Focus Pinging Issue (again!!!) - Page 3

kenny21 · 29-01-2007, 08:56 AM

yea but if they running the same fuel map as the old focus then it is leaner because of higher compression

MikGan · 29-01-2007, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenny21

quik question with all these ppl that are having these issues, can i ask is it doing it when ur on the throttle or when ur lifting off the throttle.

For me its definatly pinging on throttle. From a standing start, or accelerating on an incline. If I have more than just me and the wife in the car, say 3 guys in the back seat, then it'll ping on a flat road also.

Piotr · 29-01-2007, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenny21

yea but if they running the same fuel map as the old focus then it is leaner because of higher compression

ROFL. And why would that happen? Its a totally different engine and ECU mate

kenny21 · 29-01-2007, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Piotr

ROFL. And why would that happen? Its a totally different engine and ECU mate

Yea totally new engine but whats to say they havnt taken the old ecu and used that programming, maybe not exactly but close to it. I dont know and neither do u unless u work in the design team who made the new focus. Im just puttin up the question cause with higher compression u need more fuel thats all and i dont know wat ecu and programming they use in the old and new focus.

29-01-2007, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenny21

Yea totally new engine but whats to say they havnt taken the old ecu and used that programming, maybe not exactly but close to it. I dont know and neither do u unless u work in the design team who made the new focus. Im just puttin up the question cause with higher compression u need more fuel thats all and i dont know wat ecu and programming they use in the old and new focus.

Because it would take 1000000000x more time and effort to work out how to port the old ECU mapping and parameters over to the LS Focus ECU than it would to hook up a running LS to a computer, get the A/F ratio and adjust as necessary, concidering how many LS's they sell world wide, its not like they had a 1 man development team. I may not be part of the Focus design and development team but I do have common sense.

What your suggesting is the equivelent of Ford trying to flash the AU Falcon XR8 windsor tune to the BA Falcon Boss ecu. Not going to happen.

I'm guessing the number reason why we get pinging is because of our poor Aussie fuel and the tight tune due to the pressure on Ford Europe to have good fuel economy without VCT or VVTI.

More revs · 29-01-2007, 02:19 PM

But it's a total mystery why some cars do and others don't.

Bit like girls actually...

I hate that song and now damn it it's in my head...

****

20focus05 · 29-01-2007, 03:58 PM

I've just been running 98ron, it pings a bit now and then.

More revs · 30-01-2007, 11:35 AM

One thing you could do is change to a colder plug number.

I know it's a bit of messing around and some cost is involved but Ford seem unwilling to do anything until some engines fail.

Other than that there's very little you can do while it's under warranty and it's a long shot anyway.

MikGan · 30-01-2007, 12:53 PM

I was recommended by 13FORD over the phone to advise the mechanic about using colder plugs at my next service. When I called to book I mentioned this and he pretty much called me a liar that that will have no effect and its not something that ford is recommendind. I know the that it may help but Ford need to get their house in order.

photn · 30-01-2007, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenny21

Yea totally new engine but whats to say they havnt taken the old ecu and used that programming, maybe not exactly but close to it. I dont know and neither do u unless u work in the design team who made the new focus. Im just puttin up the question cause with higher compression u need more fuel thats all and i dont know wat ecu and programming they use in the old and new focus.

No offence intended kenny, but when Ford develop a new car with a DURATEC engine not a Zetec S(E) engine the team of highly Qualified engineers dont tend to use old out of date and non compatible software.

MikGan · 30-01-2007, 01:51 PM

How funny would it be if one of those hightly qualified engineers was reading this thinking 'oh **** we forgot to update the software!', lol.... well not really funny, anoying infact, but unlikely all the same I would suggest.

Piotr · 30-01-2007, 05:19 PM

Well seeing as though the Old focus used the Zetec-R (Not SE as sean seems to think) which used a MAF sensor while the new Duratec uses MAP sensing I don't see that even remotely happening. Not to mention all the cold start, temperature correction etc maps that would be totally wrong

kenny21 · 30-01-2007, 05:59 PM

yea i know i totally agree its like the same when in the race car we put new engine and upgraded ecu and you start fresh i just wanted to know wat u guys thought bout it, its just weird cause as u say they are suppose to be highly qualified engineers and you would think they would either fix this problem or tell us wats happening or something instead of just totally ignoring the problem all together because im sure they are losing sales from it and a few other things with the focus

Guliver_TwiSt · 30-01-2007, 06:44 PM

I honestly regard the software writers for the duratec ECU to be a bunch of idiots.

On my trip to Queensland about 4 months ago, the engine fault light on the dash lit up. Once I finally managed to find a Ford dealer, i was told that the system was incorrectly reporting an ignition coil fault, and the problem was then rectified by flashing the ECU...This caused a lot of frustration and ruined the trip for me.. The first serious journey in a new car resulting in what appeared to be an enormous disaster.

My car with its even more recently upgraded ecu software on the dash, shows the speed and milage in KM/H and temperature in F.. If i change my settings to imperial, i get miles per galon and degrees. If they can't even get such basics right after god knows how many revisions, how can you expect them to tackle more serious issues..

This problem was not there before the ECU upgrade.

My 2C to Ford Engineering (Laugh) :eclipsee_
HIRE SOME REAL ENGINEERS!!

eXtremist · 30-01-2007, 08:26 PM

The more focus' on the road, the more of a chance of Ford bringing out a recall.

Piotr · 30-01-2007, 08:57 PM

When you get ping how much Throttle are you giving it and what RPM does it happen at?

Curly · 31-01-2007, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Piotr

When you get ping how much Throttle are you giving it and what RPM does it happen at?

