Technical Car/Motor Issues > Ford Focus II - Focus 2006 1.6L engine management light/misfiring
Thread Author: smokie Replies: 7
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New Fri 19 Jun 15 09:46 
 Ford Focus II - Focus 2006 1.6L engine management light/misfiring - smokie
The Focus is now up to about 55k miles. I went to Le mans last week for the 24h and on the way the EML came on and it started misfiring. Getting to LM was more important than the car, which really has little actual value, so I ploughed on. After unrelated flat battery and puncture "issues" I am loving it even less but I should try to fix it if I can do it cheaply. So I'm trying to go through some diagnostic steps rather than putting it with a garage to carry out the same at much higher cost.

A mate had a thing to read the codes and it told us misfire in cylinder 4.

So far I have replaced cyl4 spark plus, and now the coil. I am about to replace the remaining three plugs, then will change the cables if that still isn't working, but what after that?

I suspect I have ruined the cat with 500 miles or so under Yellow Flag but that wouldn't actually CAUSE the misfire would it? If not, what else could be the cause?

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New Fri 19 Jun 15 17:30 
 Ford Focus II - Focus 2006 1.6L engine management light/misfiring - Dave_
It could be any one of a number of sensors. Take it to a specialist diagnostic place, they will know the likely culprit on your model.

A colleague ran a late 1990s 1.8 petrol Vectra to 350,000 miles with the EML on from 150,000 onwards. I very much doubt you've jiggered yoiur catalyst in 500 miles.
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New Fri 19 Jun 15 17:34 
 Ford Focus II - Focus 2006 1.6L engine management light/misfiring - The Melting Snowman
Which 1.6 is it, there is the old 100bhp model or the much newer but more complex Ti-VCT 115
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New Fri 19 Jun 15 18:42 
 Ford Focus II - Focus 2006 1.6L engine management light/misfiring - smokie
Not sure how I'd know which engine it is but it seems there was an "up to 2005" and a "2006 on" model, and mine is the latter, so I've discovered on the parts sites.

Oddly, today, I replaced three out of four plugs. After each one I started it up and it still sounded like it was misfiring.

Then I pulled off each lead in turn as it was running.

For me, this confirmed that cyl 4 is the dodgy one, as the others made it even more lumpy.

When I got it all back together I decided to take it to my local mech. Drove away with no misfire, and has stayed that way - although EML is on solid now.

He's going to look at the diags next week for me.

(This did happen in Le Mans - had a day of clean running but it reverted back the following day. I was only doing about 8 miles per day while there)
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New Sat 20 Jun 15 08:22 
 Ford Focus II - Focus 2006 1.6L engine management light/misfiring - carmalade
A faulty cat will not cause a misfire,but I suspect that it has now been damaged by driving with one.The eml light diagnosis will probably show a deteriorated cat fault.
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New Sat 20 Jun 15 10:40 
 Ford Focus II - Focus 2006 1.6L engine management light/misfiring - smokie
Thanks.

I no longer have access to the code reader but the mech will do it on Tuesday.

found a procedure which supposedly reads the diagnostics here www.fordownersclub.com/forums/topic/1486-focus-dashboard-secret-trick/page-2 but I can't identify any of the output it gives against the list of codes here. www.fordwiki.co.uk/index.php?title=Ford_Diagnostic_Codes_List
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New Sat 20 Jun 15 12:37 
 Ford Focus II - Focus 2006 1.6L engine management light/misfiring - smokie
I just had to go to the garden centre. Half way through the journey (and after flooring the throttle due to poor timing on my part pulling out in front of someone!!) the EML has gone out. It's not misfiring at all. Let's hope it stays like that.

I'll still get the mech to clear the code in case it comes back.
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New Wed 12 Aug 15 20:44 
 Ford Focus II - Focus 2006 1.6L engine management light/misfiring - smokie
Done a few more miles since the above and it's still OK. Smells a bit petrolly at times though so will get emissions checked well in advance of next MOT.
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