2000 FORD FOCUS Fuel System Gasolinedelivery Problems

STALLING ON MY FORD FOCUS 2000 ONE DAY I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN MY CAR STARTED TO STALL I ALMOST HAD A ACCIDENT BECAUSE MY CAR WOULD NOT SPEED UP. *TR

I DROVE A 2000 FOCUS ZX3 FOR 3 YEARS WITHOUT A SINGLE PROBLEM. ON MARCH 2007 (90000 MILES) THE CAR STALLED AND DIED COMPLETELY IN THE MIDDLE OF A CALIFORNIA FREEWAY. AFTER 5 MIN I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR AND DRIVE TO MY MECHANIC (NOT A FORD DEALER). COMPUTER ANALYSIS SHOWED A FAULTY MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. HE REPLACED IT ($450). TWO DAYS LATER, THE CAR STALLED AGAIN IN A RESIDENTIAL AREA (20 MPH AND FULL TANK OF GAS). THE CAR RESTARTED AND I DROVE BACK TO SAME MECHANIC. HE DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND SUGGESTED I SHOULD DRIVE TO A FORD DEALER. THEY REPLACED THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE AT NO COST BECAUSE OF FORD RECALL #03N01. AFTER THAT THE CAR STALLED (AND DIED) AGAIN WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT (5 MPH AND FULL TANK). FORD TECHNICIANS DROVE THE CAR FOR 150 MILES WHILE HOOKED UP...

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL # 03V482000, FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM: GASOLINE DUE TO THE VIN, WHEN THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, ALTHOUGH THE VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 55 MPH, THE ENGINE HESITATED WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS DEPRESSED, MAKING A CHUGGING OR COUGHING SOUND BEFORE THE ENGINE REACTED AND ACCELERATED.

I WAS DRIVING AT 65 MPH, WHILE THE ENGINE OF MY CAR STARTED LOOSING POWER AND RPMS. I IMMEDIATELY SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I TRIED TO RESTART THE CAR, BUT IT WAS RUNNING PRETTY BAD, ALMOST AS IF NOT ENOUGH FUEL WAS GOING TO THE ENGINE. I SHUT THE ENGINE OFF FOR 5 MINUTES. I RESTARTED AGAIN AND IT WORKED OK FOR ANOTHER 10 MINUTES, WHEN THE PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THIS IS HAPPENING, USUALLY IT HAPPENS WHEN IT'S A WARM (NOT HOT) DAY, AND WITH HALF TANK OR LESS. HOWEVER THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE, SO IT HAPPENS REGARDLESS OF THE FUEL LEVEL. THE FUEL PUMP SEEMS TO OVERHEAT. *NM

FORD ISSUED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN, CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V482000, IN NOVEMBER 2003, WHICH STATED THAT CONTAMINATION OF THE FILTER IN THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE WOULD EVENTUALLY LEAD TO BLOCKAGE OF THE SYSTEM. THE REPLACED THE FDM IN MY CAR IN 2004 BECAUSE MY CAR WAS EXPERIENCING ALL THE SYMPTOMS OF THE ADVISORY. HOWEVER, 2 YEARS LATER, I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS BECAUSE THE FIX DID NOT WORK. THE FILTER ONCE AGAIN BECAME CONTAMINATED AND THE FUEL PUMP ONCE AGAIN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I SPOKE TO A CUSTOMER SERVICE REP AT FORD AND ALTHOUGH HE WAS VERY UNDERSTANDING, THE FACT IS THE ADVISORY WAS NOT A RECALL AND THEY TOOK CARE OF THE FDM. I AM NOT SURE WHAT ELSE CAN BE DONE AT THIS POINT BECAUSE, THIS FIRST RECURRENCE HAPPENED WHILE TRYING TO MERGE ONTO 60+ MPH TRAFFIC AND MY CARE REFUSED TO ACCELERATE BEYOND 30 MPH. IF...

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS AN NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 03V482000 CONCERNING THE FILTER IN THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE (FDM). THIS VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED.*AK

DID A RIGHT TURN TO GET ON THE FREEWAY AND LOST MOST POWER. HOBBLED ALONG THE SHOULDER AT 20 MPH FOR 1/2 A MILE, THEN IT STALLED. WAITED 1 MINUTE, RESTARTED AND THEN IT RAN FINE. NO CHECK-ENGINE NOR OTHER LIGHTS CAME ON UNTIL IT STALLED. OCCURED AFTER DRIVING 3 MILES IN JULY (PARITALLY WARM) WITH ABOUT 2 GALLONS OF GAS. DROVE TO KEMP FORD AND ASKED SERVICE DEPT ABOUT ANY RECALLS. SEEMED TO HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS. SUGGESTED POSSBLE FUEL PUMP PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS LOST POWER THREE TIMES PREVIOUSLY AT THE SAME LOCATION FOR ABOUT 3-5 SECONDS, AND THEN RECOVERED.

