[timmykins]

So im trying to fine tune my focus, maybe you guys can help!
Some background info, so the cars been in my family since iy was two years old. My dad bought it for my mom when it was two years old and it had less than 20k miles. My mom passed last april and since than ive really been trying to fix it. It was driven hard over the years by her friends, and without proper maintence. Some but not proper,
It has 160k miles todat and drives good like it always has. Its always been properly tuned at least..
So far ive replaced, the valve cover and gasket, tuned it twice, new battery, just replaced a fuel pump and relay, rear motor mount, the filler neck on the gask tank, some tires and sway bars. Idle air control i think too,
My problem is when im driving a hear a knock like the sway bar knock by its only from the deiver front tires? I replaced the bars on the front both sides.truxxel said its some kind of bushing ?
My 2nd concern is it sounds kinda rough when its warming up but idles fine.
My 3rd and biggest concern is when i acceralate its kinda hestitate and if im not being soft on the gas pedal it wont shift, if i wanna go fast and im pressing on it not flooring it, it wont shift at all will rev 4000+ untill i completly let off the gas pedal and than it will shift.
Its done this since april so its been going on for awhile..

 

[timmykins]

Could it not wanting to shift at medium range rpms a solinode ?
At high rpms, the gear wont shift at all itll just stick.

What higher mileage maintence is there i can do? 160K miles. Just got it running after it being down for a month (replaced the fuel pump, filter, and finnally found it too be the relay..)

I have anothrr car which is my daily driver 130k miles, 94 ford escort lx. Hatch, which i love but i love my focus more becuz it was my moms but its broke and left me on tge side of the road twice and put way too much cash into it...

 

[timmykins]

Bumppp.. anybodyy ?

 

[02fordsvt]

1) Sounds like your lower control arms in the front might be shot which, considering it's age and mileage, is about on time.

2) I don't know but my guess is as long as it idles the rest of the time, and doesn't stall out, it's just normal running.

3) This could be a hard one to track down and all I can tell you is what I had to do on my SVT when it had a similar issue. I had a few issues starting with replacing the fuel filter, a new PCV valve, and two vacuum leaks. The main culprits were the vacuum leaks but a new fuel filter and PCV valve never hurts. You can also try cleaning you EGR valve and MAF sensor which can cause issues as well.

That's ignoring the possibility that it could be transmission issues which I'll have to leave to someone else with more experience.

 

[timmykins]

ive replaced the fuel filter so far, the pcv foam filter in the airbox(not an OEM filter) one from autzone, but i havent checked for vaccum leaks. can i clean an EGR and MAF sensor with carb cleaner or throttle body cleaner?

 

[sailor]

Careful what you use to clean a MAF sensor, best to stick with a product specifically for that purpose.

 

[timmykins]

what about an EGR?

 

[02fordsvt]

Carburetor cleaner should be fine.

 

[Leora83]

You said you replaced "bars" up front, but I'm not sure what you mean. Control arms? Tie rods?
My first guess would be stabilizer links knocking in front. You'll notice it when cornering but not on straights. Park it with the left tire turned in, and you'll be able to grab the link and shake it...if it feels loose, that's your culprit. Replace both sides.

Cleaning the MAF is definitely worthwhile. It's easy and cheap and doesn't hurt anything.

 

[timmykins]

You said you replaced "bars" up front, but I'm not sure what you mean. Control arms? Tie rods?
My first guess would be stabilizer links knocking in front. You'll notice it when cornering but not on straights. Park it with the left tire turned in, and you'll be able to grab the link and shake it...if it feels loose, that's your culprit. Replace both sides.

Cleaning the MAF is definitely worthwhile. It's easy and cheap and doesn't hurt anything.

i replaced the sway bar links is what my mechanic told me,

 

[Leora83]

Ah, same thing, different name.

Is the knock up high? Then check the strut mount bearing. They make a knocking type noise when they start to seize and the coil shifts on turns.

Down low? Then look at ball joints and tie rod ends. Jack up the car and see if you can rock the wheel side-to-side horizontally (put your hands at 9 and 3 o'clock and push alternately). If there's play there, then your tie rods are worn.

Then put your hands at 12 and 6 o'clock and see if you can rock the wheel vertically. If yes, then your ball joints are worn. Your Focus has control arms with rivetted ball joints, so you can either drill out the ones you have and use a replaceable joint (lile Moog) or just replace the whole control arm with the ball joint already in it.

I would hope that your mechanic would already have done this, if he was replacing the sway bar links anyway, but I know now not to assume.