Minnesota Focus Owners Club

ok my 03 svt does not start at all when its cold like it is today. i have a brand new battery and the car turns over fine it just wont start at all. i tried stp's gas line anti freeze to evaporate water and it would not start this morning. so is there anything else i can do to make her start and the sub zero mornings short of a block heater? anyone else with svtf's have this problem? is it from the high compression? if the block heater is the only option i have left what one have people on her had good expirences with? thanks in advance

Mine starts every time, even after sitting out all day today it fired right up.

What plugs are you running, how old are your coil and wires?

Two winters ago I parked mine at the February Cub Scouts campout from Friday evening to Sunday morning on the coldest weekend of the year (never got above -10) and it fired right up Sunday morning.

Are you running a custom tune?

just got new wires and plugs about a month and a half ago. not sure what kind the plugs are. the coil pack is the sd coil pack. what plugs are the best for cold weather? do you think a block heater would even help or are you thinking something else is the problem. o and no custom tune either.

I run stock plugs, if you've got something else in there I think you should swap them out.

A block heater will help but it's not something you have to have. I've also got a custom tune which is an improvement in pretty much every weather condition.

i dont have the money for a tune. what do a set of stock plugs cost for it?

They're about $7.50 each, I'd have to check tomorrow to be positive.

lol... my car doesn't start either, but my battery is 9 years old... I think I'll get a new one as soon as it gets above zero

i got a new battery like a week ago. the car turns over fine. ive used a water remover for the gas lines and my cousin is pretty sure he put motor craft spark plugs in it i will check on thursday but he says motor craft is what ford uses. he is gonna call and see about a block heater tomorrow. I just want it to start. o ya i also put 5w 30 motor oil in it and no luck

give the gas tank a thump while cranking... my guess is the fuel pump is taking a dump. i went out yesterday after my car ( svt engine from a rolled car) sat for 2 weeks canked 2 times and fired to life, ticked a little till the purp got up to temp but i have never had a starting issue in the cold....hell even my dodge fired after 1/2 rotation... gotta love the nippon mini starter

it has no issues starting or running even when i rip on it when its like 5 degrees out just when it starts getting colder than that. by the way how do i thump my gas tank while im trying to start it?

do you have friends? for me i just use my zin mechanic ninja skills to elongate my arms. J/K get a friend to help or turn key to key on engine off and thump tank with open hand then crank.

ya i have friends but they arent usually around when im going to work it seems like thats when it happens most. But if it happens any other time i just drive my dads truck around.

Any codes present?
Any other oddities you've noticed? (erratic idle maybe)

I'm thinking MAFS/TPS/IACM, just like 90% of the other cars.

ok there are no codes thrown at all. im not sure what MAFS/TPS/IACM means at all. my dad got it to start today he said he had to sit there and pump the gas for like five minutes and then hold it in and crank that bitch over and it would kinda start but not stay going once he let the key off. so he kept turning it and then once it started to kinda sputter/ start a lil he let of the gas just a bit and got it to fire. he said it seems like it isnt choking. i dont know alot about cars and i dont even know if newer cars like this have a choke. any input would be greatly appreciated.

I'd pull the plugs and see if they're fouled black from fuel or if they're clean and dry indicating a possible lean condition or lack of fuel.

Honestly, if you can't get it running at all you may be better off taking it in somewhere. I'm not sure if there are any members in the Chaska area to look at it with you.