
Posts: 397
Default

I (a Queenslander) always associated "Labour Day" and "May Day" as being pretty similar, so it always made sense to me to have the public holiday near the start of May. Given that the 2nd half of the year is pretty much devoid of public hols in Qld, I wouldn't mind it being moved later. Actually why not just throw an extra one in sometime - I'm sure they can find an excuse.

MK
Mick K. is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Old 08-05-2007, 07:42 PM   #19
Martyvan
FF.Com.Au Hardcore
 
Martyvan's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Brisbane North
Posts: 1,994
Default

I associate between Easter & June long weekend with the best time of year to have annual leave. AS there are loads of public holidays.... can get an extra weeks leave for the time ;)

Its over 17 weeks though between the Exhibition show day, and Christmas, so its a looooooooong time between drinks there....
Martyvan is offline   Reply With Quote Multi-Quote with this Post
Reply


Forum Jump


All times are GMT +11. The time now is 12:53 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.5
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Other than what is legally copyrighted by the respective owners, this site is copyright www.fordforums.com.au
Positive SSL