ford focus 1.8 zetec w reg - Cat gone?

Honest John Back Room » Technical matters
What is life like with your car? Let us know and win £500 in John Lewis vouchers | No thanks
View Threaded
Sat 28 Jan 2017 13:56
ford focus 1.8 zetec w reg - Cat gone? - amyamandaallen

Hi,

Hi

Looking for advice or confirmation here please?

My focus has started to develop an eggy smell when the blowers are on full, more when the hot it on, or when its directed at the windscreen.

After a while the smell goes and you can run the heater and it usually doesnt come back, if you turn it onto heat/windscreen again it comes back for a bit.

Im told theres only 1 cat and its in the manifold.

If I smell the exhaust back box I cant smell anything, I cant smell anything if I stick my nose by the scuttle panels near the engine except a normal slightly oily engine smell. Have no EML lights come on, car still pulls like a train. Have last week changed pollen filter, air filter, ran a car cleaner spray in the cabin ( smell was there before this ). Exhaust a tiny bit white smokey but nothing that I dont see on many other cars. No water loss.

Is this likely to be the cat gone?

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 28 Jan 2017 14:13
ford focus 1.8 zetec w reg - Cat gone? - Peter D

If you have Air con then I suspect you have a condensor contamination. You can purchase a A/C cleaner spray and treat it. Regards Peter

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 28 Jan 2017 14:26
ford focus 1.8 zetec w reg - Cat gone? - amyamandaallen

Thanks someone else said that so I ran this through last week as per instructions http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/p/car-accessories/car-cleaning-accessories/car-interior-cleaners/air-con-cleaner/?NOR2897300100&0&cc5_101

Im wondering as the plugs havent been touched for a good long while now ( have had the new ones sat in their boxes for about 18+ months ) and not sure when they were last changed before that.....oops, slack I know!

Any chance of it being the plugs? As I said still pulls fine which is why I havent got round to changing them yet.

I do also get the intermittent dropping of the speed counter every so often ( due to a faulty vehicle speed sensor in the gearbox ) but little loss of power when it does, wonder if its running rich and thats whats broken the cat?

Have managed to get to having the pin unclipped for the vehicle speed sensor but the garage will have to do the change and Im quoted about £145 to do. If the cats gone its another £212 and the MOT is in 3 months so thinking if its all worth doing. Car is solid and fine otherwise.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 28 Jan 2017 14:44
ford focus 1.8 zetec w reg - Cat gone? - elekie&a/c doctor

Doubt it's the cat.or the plugs.More likely to be build up of gunge in the windsreen washer reservoir.Is the problem worse when the w/wash is used.?

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 28 Jan 2017 17:32
ford focus 1.8 zetec w reg - Cat gone? - amyamandaallen

I had the filter out from the washer bottle about 18 months ago. All rinsed through and refitted so that should be ok.

Having driven 2 lots of 10 miles I had the odd waft come through 1 or twice for a 30 secs or so then gone again. Deffo eggy smell.

If a cats gone would it smell the same all the time?

Im not 100% conviced its the cat but it one of the symptoms.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 29 Jan 2017 08:43
ford focus 1.8 zetec w reg - Cat gone? - skidpan

My focus has started to develop an eggy smell when the blowers are on full, more when the hot it on, or when its directed at the windscreen.

If the "eggy" smell is the cat and its getting into the car via the windscreen vents you have an exhaust leak. That is potentially life threatening, stop driving it and get it inspected. Exhaust fumes including any "eggy" smell shuld all exit safely via the tailpipe.

When the filter in our Focus washer reservoir blocked the washers stopped working. No smell but no water. Cleaned filter and all OK.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 29 Jan 2017 10:44
ford focus 1.8 zetec w reg - Cat gone? - SLO76
Remember in the early 90's when catalysts were first being fitted and they'd often give off an eggy smell when the car was exercised?

As for the MK I Focus I believe these had two cats one after the manifold and the other further back in the centre section of the exhaust. It's possible in certain driving conditions an eggy smell from a failing cat could enter the cabin but I'd say it's more likely to be a bacteriological build up in the air con system which is pretty common.

Check the exhaust for leaks before driving it further as fumes entering the cabin could be a health hazard that'll affect your driving.

Edited by SLO76 on 29/01/2017 at 10:45

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 29 Jan 2017 18:59
ford focus 1.8 zetec w reg - Cat gone? - amyamandaallen
Been driving it round today, blower on full and no smells at all, hot or cold/screen or vents.

As asked, would you smell this all the time if cat had failed or a hole?

Mot very soon anyway so presume they will pickup if cats failed or there's a hole somewhere?

Thanks.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sun 29 Jan 2017 19:18
ford focus 1.8 zetec w reg - Cat gone? - elekie&a/c doctor

As a basic rule ,cats only smell if there is an engine running problem.Misfires would cause a smell as there is unburnt fuel in the system.Again small holes in the exhaust would not cause a problem.Anything bigger and you would hear it.There is only one cat on this model.The mot emission test will pick up any deficiency in the system.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link

Looking for a garage you can trust? Honest John's Good Garage Guide has thousands of reader recommended garages, plus how-to guides and tips on servicing.

The Good Garage Guide

If you cover no more than 100 miles per day and have easy access to a charging point at home or work, then an EV is ideal for you.

Is an electric car right for me?