VERY ROUGHLY FROM MEMORY:
When taking off at the lights it can happen briefly when you first put your foot down. (Taking off relatively sedately, not foot to the floor)
Going up an incline travelling at approx 90km/h under moderate throttle with the revs at about 2500 approx. If it changes down to 3rd it doesn't seem to do it.

31-01-2007, 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guliver_TwiSt

My car with its even more recently upgraded ecu software on the dash, shows the speed and milage in KM/H and temperature in F.. If i change my settings to imperial, i get miles per galon and degrees. If they can't even get such basics right after god knows how many revisions, how can you expect them to tackle more serious issues..

Scroll to the temprature display. Hold down the Set button for about 3 seconds...

31-01-2007, 05:55 PM

Thing is, if they bring out a recall, you'll probably end up with worse fuel economy and possibly less mid range power when running higher octane fuels.

Similar with the BA XR6T and their boost spike problems.

MikGan · 02-02-2007, 10:30 AM

Well the car is in this monring for the 45K service.

Last night I had to fill up and after a small brian fart I found myself filling it up with regular unleaded, "oh well im sure it'll ping its **** off now" im thinking to myself, too late to stop.

So I gave it stink all last night and this morning trying to get that pinging sound back, but.... it seems to have disapeared! I dont know if it's temp or if the fuel actually made a difference. With my track record it'll play nice while at the mecahics and start pinging its **** off the moment I get it back home, but fingers crossed my focus is just a big fan of 91octane fuel.

Curly · 02-02-2007, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikGan

So I gave it stink all last night and this morning trying to get that pinging sound back, but.... it seems to have disapeared! I dont know if it's temp or if the fuel actually made a difference. With my track record it'll play nice while at the mecahics and start pinging its **** off the moment I get it back home, but fingers crossed my focus is just a big fan of 91octane fuel.

Ours doesn't do it all the time. According to the "experts", air temperature and humidity can make a difference. We know that if we take it in it won't do it for the mechanic. Cars are evil..... Maybe we should try 91ron again. It might have changed it's mind.

eXtremist · 02-02-2007, 02:21 PM

Mine doesn't ping and its got 4 month old fuel.

MikGan · 02-02-2007, 11:46 PM

lol so u reckon the trick is to buy petrol in bulk and store it for 4 months....mmm sounds reasonable! :P

Well it did ping for them again and they have recommended that we take it infor a day that they can sit on it and find the problem. The guy behind the counter reitterated that they have had a number of ppl with the same problem and they themselves are now just waiting for ford to do something about it.

Ahh well im going to try to forget about it, if the thing ****s it self in the near future as long as its under warrenty Im not going to care that much I spose.

WASP · 03-02-2007, 11:45 AM

These cars are very fuel sensitive. One brand of fuel will make them ping while another won't. Ours hasn't pinged since the re flash at 12,000km. We use 95 octane fuel, but the fuel economy sits around 8.9lts per 100. Damn European cars!!
Good luck with it.

Fusspot · 07-02-2007, 01:07 PM

I'll just re-iterate what someone said earlier. MIne pinged on 91 RON particularly on inclines. Really sore about this as it it's so called ability to run on 91 RON was a buying point for me. Anyway here in Brissy I have changed over 95 RON 10% ethanol blend which is cheaper than reg unleaded and it runs fine with no pinging. Only on my second tank of this fuel so I'm curious to see how the fuel consumption is affected.

07-02-2007, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fusspot

I'll just re-iterate what someone said earlier. MIne pinged on 91 RON particularly on inclines. Really sore about this as it it's so called ability to run on 91 RON was a buying point for me. Anyway here in Brissy I have changed over 95 RON 10% ethanol blend which is cheaper than reg unleaded and it runs fine with no pinging. Only on my second tank of this fuel so I'm curious to see how the fuel consumption is affected.

Sounds like a fuel supply issue with the intank fuel pickup (its at the front of the tank so when your on a hill, it'll go dry.)

melbzetec · 07-02-2007, 02:40 PM

Consumption should increase as ethanol has a lower calorific value than petrol. ie less energy per litre.

Markus85 · 22-02-2007, 09:00 AM

I have a standard 2004 Ford focus LR 2.0 CL and since i've bought it i've experienced continuous pinging issues along with trouble starting and the motor has also cut out on me while turing around a corner, it's a 4 speed Auto!.
Anyway i've taken it ford and told them about the pinging and that i always put 95 or 98 RON in it, they said they were unable to detect anything at the time of test, so they just updated the computer with the latest software and recomended that i run my car on 95 RON (Which i was already doin) and they said they took a sample of the fuel and said it was STALE, WTF!!!. I took my car last week to a mobile mechanic to service my car on 25000K and when he was inspecting the motor he found a vaccum hose hanging in the engine bay not connected to anything, when he looked around he saw a plastic area on the air intake duct where a hole should have been drilled through it so the vaccum hose can connect into it. I got it fixed at ford and they said it's never happened before and start asking me how i can drive around with the hose like that, they then drilled a hole through the air intake duct and connected the vaccum hose and now the car has more power, brakes a bit better, also it's is a little more fuel efficient and i haven't noticed any pinging yet.
This shows that when you service your car through ford and pay through the roof you don't even get a proper service.

Does anyone know if action can be taken?

More revs · 26-02-2007, 10:30 AM

Action???

Yeah take a dozen dohnuts around to that mobile mechanic immediately.

The Ford guys do the best they can, they're not gods so relax and give them a chance.

But don't feed them dohnuts until they earn it eh..

Homer · 26-02-2007, 11:44 AM

Hmmm I put regular unleaded in my LS from Gull and it’s started pinging.
I use BP ultimate 99% of the time but have put BP regular in before without any issues.

I thought it was just a dodgy servo!