MY HUSBAND AND I WAS A TRIP TO PAINTSVILLE, KY, APPROXIMATELY 80 MILES AWAY FROM HOME. THE CAR BEGAN TO SPIT AND SPUTTER AND PROGRESSIVELY GREW WORST THE FARTHER WE DROVE. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WAS STALLING. WE WERE STRANDED IN PAINTSVILLE, KY FOR SEVERAL HOURS.*AK

WASHED CAR AT LOCAL CAR WASH, AND CAR RAN FINE. GOT HOME TO DO FINISHING TOUCHES AND KEPT CAR RUNNING. LOW ON FUEL, A LITTLE UNDER THE 1/4 LINE, BUT RAN FINE. WENT BACK OUT ABOUT FOUR HOURS LATER TO GO GROCERY SHOPPING, AND CAR WOULD NOT START. ALL THE LIGHTS AND DINGING WOULD COME ON, BUT THE ENGINE WOULDN'T TURN OVER. FOR 2 DAYS MY CAR SAT IN THE PARKING LOT NOT STARTING. I WOULD GO OUT IN THE MORNING TO TRY AND START IT, AND IT WOULD ALMOST START, BUT WOULDN'T. I HAD AAA TOW MY CAR TO A REPAIR SHOP AND WHEN IT GOT THERE, THEY CALLED ME AND ASKED WHAT I WAS TRYING TO DO. THEY GOT THE CAR OFF THE TRUCK AND IT STARTED RIGHT UP. THEY ARE KEEPING MY CAR OVER NIGHT TO TRY AND START IT IN THE MORNING. I FEEL REALLY DUMB...

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 03V482000 CONCERNING FUEL DELIVERY MODULE: DEALER CLAIMED THAT THE CONSUMER NEEDED TO PAY A DIAGNOSTIC FEE BEFORE THE RECALL WORK WAS DONE. THE RECALL NOTICE CLEARLY STATED THAT THE FUEL FILTER WAS TO BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE IF THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING CERTAIN SYMPTOMS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH THE VEHICLE SPUTTERED AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FUEL TANK WAS HALF FULL. THE DRIVER PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY AND TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED THE FUEL DELIVERY MODULE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *NLM CONSUMER NOTED THIS FAILURE WOULD HAVE BEEN VERY UNSAFE HAD IT HAPPENED AROUND OTHER VEHICLES. *PH *NM

MY 2000 FORD FOCUS ENGINE SOMETIMES STALLS OR HESITATES DURING ACCELERATION WHEN MY FUEL TANK IS ABOUT ONE-QUARTER FULL. IT BEHAVES LIKE IT'S OUT OF GAS, BUT I KNOW IT'S NOT. IT HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN 20 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW. TO THE POINT WHERE I NEVER ALLOW MY TANK TO GET NEAR THE 1/4 FULL MARK. *LA

2000 FORD FOCUS SE/SW WITH AT AND AC STALLS AND OR DIES DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS AT HIGH OR LOW SPEEDS. ITS A REPEATING OCCURRENCE, AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR A SHORT WHILE AND THE ENGINE IS AT ITS NORMAL OPERATING TEMPERATURE. WHILE THE ABOVE INCIDENTS TAKE PLACE, THE CARS WARNING SYSTEMS DO NOT INDICATE ANY APPARENT FAILURE OR OVERHEATING.

FUEL GAUGE GIVING INCORRECT READINGS, CAR STALLING ON TIGHT CURVES SUCH AS ON-RAMPS TO PARKWAYS AND INTERSTATES. TOLD THE PROBLEM WAS THE FUEL PUMP. HAD IT REPLACED ON 7/11/03; WITHIN 48 HRS LINES DISCONNECTED FROM PUMP SPILLING FUEL EVERYWHERE. FORD RECONNECTED LINES WHICH HELD FOR 2 WEEKS THEN DISCONNECTED AGAIN. THIS TIME FORD REPLACED THE SECOND PUMP. NOW ITS THE COOLANT SYSTEM THAT IS FAILING, CAR OVERHEATS THEN STALLS. SO FAR NO ACCIDENT HAS OCCURED, BUT IT SEEMS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME.

