Well, my 2000 ZX3 is back in the shop for what could possibly be it's
5th, that is right, 5th, fuel pump unit... They are already 3 hours
into diagnosing it, and cannot find the exact problem. It started a
week back, driving home, a highway, starting to go uphill, all of a
sudden, very little power... Down shift from 5th, to 4th, to 3rd...
crawl uphill at 30mph...
Dropped it at my mechanic, not a Ford dealer, he says the error code
reads P0351, the ignition coil pack, so he replaces it. It makes the
car run better, not likely to stall out, idles almost at normal RPM's,
but still fairly rough, and the temp gauge does not go to it's normal
position, about a quarter of the way up the scale.
He cannot figure out what is happening, thinks it is the fuel pump,
which I had suggested to him. Said I should take it back to the dealer,
especially since the fuel pump is under that extended warranty program.
Well I drove it to the dealer, not the one I bought it from, they are
HORRIBLE, so I took it to another Ford dealer. When I drove it out to
them, it was in the same state my mechanic had it, until the last 2 or
3 miles, then it ran normal, but with a check engine light.
I talked to the manager in the service department, they have already 3
hours into diagnosing it, but with no solution yet. Ford suggested to
check the EGR system, check grounds, etc, on top of what I told them
and what the ODB codes tell them.
I've had my pump replaced also. If they don't also flush the lines after changing the pump debris from the old pump can clog the lines. And welcome to TF!
Welcome to TeamFocus and I am sorry for all of the problems.
I agree with Rick on this one...when that pump gets replaced the fuel filter should be changed out and the lines cleaned.
Correct me if I'm wrong fellas, but itsn't the biggest problem with the fuel pumps the filter inside getting clogged?
Kevin, do you tend to go to all sorts of gas stations? Do you know of one in particular you can stick with for some time? You may also be getting bad gas. Have they tested your fuel tank for water?
the coil replacement was a great idea...Dan (fx3) has a 2000 sedan that had some stuttering/stalling problems...changed out the fuel filter/pcv & plugs and still had stalling until that coil was done.
Best of luck...I hope you can figure out what is causing this problem. Let us know!
____________________ Get in, Sit down, Shut up and HANG ON!
Thanks for idea folks... I plan to call the shop in a bit to see what the status of my little buggy is. I will pass along your comments as well.
I do tend to use only one gas station for both of my cars, I also have an '87 MR2, and never have had a problem with the gas quality. Actually my normal mechanic said to use the station I do go to as they have the better gas out of the three near where I live.
Most problems like you explained are either fuel or air issues. If the Fuel brings you to a dead end check out the air. Make sure your MAF is cleaned and there is no air leaks. Most of the time an air flow issue doesn't make you loose all power like that, it will hesitate and stutter. Also do you have any mods to the car? If so a chip can and will cause these type problems. I had similar issues with mine and it was due to timing and fuel. It was running way to rich. Just a few more ideas for you. But the Fuel pump would be my first choice also. I have heard of people getting them replaced three times before it fixed the problem. But then again it was known to be the problem.
Wow I just reread your post, you have went through 5 pumps already? If so there has got to be another problem. Unless they are just changing it because they can't figure out what else the problem could be.
Last edited on Wed Mar 30th, 2005 04:20 pm by smoknzx3
I am not sure what mode it is in now. when I talked to the dealer yesterday he said they would get it to work OK, then it would run like crap. They did not touch it this am, but were going to this afternoon, I need to call back later to get a status.
Also, I have no mods done on this car, strictly been kept stock. It has 78K on it, so far 4 pumps (If they put a new one it, it will be #5...), and a bunch of other 'normal' things that have been replaced on a '00 Focus like the ignition cylinder last summer (Another known problem), two left rear wheel hubs (One under a recall, the second replaced for the same problem; it would crack and leak brake fluid.), I just had the throttle Position sensor replaced last month (The check engine light came on for that one, my mechanic replaced as the inspection was due.), and a whole bunch of other nonsense that we all know about...
If anyone knows of a top notch Ford mechanic that they have been dealing with, let me know. I figure if they cannot figure it out after another three hours today, I will have them calling other Ford shops to discuss it. I just have this horrible feeling that they are going to run up a multi-hundred dollar bill on just diagnostics alone, and either find something really bad wrong ($$$$$) or it is some crappy $2 part...
Thanks for the greetings too folks! I'll update you all later...
I just got off the phone with the service manager...
The only thing that the Ford engineers can recommend based on what has been done diagnostically in their shop is to replace the cable that goes from the processor to the ignition coil. Runs about an hour and half of labor, plus parts.
Let's keep our fingers crossed... So far about a $500 bill, with about 400 of it diagnostics...
OK, I picked the car up the other afternoon, it is running fine (fingers crossed...) and appears to be OK. The total bill was almost $600 dollars, a fair amount was for diagnostics. The shop could not find anything really wrong, unfortunately, and the Ford engineers came back to them with 'replace the cable from the PCM to the ignition coil'. So that is what they did... was booked at 1.5 hrs, but too longer to snake the cabling around from inside the firewall to the coil pack. They also preformed a routine tune-up, oil change, fuel filter change, and replaced the spark plugs and spark plug wires as well. The bill was about 2/3 diagnostics, 1/3 parts.
The shop was very nice, very professional, and whenever I called, they actually were able to give me an accurate status of what was going on. The almost $600 hurts the 'ol wallet, but I don't think they ripped me off.
They could not find anything wrong with the fuel pump, the readings off it were fine. There were no funky sensors acting up, nothing unusual, and it all perplexed the shop guys. The Ford engineers suggested that it was the cable may have been shorting out the ignition coil, making it look like it was something else all along. If that is the case, it really torques me off that it was not found/thought of years ago. But then again, those other times it may have actually been the fuel pumps acting up, except that the ignition coil was always talked about when it happened.
Thanks for all your comments... I just paid this little puppy off, and most people tell me to unload it, but the car is so damn fun to drive. I really do love the car.
The P0351 code was for the ignition coil, which my regular mechanic replaced just before I took it to the dealer. He was stumped over the whole thing and said to take it in....
That sux. My ZX3 has started doing the same thing the past couple weeks. I've noticed it's only when i'm low on gas (about 1/8 of a tank and lower) and then lingers for a bit after i top it off to. I notice it's more prominent when going up hill, fast accelerate, or sharp turn.
And then last week, i found out from my Uncle (2000 LX) that he got a recall letter about that very same problem. Saying that some foci experience power loss when under heavy load, low fuel, and that it would be fixed at no charge for him. I'm not sure if that will apply to me, and not sure if it's the same problem even for me or for what you had. But hopefully things will pan out.
I've noticed to now that i've stopped letting it get low to avoid that problem, it doesn't have as much zip. not so much get up and go as usual. but it could be in my head cause i know something is wrong with it. No check engine lights on it except for when it stutters when it's happening. Almost like it wants to stall sometimes, othertimes it's as if i was just idleing even with the pedal to the floor.
Last edited on Thu Jul 7th, 2005 09:04 am by Trogson
____________________ 01 ZX3 in French Blue
Fog Light Mod // Intermittent Wipers // Clear Side Markers // Back 3 Tinted // Painted HVAC vents (courtesy of MustFCS) // De-badged // Eurostar LED Tail lights // SilverStar Head light bulbs // Upper Grill Light Delete
I've got one too. They're not always the cheapest, but they are the best! Lloyd Manwell Ford in Avon Lake, Oh.