My 2000 Ford Focus with Zetec engine and manual transmission sputters when accelerating between 1000-2000 rpm. No sputtering occurs below or above this rpm range. When the sputtering is occurring the speedometer needle jumps much higher even though the car's speed isn't changing that significantly. The check engine light is not illuminated and a code reader shows no DTCs present. What may be causing this?
It could be a spark plug, plug wire, or a coil. Sometimes thay break down intermittently. If it needs a tuneup, that would be the first thing to do.
I have the exact same car. My gauges and accessory lights and headlights started surging and moving erratically especially when my bright headlights were on. I assumed the alternator was failing so I replaced it and the battery at the same time. Within the first two miles after I did this my car started doing this exact thing. Under light acceleration 1000-2000 rpm and especially while lugging in a higher gear the car will act like it's missing and sputtering and the speedometer will spike erratically. It idles fine and runs good at higher rpms. I'm still looking for the fix myself but, i can tell you this the problem that your having and myself only started after replacing the alternator/battery. I've done a full tuneup (plugs,wires,air/fuel filter) within 10,000 miles. That rules them out. It just seems weird that this happened the same time I replaced the alternator and battery. I hope this helps lead you in the right direction on the fix. I will post the problem if I figure it out before you do!!
Did anyone ever figure this one out? I'm having the same problem with a 2003 ford focus ZX5 with manual transmission. My thoughts are that it could be:
1) Bad vehicle grounds
2) Bad vehicle speed sensor or related wiring
3) Maybe something alternator or coil-pack related, but probably 1 or 2.
It ended up being a cracked coil pack. Ignition pulses would leak from the crack in the coil to the vehicle grounds, where they would be picked up by the ground of the vehicle speed sensor.
This explains why the speedo would rev with the tach.
Fix was simply replacing the coil pack
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I replaced the spark plugs, then the plug wires, and finally the coil. The coil was arcing and loading down the electrical system. Problem solved - thanks.
I didn't see this comment before i posted a help in the solution category. So it was the coil pack that was causing this? Thanks
`984 Ford F150 V6 slowly accelerate up to speed it does fine but normal acceleration it spits and sputters. what could be the problem be?
I have a 2000 Ford Focus the check engine light is not on but stalls frequently
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