[bigal06]

hi guys im a long time lurker and just joined when I need help. Usually how it goes right?

Any how I have a 2003 focus SE sedan with the SPI motor. recently ive been having a sputtering and it would go dead sitting at idle or first start up but would never throw a code, it would even out after I hit the gas and got going down the road. I had the fuel filter replaced new 8mm motorcraft wires and motorcraft plugs installed and the fuel pump tested. it was fine for about 3 weeks now it came back even worse. Its so intermittent that its hard to diagnose. it finally threw 4 codes yesterday.

The codes are P0304, P0316, P1000, P1117. I think the P0304 and the P0316 caused the other two codes.

any how i have had no loss or gain in fuel mileage after the tune up and no loss or gain of power. I cleared the codes this morning and cranked up up and it idled smooth as a babys butt for 20 minutes. So im stumped any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[SPIinDisguise]

I don't know if the zetec is the same but it should be, anyway that guy had something with his IAC valve or similar to that.

I have an SPI too. Good or bad I don't know. Give these threads a shot.
http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=139789

http://www.focusfanatics.com/forum/showthread.php?t=256860

 

[bigal06]

thanks for the reply.

 

[SPIinDisguise]

Hope I could help, and Welcome!

 

[bigal06]

neither one of the issues seemed to fit with my symptoms. Mine does it in drive park reverse doesnt matter.

 

[bigal06]

Turns out is the dreaded valve seat dropping on cylinder number 4. Luckily I caught it before it dropped.

I'm at 164000miles and my valve seat was dropping and caused 2 collapsed lifters on cylinder number 4. Been having symptoms for over a month. Now my question is, is $1200 to replace the head and water pump a fair price to pay? I'm not doing the timing belt since I did that last summer

 

[sailor]

Doesn't sound off for a shop bill to replace all that.

 

[fastflyer]

So how did you find out you had a bad valve seat? Did you do a compression test and find it that way or what? I would think stuck lifters would make the car run badly and cause a lot of unusual noise.

 

[SPIinDisguise]

I don't think he knew he had one. He just did it just to be careful.

 

[sailor]

Dennyj1992 was the recent poster who did it as a preventative, bigal06 prob. did a compression test.

Once it gets REAL noisy you've got even more trouble.

 

[twiggss]

I hate to hijack but it's along the same subject of SPI valve dropping. My g/f has a 99 Escort with the SPI. I'm going on assumption but I assume someday this will happen to her car? :/

 

[sailor]

I'd heard it was less common with the Escorts, but it seems to happen to the 2.0 engines there as well:http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...-UuDalzEv-SmrhQ&bvm=bv.77648437,d.cWc&cad=rja

Haven't heard of one personally, but then I hadn't heard of the Focus issue before joining the forum. Seeing one in that link at 240,000, wonder how many even make that mileage.

 

[trooper T/diesel]

$1,200 is about right, i think flat rate on a gen1 focus head swap is something like 12 hours or so?? maybe a little less?
ad a water pump in there and that makes it better..

doing one my self i dished out $450 for a short block "as the valve seat dropping turned it to junk" and about $300 for a reman head + $100 for full gasket set.

so remove the short block and that leaves $400 that sounds about right for a shop to charge $1,200 or $75ish an hour or so. leaving out $400 for parts...

when i get around to the next one, ill use a "new, bare aftermarket casting" $216 + all 8 new valves $45 + gaskets $100 thats $361
ill use the cam, rockers, HYD lifters, and springs out of the old head.

being a new casting, thats bare no re-man parts on it. i dont have to send a core back...

 

[bigal06]

Well my job ended up being $1600 for head swap gaskets new head bolts radiator hoses new water pump new timing belt and a new serpentine belt. Plus oil change and new coolant.

 

[bigal06]

So how did you find out you had a bad valve seat? Did you do a compression test and find it that way or what? I would think stuck lifters would make the car run badly and cause a lot of unusual noise.

For the last month I'd been having misfires at idle and first start up. I did a tune up and it still happened. I finally got a code for misfire cylinder number four and a random misfire. So my mechanic started checking things out pulled the valve cover and I had one stuck rocker and 2 stuck/sticky lifters. Replaced those and still had symptoms. Then I told him about the notorious valve seat issue and he immediately figured it out. The new head and parts have been on for over a week now and absolutely no issues since.

Luckily the seat didn't fully drop I'd caught it just in the nic of time.

 

[trooper T/diesel]

nice to hear another one was saved from the canner.

your very lucky your short block did'ent get beat to a pulp.

 

[kidnomo]

Good thing you they caught it on time. Wish I had pay attention to the symptoms on mine.
Dropped the seat on # 2 cylinder split the piston and scorched the wall. A total loss.
Only 135,000 on it. I have a nice red body to get rid of as I am not spending any more money on it.
My advice guys is if you have this engine and plan to keep the car, by all means get the problem fixed.