Focusing in on Ford Focus

If it seems like I'm picking on Fords..........I'm not.  Well, maybe a little.  But it is what it is, and the first rule of Zen Car Repair (along with the other ten first rules) is to accept what is and try not to fight it.  I mean if you bought a ford, that's that your problem not mine.  Ok, ok, I own one too but lets get to the helpful part of this story.  Put down our rocks, stop throwing stones and realize that people who live in glass ford cars shouldn't throw stones.

The Ford Focus comes in a couple of different engines but mostly it's the single overhead cam or double overhead cam versions.  The one I'm discussing is the single overhead model.  

If you find that your Focus is not idling well, or is dying when you turn on the A/C it's time to suspect a couple of different things.  One, the Idle Air Control Valve may be clogged with carbon or it may be sticking.  You don't necessarily have to replace it, but it might be a good idea to clean it out with some carb cleaner and stick it back on.  Two, you may have a PCV hose that has a hole in it.  As I discussed in a previous article, Fords require a hose that doesn't leak in order to idle properly.  Check all hose connections to the PCV  hose system and check for a crack or hole.  As a side note, these hoses are different on the various models so check to see which engine you have before going crazy.  Remember, part of zen car repair is doing your homework to keep your mind pure of suicidal thoughts.  

The third possibility is one that is rare but I have seen.  The power steering pump has a switch on it that raises the idle when you turn so the car doesn't die as more power steering pump action kicks in.  This switch comes in two different forms:  Blue dot, or Green or white dot.  They are very different switches so don't confuse them.  The switch will fail, causing the car to have a crazy idle which affects the rest of idle systems.  In my case, the switch started blowing fluid out the switch itself resulting in a pretty good leak of power steering fluid.  Replacement is easy though, so don't sweat it.  Just unscrew it and screw it back in.  Too bad it costs way more than it should.

Here is a few pictures of our Ford excursion through wonderland:

Power steering switch (green white dot)

 

Idle Air Control Valve (clean if dirty)

PCV NIGHTMARE 

Thank you Ford engineers for your wonderful design of the pcv valve elbow on most taurus'.  Yes my friends, this is a project that will live in infamy and is truly masterpiece.  If you are driving down the road and your ford taurus starts acting like it cant idle or dies at a stoplight (no prior warning at all of course), then you might have a problem with the pcv elbow.  It develops a small hole in it almost invisible to the eye and leaks an incredible amount of air into the intake manifold. A good way to diagnose this is to look at the fuel trims if you have a scan tool that will do this.  They will be way rich in order to compensate for the extra air being admitted into the intake manifold through the leak (+10 or more) and it will affect both banks 1 and 2.  An oxygen sensor code will probably be set as it is picking up too much oxygen as well.  Here is a picture of the offending creature I am expounding upon:

There are probably versions of his hose but they are all pretty much the same look and function.  The company Dorman sells a replacement to this and it works pretty good. 

Lesson here?  Check the pcv elbow if your Taurus is misbehaving.  Some mechanics will spend a ton of money replacing the wrong stuff for something simple like this (by the way, anyone can replace this).  Find your Zen mechanic mindset and avoid the stress of owning a ford taurus.