SPI Maintenance

shjeeper · 02-01-2013, 12:18 PM

I've got a 2002 Focus SE with the SPI motor.. It started stalling on me within the last couple weeks, and it looks like the Idle Air Control Valve is the culprit.

So, since I'm going to open the hood and actually do something, I'd like to run through a couple items and replace them now before I have any trouble in the future. A new head is on its way, but is there anything else that I should swap out? I don't care about power as much as I care about reliability. If I want speed I'll jump on the ZX-14. Thanks!

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Donnyd21 · 02-01-2013, 01:24 PM

Stalling is a indication of a failing valve seat, replace the head 1st

***zetecDon*** · 02-01-2013, 02:35 PM

Moved to "General Technical Chat".

esmith2039 · 02-01-2013, 04:48 PM

Having the same issue and hardly no responses. Going to run some test this weekend. Ours seems to be leaning out when it does so. You can hear it pinging you push the pedal. Not going to replace the head on ours.

calebstubstad · 02-02-2013, 01:39 AM

So, it's been like 25 below zero here, and when I start my car, every once in awhile if i'm not giving it gas it'll die. is this just the cold engine (no block heater or anything), or is it a problem I need to look further into

TheGlassMaker · 02-02-2013, 02:10 AM

I'm going to be honest coming from someone who did the more than regular maintenance. I started having issues with mine, I kept replacing things sometimes it would fix it other times it didn't make a difference. I didn't go as bad as stalling so it sounds as if your is worse off.

Start looking for a replacement head and quick. Mine started off with ruff idle then it would be fine, for weeks then start ruff idle again. then it would be fine, then it wouldn't start. Then it would be fine. it was up and down regardless of how many band-aids I could put on it. It really seamed like something simple and I was getting closer to fixing with each band-aid.

Truth be told my car was just giving me early warning signs to imploding. It went almost a month with no issues never once shut off ever. My wife was driving it, she pulled into a gas station to get a pop as she rolled up to the pump the car stalled. She cranked and cranked and cranked. she thought maybe it was doing it's not starting thing again. So she let it sit and tried again. Finally it cranked over followed by a loud bang/ grinding noise and it shut off again. It has never ran again.

Here is a quick video I made of my car when it was doing the ruff idle thing.

Click me for video.

I had everyone telling me it was fuel pump, fuel filter ect, ect. I replaced the Idle air control valve, crank position sensor, spark plugs, wires, coil. PCV valve. a few vacuum lines. No matter what I did the idle issue would return, and the issue with it not wanting to start would plague me at least once a week.

Take it from me start looking for a new head or a zetec parts car.

calebstubstad · 02-02-2013, 02:14 AM

I'm hoping my problem is just how dang cold it's been, considering that it never had a single issue this summer, except a kinda rough idle, but i dunno

shjeeper · 02-03-2013, 06:40 PM

Now you guys have me worried! I'm currently 2k miles from home and she wouldn't like the idea of hooking the battery up and driving the F250 around town for work..

So the head will definitely be replaced in two weeks, with a thorough cleaning of the manifolds and whatnot... Should I bother with anything else? If compression looks low I may consider some new pistons/rods.

As for a parts car, I drive a truck and trailer around the country, with room on the trailer for a car if I find one at a decent price. However, since this SPI is just an cheap mode of transportation, I don't plan on spending more for a parts car then it'd cost to just swap out the head and whatnot.. I'll keep my eyes open though :D

2003focusowner · 02-03-2013, 07:26 PM

My 2003 SPI has 214,000 and will be due for a timing belt in about 3 months. Car is in really good shape for the year....inside and out.......I am going to change the head at the same time.......I'm putting about 27k miles on it a year........I treat her kindly........hoping for another 100,000 miles outta her.......burns no oil....