LOSES POWER ON RIGHT HAND TURNS (ENTERING FREEWAY ESPECIALLY). STALLS WHILE DRIVING. BEGAN AT ABOUT 42000 MILES, WITH A QUARTER TANK OF GAS, SO ALWAYS KEPT THE TANK AT LEAST HALF FULL. THIS WEEK STALLING HAS OCCURRED WITH FULL TANK, TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP GOING UPHILL. AIR CONDITIONER. 95000 MI CURRENTLY. (AVERAGE 3-4K MILES/MO). *AK

FUEL DELIVERY PROBLEM, POSSIBLY VAPOR LOCK/FUEL PUMP RELATED (A COMMON $450-$600 REPAIR WAY TOO EARLY IN THE LIFE OF THE 2000 & 2001 FORD FOCUS ACCORDING TO ANECDOTAL E-MAIL EVIDENCE ON INTERNET CHAT SITES), BUT EQUALLY LIKELY TO BE RELATED TO EA02-022. 1ST SYMPTOM WAS LOSS OF POWER UPON SHIFTING INTO 2ND GEAR. SPEED THERE WAS ACCELERATION FROM 12 MPH UP INTO 2ND GEAR. THE CAR RECOVERED AFTER A NEAR STALL WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC APPROACHING. 2ND INCIDENT WAS THE NEXT DAY (TODAY) WHERE I WAS SHIFTING FROM AROUND 25 MPH INTO THIRD GEAR IN MORNING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AND WAS NEARLY REAR-ENDED BECAUSE THE VEHICLE STALLED. FORTUNATELY I WAS ALBE TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER, WHEREUPON THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE IN ANY GEAR/WAS COMPLETELY ASTHMATIC. AFTER TWO MINUTES IN PLACE THE VEHICLE RECOVERED AND I WAS ABLE TO PROCEED. THE MECHANIC WANTS TO REPLACE THE FUEL PUMP, FUEL...

THE VEHICLE LOST POWER/HESITATED AND SOMETIMES STALLED WHEN IN MOTION AND ALLOWED THE FUEL TANK TO DROP BELOW 1/4 FULL. (VEHICLE WILL NOT RUN) THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PROBLEM WAS THE FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM. *AK *SCC *JB

I HAVE A 2000 FORD FOCUS W/ 2.0 ZETEC ENGINE THAT STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS IN MAY OF 2002 WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE EXPRESSWAY. SYMPTOMS INCLUDED THE CAR LURCHING IN HIGHER RPMS (NECESSARY TO MAINTAIN SPEED) AND EVENTUALLY THE CAR WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN 55 MPH AND STALLED ON THE EXPRESSWAY. IT STARTED UP HALF AN HOUR LATER, AND I WAS ABLE TO LIMP HOME AT 50 MPH ON THE E-WAY. THAT PROBLEM DISAPPEARED AFTER A WEEK, AND SHOWED NO SIGNS OF COMING BACK UNTIL THE NEXT TIME I MADE A LONG CAR TRIP, WHEN IT DID THE SAME THING, BUT THANKFULLY DID NOT STALL. THE CAR CONTINUED TO DO THIS, AND FORD DEALERS NEVER DID FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR, ALTHOUGH ONE DEALER CHARGED ME $400 TO DRAIN AND CLEAN THE TANK BECAUSE OF DEBRIS IN THE TANK CAUSING THE CAR TO STALL ON RIGHT TURNS....

MY 2000 FORD FOCUS WITH 45,000 MILES ON IT HAD BEEN EXPERIENCING DRAMATIC HESITATION PROBLEMS AROUND HIGHWAY EXIT CURVES/CORNERS. THIS HAPPENED ABOUT 4 SEPARATE TIMES, WITH IT FINALLY JUST STALLING AND BREAKING DOWN THE LAST TIME. THANK GOD THE CARS BEHIND ME WERE NOT SPEEDING AND DIDN'T CRASH INTO MY REAR END. I WAS ABLE TO ROLL SAFELY A FEW FEET AWAY TO A SMALL SHOULDER AREA. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND WAITED A SECOND BEFORE STARTING IT AGAIN. IT STARTED RIGHT UP WITH NO PROBLEM. ALSO A FEW WEEKS EARLIER THE CAR WOULDN'T START ONE MORNING. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER, WHO SAID IT SIMPLY NEEDED TRANSMISSION FLUID, THEY ADDED IT AND IT STARTED UP. BUT IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS IS WHEN IT BEGAN HESITATING ON CURVES AND FEELING LIKE IT WAS GOING TO CUT OFF. BUT IT HAD HAPPENED ONCE PRIOR TO...

