NHTSA Complaint #10071077 — 2001 FORD FOCUS

THE SAME AS EVEYONE ELSE. THE VEHICLE IS STALLING AT UNPREDICTABLE TIMES DUE TO FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM/FUEL PUMP. I AM A ASE CERTIFIED MECHANIC. I TALKED TO FORD, THEN I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER. THEY TOLD ME, AS THEY HAVE IN THE PAST IT'S A FUEL PUMP ISSUE. THEY WOULD HAVE TO CHARGE ME 75 BUCKS TO CHECK IT OUT (BECAUSE ACCORDING TO FORD, IT HAS TO BE DONE BY THEM REGARDLESS OF MY QUALIFICATIONS) THEN IF IT'S NOT HAVING THE PERFORMANCE PROBLEM AT THE TIME THEY WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO VERIFY IT'S THE FUEL PUMP. SINCE IT'S INTERMITTENT I CHOSE TO PULL THE TANK AND INVESTIGATE MY SELF. I AGREE "KINDA" THAT IT'S A FUEL PUMP ISSUE. THE REASON I SAY THIS IS BECAUSE I PULLED THE TANK TONIGHT, DISASSEMBLED THE PUMP/SENDING UNIT ASSEMBLY AND FOUND A LARGE AMOUNT OF SEDIMENT IN THE BASE AND AROUND THE SIDES OF THE BODY THE PUMP SITS IN. ADDITIONALLY THE SCREEN/SOCK ON THE INLET SIDE OF THE PUMP MOTOR WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY CLOGGED WITH THE STUFF,. THE TANK ITSELF HAD A LIGHT FILM OF THE BROWN STUFF WHICH EASILY IS WIPED WITH A CLEAN RAG. LOOKING AT THE GUNK, IT WOULD SEEM TO ME TO BE VERY BAD GAS, BUT WHY JUST THE FOCUS. I PUT THE SAME STUFF IN BOTH MY OTHER TWO VEHICLES AND NO PROBLEMS. I CAN'T ANALYZE THE STUFF TO DETERMINE WHAT IT IS FOR SURE BUT CAN ASSURE YOU IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE IT CAUSED ENOUGH CAVITATION FOR THE PUMP TO HEAT UP BURN OUT. I DID NOT SEE EVIDENCE OF ANY GASKETS OR ANYTHING ELSE INTERNAL ATTACHED TO THE TANK GOING BAD, BUT SINCE I USE THE SAME FUEL ELSE WERE W/O PROBLEMS IT ALMOST HAS TO BE A SITUATION LIKE A SEALS/SEALANT DETERIORATING AND PRODUCING THE NASTY STUFF. I PLAN ON SAVING $250 AND CLEAN IT ALL AND SEE IF THINGS IMPROVE. THE PUMP IS ONLY AVAILABLE FROM FORD (INTERESTING). FORD NEEDS TO DO SOMTHING ABOUT THIS BEFORE THEY ALLOW SOMONE TO GET KILLED OUT THERE ON THE HIWAY. I JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE USED A MONTH AGO FOR MY 15 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. I SHOULD HAVE DONE BETTER RESEARCH FIRST.