Focus Failure 2001

Hi Armando, based on the codes you're getting, it's most likely that the injector for cylinder 3 has a leak, meaning it's dripping when closed. To check this, you should remove it and have it tested. If you can't mount it on an injector test bench, remove the injectors, mark their original positions (which cylinder they're in), and swap them (for example, injector 2 for cylinder 3). Then rescan the engine. If the code P0302 changes, then the injector is causing the problem. Note: Ideally, you should also check the engine compression to rule out any mechanical issues that might be present alongside a fuel system failure.

Hey.
A while back, I had a really weird problem where the car would lose power when accelerating, and
the timing felt retarded. It turned out to be the crankshaft damper pulley; the keyway was worn, and since the crankshaft position sensor is located on the damper, it was retarding the ignition timing.
This happened in a Ford Focus.
Maybe that's the issue.
The injector could also be the problem. But sometimes there are several causes, and we're only looking for one.

Good luck.

The car I'm fixing is a Ford Contour automatic, and the scanner is showing codes 0303 (poor combustion in cylinder 3) and 0171 (system too lean in bank 1). I've already replaced the spark plug wires, spark plugs, coil, and fuel pump, but the problem persists. Do you think cleaning the injectors would be enough? It's doing the same thing as with the Focus; it loses power when accelerating, but it's also showing code 0708 (high input in the transmission range sensor circuit). Are these problems related or independent? I can't find that sensor; do you know where it is on the transmission?

Check that the lambda sensor is working properly. Test it with a multimeter (preferably an old needle type) on the sensor's signal wire. It should give at least 10 signal cycles in 30 seconds. If it's very slow, the sensor might be contaminated and sending a bad signal. It could also be that the injectors are dirty. Check the injection times at idle; see if they are normal or too high.

Thanks for the tip. I already checked the injectors and they're injecting the correct amount of fuel. Could it be related to the temperature or the oxygen sensors? The idler pulley was replaced a while ago. Could it be that the timing was set incorrectly, but it's an automatic?