CAR STALLING DURING RIGHT HAND TURNS. *NLM

NO SUMMARY. DT

CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND NO WARNING THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. CAUSED CONSUMER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. TS ALSO NOTED VEHICLE SHUT OFF WHEN FUEL TANK AT 1/4 OR LOWER AND / OR WHEN A TURN WAS MADE. SENDER AND PUMP ASSEMBLY REPLACED. *TT

7/00- TAPE WAS STUCK IN STEREO, HAD TO REPLACE STEREO. 3/01- HAD TO REPLACE FRONT BRACK PADS AT 11000 MILES. 11/01- IGNITION LOCKED ON VEHICLE. HAD TO REPLACE IGNITION. 3/02- TRANSMISSION WAS NEUTRALIZING WHEN DRIVING. HAD TO REPLACE TRANSMISSION. 5/02- CAR WAS STALLING. FORD UNABLE TO DETECT PROBLEM. 9/02- CAR WAS NOT ACCELERATING AND STALLING SUDDENLY- HAD TO REPLACE FUEL PUMP. 9/02- HAD TO REPLACE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND BACK BRAKE SHOES AT 34000 MILES.

ON SEPTEMBER 3, 2002, AS CONSUMER WAS LEAVING WORK, HE SMELLED GASOLINE AND THE CAR HESITATED WHEN HE ACCELERATED. CONSUMER PULLED INTO A GAS STATION TO GET GAS SINCE THE GAS GAUGE READING WAS BETWEEN 3/8 AND 1/4 FULL. CONSUMER LOOKED UNDER THE CAR AND SAW SOME GAS LEAKING FROM THE CAR. CONSUMER THOUGHT MAYBE THE GAS AND THE SMELL WAS THE RESULT OF SOME SORT OF PRESSURE BUILDUP CAUSING AN OVERFLOW.) HOWEVER, AFTER HAVING THE CAR FILLED UP, HE THEN STARTED THE CAR AND WENT TO PULL AWAY. CONSUMER COULDNOT EVEN PULL AWAY FROM THE PUMP, WHEN HE STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL, GASOLINE WOULD POUR OUT UNDER THE CAR FROM THE GAS TANK. CONSUMER HAD THE CAR TOWED TO PACIFICO MARPLE FORD (BROOMALL, PA). THEY DETERMINED THAT THE LEAK PROBABLY WAS DUE TO THE TUBE ASSEMBLY BECOMING DISCONNECTED FROM THE FUEL PUMP. (THAT DIAGNONSIS WAS LATER CONFIRMED.) A...

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 75 MPH ON I5 WITH A FULL TANK, GAS PIPE LINE UNDERNEATH OF VEHICLE BROKE AND I WAS SPILLING GAS ON ALL VEHICLES BEHIND ME. ANOTHER MOTORIST SIGNALED TO ME AND I PULLED OVER TO FIND THAT GAS TANK WAS ALMOST EMPTY. TEMPERATURE ON THAT DAY WAS 115F. I WAS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. I WAS NOT ABLE TO SMELL THE GASOLINE. I AM A SMOKER BUT WAS NOT SMOKING AT THE TIME AND WAS ABOUT TO LIGHT A CIGARETTE WITH MY FLAME LIGHTER. THE PATROL OFFICER MADE ME OPEN THE TRUNK AND THE SMELL TOOK US ABACK. HE INSTRUCTED ME TO TURN OFF FLASHING LIGHTS AND ROLL DOWN WINDOWS WHICH I COULDN'T DO AS I DID NOT WANT TO TURN ON THE MOTOR AGAIN. CAR WAS TOWED TO ATHENS AUTO REPAIR IN REDDING. THE GAS PUMP HAD BEEN REPLACED RECENTLY BECAUSE THE NEEDLE TO REGISTER...

