So I'll try and make this brief as possible. A couple weeks ago, my wife's 2005 Ford Focus SES (2.0L 4 cyl) had the Fuel Cap light come on. She checked the cap and it was fine, but the light remained on. I messed with it and it stayed on. So I discoed the battery for a few minutes to reset the ECU, problem solved...for a day or two. Light came back on while driving, did the same thing left it discoed for a couple hours. Two days later the Emissions light comes on while driving. So I read through the owners manual which is fairly vague and recommends that if the emissions light stays on for more than 2-3 tank fulls, have it serviced. So I was going to do this route as the car seemed to be running just fine. Right now I'm on tank #1.
So I get a call from my wife when she's leaving work that her car won't start. On the phone she said it didn't want to completely turn over. So I figured she may have left the lights on. I stop by work to grab a battery load tester, jump pack and jumper cables. Pop the hood, her Group 40R rated at 650 CCA is cranking 965 (replaced the battery in Feb '09). So I'm thinking starter, I have her try and start it and the starter seems fine catching the fly wheel fine but it kind of chugged a little and failed to start. Almost as if it was getting enough fuel (not a car expert). So I try and start it again and it starts fine (maybe a little chugging).
My wife tried to start it 3-4 times, I arrived 30-40 minutes later. Vehicle sat for maybe 8 hours.
Looking for any input anyone has.
the "gas cap" light is on, because either the gas cap(most likely) or the filler neck is bad. it's not sealing properly, allowing fuel vapors to leak into the atmosphere.
the computer system checks this by either applying a vacuum, or applying pressure into the fuel tank. it then monitors this pressure. any drop outside of specs, and it trips a code, and one of the lights.
some fords(contours) had a major problem with the filler neck wearing, right where the cap threads on.
when you disconnected the battery, you cleared the code, but only temporarily. OBD2 systems are much more efficient than the systems of old.
what happened, was when the monitors set, the system saw that there was still a problem, so it re-lit the light. this is also most likely why the CEL is on now.
when you have it checked, you're most likely going to find some sort of EVAP system code in it. there is a slight possibilit that this could cause the computer to have issues keeping the engine properly trimmed. it could also be that you have another issue in there. you need to get it checked out.
if you do, and they give you a code number, let me know, and i'll explain it to ya. if you're anywhere near south jersey, i'd be glad to help ya out. if ya want advice that might need more than typing in here, pm me, and i'll pm ya my cell.
good luck dude!
