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I have a 07 Focus 1.6 Ti-vct (petrol) I have recently changed the air filter to a K&N panel filter (straight swap with standard) and put some new plugs in. The car in general is better to drive now smoother faster and better economy however when I'm just driving along at a constant speed the engine feels like its stuttering, just for a split second. It feels like when you slow to stop but you still have a gear engaged and the engine jumps a little but its nowhere near as strong as that just a hint of it.
It is fine when accelerating and idling it seems ok when slowing down or just going down a hill with my feet off the pedals. Its just when maintaining a constant speed and its only occasional not constant.
When fitting the plugs one of them just kept spinning and never actually got tight I think I somehow managed to round the bolt head on it which is strange because as I said it didn't even get tight.
At the moment I am thinking it could either be that plug or possibly the injectors need cleaning out with some redex.
Anybody have any other ideas? Or any ideas on how to get the plug out easily?
Slight miss fire perhaps?
probably plugs. Gap? leads?
check they're OK.
Can't see the need for Redex at all.
K&N filter shouldn't do much other than let the engine breath easier and filter better than a paper one so its probably not that, unless its totally soaked in that red oil they use.
When fitting the plugs one of them just kept spinning and never actually got tight I think I somehow managed to round the bolt head on it which is strange because as I said it didn't even get tight.
There you go
You may need to get a Helicoil fitted now
Until you've sorted that, there's no point going any further.
When you have, a trip to the local tuners should clean up the engine running just fine
If you can't get that plug tight, it'll have low compression on that cyclinder.
I was worried that would be the case.
But why is it ok when accelerating then?
Ive just been able to have a quick look. It seems that the rubber bit in my spark plug socket came out with the plug and got trapped between the plug and the block meaning the plug wasn't seated properly and as the rubber bit was covering the hex on the plug my socket was spinning making me think the plug was bugg3red. I used a plug the next size up to go over the rubber bit and I managed to remove the plug.
Now refitted and it all seems ok and I have increased economy again!
Good stuff, don't you just love the easy fixes! They're rare!
Tell me about it. A couple of years with an XR3i taught me that. But it was a great car so I forgave it.