Ford Focus Won't Start but Has Power – What May Be Wrong?

For many years now, Ford Focus has maintained a lead in the family car segment. Many people worldwide prefer it because it offers a good range of engines and superb cornering ability. The 2023 model boasts an exceptional infotainment screen and an overall well-tuned ride. But today, we are here to talk about the Ford Focus's problem of not starting despite it having power.

No-start problems highlights

• Level of urgency:High
• Can you drive?Obviously, no
• DIY inspection:Possible but complicated
• DIY repair:Mostly,impossible
• Price for repair:$250 - $850
• Common Reasons:Fuel or air supply, compression, spark, electronics
• Ways to fix:Check each system that may cause no-start, check electronics

Ford Focus failure to start issue

Some Ford Focus drivers have had an issue with their cars failing to start. In the recent past, Ford recalled 1.5 million Ford Focus built between 2012 and 2018 because of a problem with the canister purge that can cause an engine stall. In some instances, the vehicle will even fail to start. There are numerous other reasons why your Ford Focus might fail to start, but rarely has any forced Ford to issue a recall.

If your Focus also tells you "Engine Fault Service Now:, you may read this article for clarifications.

Many reasons that make Ford Focus fail to start are general in nature and can affect any driver or vehicle. In this article, we will focus more on the reasons that tend to make Ford Focus malfunction in this area.

1) A faulty starter

The starter in your car is critical in the ignition process. Whenever the starter or the starter relay malfunctions, you will likely hear a single click when you turn the ignition key to the 'Start' position. The starter has several components, and failure of any one of them will lead to the whole system malfunctioning.

To solve this problem, try taping it to see whether it works. This is a simple first-aid measure, though. If you are in a tricky place where towing services are inaccessible or know your way around cars, you can jump-start your Ford Focus when the starter fails. In most instances, a faulty starter demands to be removed and repaired or replaced.

A starter can last as long as 300,000 miles. However, your starter can fail earlier because of the driver's habits, the car's age, the weather, and the engine's condition.

2) A faulty battery

A bad battery can make the starter make a clicking sound when you turn the ignition key. In our case, we are sure the vehicle has power, but the car won't start. You should start by checking the battery to confirm the power source is intact. In many cases, the culprit is corrosion of the battery terminals.

When you lift the plastic covers on the battery and find silvery-greenish or white deposits on the terminals, you can rest easy because this is a simple problem. If the terminals can rotate, then the problem is a loose connection. You should disconnect the battery terminals first and clean them.

Ensure the terminals are connected right to avoid damaging the car and the battery. Ensure the terminals are correctly secured because loose connections will destroy the terminals and cause a short circuit.

3) A faulty alternator

The battery is essential only at the initial stage of the ignition process. The running of the engine and operating the different car systems as you drive are made possible by the alternator. The alternator converts mechanical energy into electrical energy hence making it capable to power the radio, the headlights, AC, and other systems.

The alternator charges the battery as the engine runs, which makes the battery always have enough voltage for the next ignition time. Even though the car can stall because of a faulty alternator, more often than not, you get to know of this issue when the vehicle fails to start. This is because it won't manage to power the battery, which in turn fails to power the ignition process when called upon.

A faulty alternator can be repaired depending on the extent of the damage. If an alternator issue recurs, it is time to replace it with a new one.

4) A bad fuel pump

The fuel pump is located in the fuel tank of your car. It is mandated with moving fuel from the tank to the fuel lines onto the engine under pressure. When the fuel pump malfunctions, it is no longer possible to move pressurized fuel from the fuel tank to the engine. This problem means that your car will no longer start.

A malfunctioning fuel pump is a challenging thing to fix. You don't want to have fuel spillover or other issues that may arise from handling the gadget or the fuel tank inappropriately. The problem is best handled at the Ford dealership, where the pump will be replaced and all error codes related to the issue dealt with.

5) Fob key battery is dead

Of late, Ford Focus and many other vehicles aren't sold with the traditional mechanical ignition key. They come with a remote gadget-like key that is powered by a battery. The battery to be the fob key will not last forever but is expected to have a lifespan of about four years.

A dead battery to your fob key means you cannot operate your car remotely. The key's range will reduce and grow weaker by the day to the extent of not even unlocking the vehicle or starting the car. You must buy a new battery from the store to make the fob key active again.

There is no need to be stranded whenever the fob key battery dies. Use the small manual key inside the fob key to enter. Lift the armrest, and place the fob key with the dead battery on top of the car key drawing in the console. You will then be able to start your Ford Focus as usual.

6) A malfunctioning immobilizer

Your Ford Focus has an immobilizer, especially if it is a recent generation. This immobilizer guarantees that your car is safe and cannot be stolen or started by an unauthorized person. An immobilizer has two parts; a receiver found in the vehicle and a transponder located in the ignition key.

When you intend to start the car, the receiver sends a signal to the transponder with a specified request. If the car returns the correct predefined signal, the immobilizer will send a command to the ECU to start the engine. So, if the immobilizer is faulty, your car can't start.

When the immobilizer malfunctions, you should first reset it before you can think of replacing it. Here are the steps to follow;

• Start by unlocking the doors using the physical key.
• Insert the key and turn to the ON position. In the case of the fob key, press the start button twice.
• Turn the ignition to the OFF position. This should reset the immobilizer.
• If this doesn't work, consider towing your car to your nearest dealership

7) The gear is in 'park' mode

Your ignition system is designed to only work in a specified manner. You cannot remove the ignition key when the vehicle is in 'Drive' mode. This is to protect your and the vehicle. If, for some reason, you left the car in parking or reverse or drive mode when you last used the car; you cannot start it when it is in the same mode.

Your car, like every other, has a 'neutral safety switch,' which ensures that the car won't start unless it is in neutral or parking mode. Check whether the gear is in 'parking' mode if your Ford Focus doesn't start.

8) The fuel filter is clogged

Fuel pumps in service stations have been known to contain impurities and debris. This being the case, Ford has designed the Ford Focus to have a fuel filter that prevents contaminants from entering the engine. Replace the fuel filter in your Ford Focus at every service interval of 4,000 miles or as the manual advises.

Failure to replace a fuel filter can make it clogged, and no fuel can pass through to the engine. It is in this instance that starting the engine will become impossible. If your car doesn't start and is long overdue for service, ensure the fuel filter is replaced. Neglecting to service your Ford Focus can lead to engine stalling, which can be costly.

Conclusion

Ford Focus is a reliable car and is one of the most popular Ford models, especially in the USA. It delivers power and is an excellent pick if you have family needs in mind. Even though some drivers have reported that their cars won't start, this is not a widespread problem. The problem can be easily solved even with limited car knowledge. Ensure you take the car to a professional to properly diagnose the issue and have it dealt with once and for all.