Ford Focus - Ford Focus 1.6 - tickover too high?

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
Fri 17 Jul 2015 11:47
Ford Focus - Ford Focus 1.6 - tickover too high? - MarisaW

I know all automatics "creep" as soon as you put them in gear - I've driven automatics for 20 years - but this is ridiculous!

I've just bought a Ford Focus 1.6 Zetec 2009. It pulls away the moment I put it in gear even on a hill. On the level, it will bowl along at 10-15 mph without touching the accelerator!

Standing outside the car while it's stationery, the revs sound on the high side to me. Is that connected?

I'm worried that if my foot slips on the brake while I'm parking, I'll go into another car or a wall. The garage tells me there's "nothing they can do to change the tickover" as it's all set by computer. Help?

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Fri 17 Jul 2015 13:32
Ford Focus - Ford Focus 1.6 - tickover too high? - hardway

Idle speed would help

supposed to be 725 +-50,

so max idle speed should be 775,

is yours higher?

And what you've been told is correct,

it's non adjustable,

BUT a faulty coolant temperature sensor can mean a much higher idle speed.

In lay terms it means "your choke is still on!"

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 18 Jul 2015 11:34
Ford Focus - Ford Focus 1.6 - tickover too high? - MarisaW

Idle speed is around 1000

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 18 Jul 2015 11:48
Ford Focus - Ford Focus 1.6 - tickover too high? - RT

That sounds like the higher idle speed when cold is staying set - as suggested, likely faulty temperature sensor - does the temperature gauge read normal as it often uses the same sensor.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 18 Jul 2015 13:26
Ford Focus - Ford Focus 1.6 - tickover too high? - Railroad.
Check for an inlet manifold vacuum leak, the most likely suspects being the vacuum pipes beneath the manifold. If there are any splits at all, no matter how small replace them.
Next check that the throttle butterfly valve closes right onto its stop, and that's it's clean. If you have access to a scantool use live data to make sure that the ECM reads the throttle potentiometer to be 0% when the throttle is closed. This is important.
If that is all correct remove the idle speed control valve and make sure it's clean and moves thoughout its entirety.
Then either use the scantool to remove fault codes, even if there are none stored. This will reset the long term fuel trim information, and reset the ECM to its default values.
Start the engine and take the car for a test drive. If everything is correct your problem should be cured.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 18 Jul 2015 15:21
Ford Focus - Ford Focus 1.6 - tickover too high? - elekie&a/c doctor

All of the above information is perfectly good for a Focus built before 2005.As yours is a 2009 model,the system is completely different and requires an alternative test procedure.

Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 18 Jul 2015 16:15
Ford Focus - Ford Focus 1.6 - tickover too high? - Railroad.
The possibility and detrimental effect of a vacuum leak still applies though, and would cause your symptoms if you had one.
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