Yesterday my girlfriend and I were out at a store and when we came back to her Focus and started it up, it was misfiring.  It did this the whole way home and it seemed like there was a big loss in power.  It had a half a tank of gas; I filled it up on the way home... didn't help.  A mile into our drive home the check engine light had come on.  I took it to a parts store to use there OBD II tool and it said that cyl 2 and 3 were missfiring. 

So far I have checked the plugs, which are about a year old, they look good, and I looked for any arcs from the plug wires in the dark and there was nothing.

After a google search I found a problem that pops up sometimes that has to do with the EGR (DPFE Sensor), but the suggested temporary fix does not seem to fix it.

What would cause the car to start missfiring so suddenly?  And in two cylinders?  I'm wondering if anyone has any ideas before we start sinking money into it because we have a very limited budget to work with

A friend of mine is a car genius, has a lot of experience with fords too. I'll ask him when I see him online. That's about the most help I can offer.

Cool, thanks a lot

BTW, its a 2000 with 90,000 miles and the engine is a 2.0 SPI

After finding that I couldn't measure resistance in the #2 plug wire I replaced the wires (spark plugs are only a year old and appear to be in good condition, so I didn't replace them).  For the most part it fixed the problem, but I think I still feel it misfire every great once in a while.  At least it's driveable now.

I wonder if there's still something wrong with the distributor or something??

Plug wires are a 60k service replacement.  she didn't have the 60k service done?  And there isn't a distributor...it's a coil pack ignition system much like a bike.

Has she had the fuel tank and fuel switch recall taken care of?

Not sure if she had the car at 60K miles or not, but they looked like original wires.  I'll have to check if the recalls were taken care of, but my guess is not while she's had the car.  I wasn't around when she got the it. 

Find out about the 60k service...all recalls should have been taken care of at that time.  You can get the information from just about any dealership with the VIN number.

If it is still misfiring see what coil pack the two cylinders go to, if they are different coils then it could be a seperate issue, if it is the same coil then that could be some of the trouble also

There's just one coil pack:

2000 zx3 132000 mi everything still org except 1 headlight bulb and one tail light bulb 

Joe

Have you checked the timing on it at all to see it that might be off?

I wasn't around much to catch my friend online yesterday, hopefully today I will.

Ok just talked to my friend and here's what he found out...heads up it's not good.

ISSUE:
Some vehicles equipped with the 2.0L SPI engine may exhibit a malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) illuminated and diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0300 through P0304 stored in memory. The vehicle may also have a rough idle or reduced power condition, and/or may stall at an idle. This may be caused by sticking exhaust valves due to excessive carbon build-up.

WARRANTY STATUS: Eligible Under Provisions Of New Vehicle Limited Warranty Coverage

If WDS Power Balance indicates a misfiring cylinder with the previous test, one  or more exhaust valves may be intermittently sticking due to carbon build-up  between the valve stem and guide. Replace the cylinder head with the new level  cylinder head with revised valve guides. Once stock is exhausted of the loaded  cylinder heads, the cylinder head will come bare so revised exhaust valves will  need to be installed in place of the original valves. The revised valve guides  and exhaust valves help prevent carbon build-up. Consult the appropriate model  year Workshop Manual for removal and installation procedures for the Cylinder  Head Assembly.

i.e. big money and no warranty

TSB
04-9-1    DRIVEABILITY - ROUGH IDLE, LOW POWER AND/OR STALL AT IDLE WITH DIAGNOSTIC  TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) P0300-P0304 STORED IN MEMORY - VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.0L  SPI ENGINE ONLY  ELECTRICAL - MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ILLUMINATED - DIAGNOSTIC  TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) P0300-P0304 STORED IN MEMORY - VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.0L  SPI ENGINE ONLY   

says replace head

Replace head? Uh no thanks...  Maybe it's time to tell her to start looking into financing options for that Evo she's always wanted

Quote from: manofthefield on June 19, 2006, 10:36:31 AM
Replace head? Uh no thanks...  Maybe it's time to tell her to start looking into financing options for that Evo she's always wanted

Or to start buying Japanese cars! 

I do, she would have prefered it, but I guess the Focus was to good a deal to pass up... or so she thought

I seriously doubt it's the head.  That's a very rare condition and it's not limited to the focus.

Also, just to point out, the only car I've managed to gain as much satisfaction as my Focus out of is my BMW.  The Focus is an astounding car...an anomoly.  It's not often you see a manufacturer get it right the first time, then start turning it into shaZam! (as opposed to introducing shaZam!, improving it slightly and returning it to shaZam! so gradually that no one notices until all they have is shaZam!).

Quote from: AlphaFire X5 on June 19, 2006, 11:06:30 AM

Quote from: manofthefield on June 19, 2006, 10:36:31 AM
Replace head? Uh no thanks...  Maybe it's time to tell her to start looking into financing options for that Evo she's always wanted

Or to start buying Japanese cars! 

heh they cost a damned fortune to repair, and on occasion they do need repair. but if you go asian, avoid korean somewhat, and/or check out subaru with the boxer layout you can get some ungodly amout of miles on them

yeah...be sure to check out subies...becasue transmission work should be part of your regular maintanance.

Cost of repairs is irrellevent...I've yet to see any proof that foreign cars are more expensive to repair than domestics or vice versa.

try finding a 70a alternator for an '00 frontier  quite a bit more than most domestics ive seen

I can get you a new one with a warranty for less than $150...which is the same price as one for an 00~03 Focus (Zetec), a little more than a sunfire/cavalier (ecotec), and a little less than one for a Neon (just about any model).