NO SUMMARY LISTED FO FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHEN THE GAS TANK IS UNDER 1/4 FULL, THE CAR STALLS CONSISTENTLY IN HARD RIGHT TURNS E.G. JUGHANDLES AND ENTRANCE RAMPS. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS, SINCE THESE TURNS ARE OFTEN ONTO HIGH SPEED HIGHWAYS AND INTERSTATES. REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO THE DEALER, WHO NOW WANTS TO FORCE ME TO BUY A NEW FUEL PUMP ON RECOMMENDATION FROM FORD. I HAVE INFORMED THE DEALER OF THE NTSA INVESTIGATION INTO CLOGGED FUEL LINES BEING THE REAL PROBLEM. PLEASE MAKE THIS A RECALL ASAP TO SAVE ME $400!

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

VEHICLE HAD A TENDENCY TO STALL WITH NO WARNING. OWNER HAD VEHICLE INSPECTED BY A FORD MECHANIC. THE RESPONSE WAS THAT FAILURE WAS DUE TO AN AIR POCKET OCCURRING IN FUEL LINE. THIS WAS A PROBABLE CAUSE, WITH FORD ISSUING A (TSB) FOR STALLING. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS.*AK

AS A FINAL GESTURE OF GOODWILL, OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP'S CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE OFFERED US A 24 HOUR PERIOD TO CONSIDER A $2,000 TRADE-IN CREDIT TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF A NEW FORD VEHICLE AT 0% FINANCING. THIS WOULD HAVE MORE THAN DOUBLED MY DAUGHTER'S MONTHLY CAR AND INSURANCE PAYMENTS. BECAUSE HER JOB WAS NOT YET A PERMANENT POSITION, SHE WAS NOT IN A POSITION TO TAKE A $4,000 LOSS AND DOUBLE HER MONTHLY PAYMENTS. ONCE THAT OFFER HAD EXPIRED WE WERE MET WITH STONY INDIFFERENCE BY OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP'S CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE. AFTER SEVERAL CONVERSATIONS WITH HIM WE CAME AWAY CONVINCED THAT FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE POLICIES ARE INTENTIONALLY DESIGNED WITH SEVERAL GOALS IN MIND: 1) TO OFFER ONE'S LOCAL DEALERSHIP AS THE ONLY PATH OF RECOURSE OTHER THAN A NATION-WIDE 1 (800) CUSTOMER SERVICE LINE; 2) TO STAUNCHLY REFUSE TO PROVIDE THE NAMES AND MAILING ADDRESSES OF FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES...

STILL IN MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY, BUT CONTINUES TO LEAK, NO FIX FOR IT. *AK

CAR DIES WHILE IN MOTION. HAD CAR IN SHOP ON NOV 8, 2001 FOR 1 AND 1/2 WEEKS. FUEL PUMP AND FUEL LINE WERE REPLACED. ON JANUARY 13, 2002 THE CAR DIED AGAIN WHILE TURNING ALMOST CAUSING A CRASH. *AK

FORDS DEALERSHIP ARE RUDE, WORKER BROKE OTHER PARTS ON YOUR CARS AND DON'T LET YOU KNOW. YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO TRUST THE SALEMAN , THE QUOTE YOU AGREED TO PAY WAS CHANGE ON THE WAY INTO THE FINANCIAL PERSON. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER FORD. THEY DO NOT STAND BEHIND THEIR CARS. I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS EXPERIENCE BEFORE. I CHANGED DEALSHIPS AND THE SAME BUSINESS. I DID FINE ONE NICE PERSON TONI. I HAVE A 2000 FORD FOCUS FOR ANYONE WHO WANT O BUY IT FOR THE BALANCE. *AK

FUEL LINE SEPARATING AT THE FUEL PUMP CONNECTION ON THE TOP OF GAS TANK CAUSING A SEVERE GAS LEAK ON THE GROUND NEAR THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

FUEL LINE CAME LOOSE, A CLIP RETAINER BROKE AND OUTPUT FUEL LINE DISCONNECTED, PUMPING FUEL ON HEAT SHIELD/CATALYTIC CONVERTER. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED OUT WHEN DAUGHTER WENT TO START VEHICLE , AND SHE NOTICED THAT GASOLINE WAS ALL ROUND AND UNDERNEATH VEHICLE ON THE GROUND. *AK THE DESIGN OF THE FUEL PUMP OUT PUT LINE WAS DEFECTIVE. WHEN THE FUEL LINE RETAINING CLIP BROKE, THE FUEL WAS SPRAYED ON TO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTOR. *YH