Throttle response

[suterp]

I bought a '13 Focus SE 5 speed a couple of weeks ago. Really enjoying the handling, the awesome manual transmission, and the smooth revving engine, but I've noticed the throttle response is pretty poor. I have an '08 scion xD with only 128hp that feels a lot quicker off the line due to the throttle response and possibly the gearing, not sure. The Focus pulls harder once you get going and feels decently strong in 2nd-5th gear but weak in 1st gear. Has anyone else noticed this? What it my best bet for improving throttle response? Intake or exhaust or wait for an ECU remap?

[GN Prime]

u have drive-by-wire i believe. my '11 is the same way:( i have a fswerks cai and stealth exhaust. both made a major improvement on acceleration. but the ecu has to be reconfigured to get past the throttle lag. with mine i can actually squeal tires if i'm going 5 mph then punch it:) i'm sure someone will chime in with more useful info!

[Villan515]

Posted via FF Mobile sounds like u need an update done I had my updated by ford and it's alot better now stock I can get a 3 gear scratch

[dyn085]

I found that the easiest way to improve throttle response was to install a K&N drop-in filter. Any hesitation that I had immediately disappeared, and I had a couple of friends try it in their Foci when they had similar complaints. You won't have any hp increase, but the throttle becomes much more crisp.

[suterp]

Originally Posted by GN Prime

with mine i can actually squeal tires if i'm going 5 mph then punch it:)

That would be great. When I punch mine, not much happens.

[suterp]

Originally Posted by Villan515

Posted via FF Mobile sounds like u need an update done I had my updated by ford and it's alot better now stock I can get a 3 gear scratch

What do you mean an update? Do they come out with updates every once in a while or did you ask them to take care of a specific issue? Thought mine being brand new would have the latest updates?

[suterp]

Dyn085, thanks for the tip, the K&N drop in sounds worth a try.

[dyn085]

Originally Posted by suterp

Dyn085, thanks for the tip, the K&N drop in sounds worth a try.

No problem, usually the best deal for it is on Amazon, upper $30's or low $40's

[Han.MK3]

Ask them for tsb 12-5-5 (I think it is) helps with throttle lag.


Sent from my PC36100 using FF Mobile

[suterp]

I did some searching and apparently the ecu update in tsb 12-5-5 is for build dates prior to march 2012. Mine was built in april.

I test drove 3 manual foci before I bought and they all seemed to have the slow throttle response. I'm starting to think it's just a case of the drive by wire being programmed for smoothness and fuel efficiency over performance which makes sense given 90% of the target market.

It sucks there is no tuning support to reflash the ECU. You would think with nearly a half million Foci being sold in the first half of '12 there would be enough demand for it.

Still plan to get the k&n drop in tho.