Engine dies when slowing down - The Ford Focus Forum

**silverbullet02** · 10-17-2009, 07:38 PM

Mid way through this summer I blew the head gasket on my 02 SVTF. I sent it to the shop, and had the head gasket replaced... along with all of the other stuff that goes along with the repair. I also replaced the O2 sensors while it was all torn down. Now when I decelerate the engine will occasionally die on me. Im starting to think that it could be the TPS. Also, the car starts really hard. I have to crank it over for several seconds and feather the gas pedal and eventually it will start up. Any ideas?

**Liquid_02_ZX3** · 10-17-2009, 07:48 PM

Has this been happening right after you got it back?

**silverbullet02** · 10-17-2009, 08:16 PM

Yea...

**G-forces** · 10-17-2009, 08:30 PM

Have you checked for air leaks?

**kevodean** · 10-20-2009, 10:05 PM

my honda did this, it was my timing...i ****ed up and set it one tooth off and it never wanted to start, id pump the gas to start it...also, when i came to a stop id have to rev the engine to keep it alive or else itll drop so low it shut off, your problem sounds quite similar

bring it to the shop and tell them you think they set your timing wrong bc its having problems starting and it dies out sometimes

**kevodean** · 10-20-2009, 10:09 PM

please take my advice when i say, get a haines manual and do all car work yourself...about 2 years ago i had a accord sedan and the shop did a ship job and my alt fell out and alot of the bolt werent tight, my distributor was loose....i bought a haines manual and bought a accord coupe for 300$ with a blow head gasket and tried my skillz and i did a damn good job, i got offered 1500$ not even a week after the head gasket was done...BY ME! for under 300$, shop charged me 1200$ 2 years ago

**silverbullet02** · 10-21-2009, 05:18 PM

I thought it might be the timing as well... I don't know. I'm going to take it to the shop this Friday, and he said he is going to run diagnostics on it. I pretty much told him he did a half-assed job. I did all of the tearing down, I just didn't have the time to finish the assembly so I sent it into the shop. In my opinion, if the car isnt running right you probably shouldn't give the car back to the customer. I already told him I'm not paying him for labor because it should have been right the first time.

**Lancer211** · 10-21-2009, 09:04 PM

Check for vacuum leaks.

**ovalfocus** · 10-25-2009, 05:40 AM

It's possible that the IAC is just bad or not plugged in .
Things break ....

**calvin1234** · 10-25-2009, 06:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lancer211

check for vacuum leaks.

x2..

**Funktacular** · 10-25-2009, 06:54 PM

Check the vaccume line with the 90 degree bend running into the back of the intake manifold. See if right at the bend the hose is very soft and collapsing under vaccume. Common problom. Other likely culprit is the IAC valve. I just took mine out and cleaned it around 80k...no problems since.

*edit*

Just realized it was an svt, so the lines will be different. However, both are still very likely causes.

**Jason86** · 10-28-2009, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by calvin1234

x2..

x3. Happened to me before. Id be downshifting, and while the clutch was in and the tranny in neutral it would die on me... Found a faulty hose, replaced it and never had a prob since...

10-17-2009, 07:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
silverbullet02 Newbie Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 3	Engine dies when slowing down Mid way through this summer I blew the head gasket on my 02 SVTF. I sent it to the shop, and had the head gasket replaced... along with all of the other stuff that goes along with the repair. I also replaced the O2 sensors while it was all torn down. Now when I decelerate the engine will occasionally die on me. Im starting to think that it could be the TPS. Also, the car starts really hard. I have to crank it over for several seconds and feather the gas pedal and eventually it will start up. Any ideas?

10-17-2009, 07:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
Liquid_02_ZX3 Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Fort Wayne, IN Posts: 1,450	Re: Engine dies when slowing down Has this been happening right after you got it back? __________________ '02 Liquid ZX3 Power Premium MTX It has a few mods, lol

10-17-2009, 08:16 PM	#3 (permalink)
silverbullet02 Newbie Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 3	Re: Engine dies when slowing down Yea...

10-17-2009, 08:30 PM	#4 (permalink)
G-forces Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Madison, WI Posts: 2,029	Re: Engine dies when slowing down Have you checked for air leaks? __________________ Stockholm Getaway: Escort Cosworth vs Supra... on YouTube. Don't try this at home. (For some reason I thought this was a Focus the first time I saw it... now I have to find a new Signature.)

10-20-2009, 10:05 PM	#5 (permalink)
kevodean Newbie Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 2	Re: Engine dies when slowing down my honda did this, it was my timing...i ****ed up and set it one tooth off and it never wanted to start, id pump the gas to start it...also, when i came to a stop id have to rev the engine to keep it alive or else itll drop so low it shut off, your problem sounds quite similar bring it to the shop and tell them you think they set your timing wrong bc its having problems starting and it dies out sometimes

10-20-2009, 10:09 PM	#6 (permalink)
kevodean Newbie Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 2	Re: Engine dies when slowing down please take my advice when i say, get a haines manual and do all car work yourself...about 2 years ago i had a accord sedan and the shop did a ship job and my alt fell out and alot of the bolt werent tight, my distributor was loose....i bought a haines manual and bought a accord coupe for 300$ with a blow head gasket and tried my skillz and i did a damn good job, i got offered 1500$ not even a week after the head gasket was done...BY ME! for under 300$, shop charged me 1200$ 2 years ago

10-21-2009, 05:18 PM	#7 (permalink)
silverbullet02 Newbie Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 3	Re: Engine dies when slowing down I thought it might be the timing as well... I don't know. I'm going to take it to the shop this Friday, and he said he is going to run diagnostics on it. I pretty much told him he did a half-assed job. I did all of the tearing down, I just didn't have the time to finish the assembly so I sent it into the shop. In my opinion, if the car isnt running right you probably shouldn't give the car back to the customer. I already told him I'm not paying him for labor because it should have been right the first time.

10-21-2009, 09:04 PM	#8 (permalink)
Lancer211 Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 2,347	Re: Engine dies when slowing down Check for vacuum leaks. __________________ For sale: Eibach Pro-Kit springs, sedan taillight, lower grille, DPFE, EVR, MAFS, side markers, trunk handle, fuel door, gas pedal, headlight switch, AC/vent/defrost button, hazard switch, ashtray, silver console bezel, HVAC controls, gauge w/ tach. 2004 infrared Focus SE Zetec ATX sedan "Ruby" CarDomain Page

10-25-2009, 05:40 AM	#9 (permalink)
ovalfocus Rookie Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Ontario Canada Posts: 19	Re: Engine dies when slowing down It's possible that the IAC is just bad or not plugged in . Things break .... __________________ 2001 Focus ZX3 Mini Stock

10-25-2009, 06:54 PM	#11 (permalink)
Funktacular TEAM Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Jacksonville, NC Posts: 237	Re: Engine dies when slowing down Check the vaccume line with the 90 degree bend running into the back of the intake manifold. See if right at the bend the hose is very soft and collapsing under vaccume. Common problom. Other likely culprit is the IAC valve. I just took mine out and cleaned it around 80k...no problems since. edit Just realized it was an svt, so the lines will be different. However, both are still very likely causes. __________________ 01 ZX3. Ported TB, SVT header into RT cat to 2 1/4" OBX, VF Eng. top mounts, CFM lower mount, AEM CAI, CFM STS, Massive/FS strut bars, Massive UDP's, MSD coild w/Massive msx 80's, Centerforce Clutch, FS XCAL2, Comp Stg 3's not dialed in correctly cause I fail at basic math i guess?

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