2000 ZX3 no start , sometimes, sometimes just quits running. - ZX3 And ZX5 Forum - Model Specific Forums - Team Focus - Come On In And Enjoy The Company!
2000 ZX3, turn the key "ON", PATS light goes out but the odometer has dashes instead of numbers and the starter won't energize? The fuses, relay and harness check okay. Funnier yet sometimes at "KEY ON" the speedo goes to 140 mph and the odometer is clicking off miles like crazy (140 mph rate). Occasionally at "KEY ON" the odometer is fine and the car will start, run for a variable amount of time and die; tach dead and odometer goes back to showing dashes. Diagnostic port will not communicate with the PCM when the odometer has dashes, it will read when the odometer is normal but there are no P codes. I took it to a guy with a Snap-On scanner and there are no body codes either. The high speed fan relay, the fan relay, and the WOT relay won't energize; there is power to the relay but the ground leg to the PCM reads 8500 ohms. Disconnected the battery, unplugged the PCM and checked the ground leg wiring from the relay plugs to the PCM plug all were 0.1 ohm. Is it possible the PCM is bad but won't set a code? BTW the check engine light has never come on while KOER. My bother said there is a GEM module in the car that controls the dash, lights etc. I can't find reference to that. Don't have an active alarm either. Battery voltage at 12.6, grounds all seem good, checked resistance in the ground cables, 0.1 ohm. Any tech types have thoughts on what is wrong?
Thanks, Doug
Possibly a bad computer all together? Does the car have an aftermarket chip in it? If so, was this done recently? Maybe during the install it fried the computer? Other than that I'm hard up for ideas man.
____________________ "Men and boys alike love burnouts because they involve machinery, loud noises, and destruction."
I beleve the chips on the Focus fit over the stock chip. So you should be able to just pull it off unless the person who put it on did somthing "specal" to it like solder or superglue(I'm guessing you bought the car with the chip).
but anyway take the chip out for starters and go from there.
Do you know the previous owner or was it bought at a car lot?
Also the code readers will not work with a chip in the car. Chips are removed from warranty cars for 2 main reasons. 1) So Ford doesn't see the mod and 2) so Ford will see any codes thrown by the computer.
Sorry you're having issues - I would follow through with what fx3 has mentioned and also, try disconnecting the battery for about 30 minutes and let the CPU reset itself.
Then let the car re-learn the driving. See if that helps.
We'll try and help you get to the bottom of it all. :o) Hang in there!
____________________ Get in, Sit down, Shut up and HANG ON!
I was thinking old GM stuff where you have to have a prom in the computer. The car is an SCCA SSC car, should not have had a chip anyhow, per rules, but thar she was. Removed SuperChip and low and behold the car is running. Nice to know that the scanner won't read with a chip in the computer; will have to go back and rescan the car. I will see if the chip can be reflashed or if it is junk. My wife is driving it on the street now and will race it in the spring, can always pull the chip then. Thanks for the advice guys!
Doug
You need to find out if its a Superchips or Diablo sport. Call whoever it is and it can most likely be reprogrammed but from the sounds of it the chip might be fried or defective. The company should be able to know when attempting to reprogram.
Glad to hear that was all that was wrong. Also if the CEL light is not on the computer will not show any codes.
Yes the chip in the car will make it so no codes will show up, even if there is something wrong with it. I have had a few problems with my SCT. If the chip you have is a SCT chip you can always go to http://www.Focussport.com and talk to Randy he can take the chip from you and reprogram it if something is wrong.
Last edited on Wed Mar 30th, 2005 05:09 pm by smoknzx3
