Ford Focus 1.6 Engine Shaking

Not the best video I know, this is a problem I am having with my Focus - the whole engine block seems to excessively shake and it sends vibrations through the inside of the car when the engine is at normal warm temp and only when the car is idle, once you pull away and driving normally the problem disappears... until the car comes to a stop again. It never does this when the engine is cold and idles at 1200rpm after a cold start, it only starts once the engine has warmed up and the revs drop down to normal 800ish rpm. It is not so bad when non of the extras are turned on but for instance say if I have the air con turned on, it makes the engine shake even worse and the vibrations can be felt throughout the car and when the car is idle you can see the front seats vibrate too. In this recorded video I had the air con & headlights turned on so it uses more power and makes the engine shake at its worst. I have already had the driver's side engine mount replaced as I was told this was the problem, but the problem is still there and that engine mount still shakes just like the old one did! Totally baffled to what else could be causing the problem now.

Unfortunately as most of you may notice the engine doesn't look like it is shaking very much on this video but this is because it was took on my iPhone, but trust me if you see it for real you will see how much it really shakes! If you look at 1:08 you will see the connector next to the oil dipstick really shaking like a leaf. The places where I have zoomed the camera in is where the shaking is most noticeable - around the electric wires, the alternator, the engine mount, and the lower engine block. So yeah, basically it is near enough the whole engine shaking!

For anyone interested my Focus 1.6 Zetec with 114k on the clock. Apart from this annoying problem the car still runs brilliantly despite the mileage! I have also been informed that I may have a dodgy spark plug or HT lead which could be giving off tiny misfires when idle but I have never had the engine light appear on the dash though to indicate a misfire.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• ford
• focus
• 1.6
• zetec
• se
• engine
• shaking
• vibrating
• vibrations
• mount

[octaviantudor]

Hello! I have the same car, the same engine and... the same problem... I've changed the spark plugs but the vibration persists. I've checked all the vacuum hoses and they are all right. I've cleaned the idle control valve and the throttle body. Still no improvement... I went to a garage and OBD tested the car. Everything is ok. A mechanic checked the engine mounts and said they are all right. The exhaust system is ok.

Did you find out what's the reason for this vibration?

[LEK7686]

@octaviantudor Hi There, Yep I've still got the problem and so far I have had the visible engine mount replaced on the left hand side of the engine, new spark plugs & a new coil pack, fault code scan on the car returned no fault codes at all and I had the timing belt & tensioner replaced yesterday. I have been advised by a few people that it's more than likely the rear engine mount that is just visible underneath the car that needs replacing so I'm going to get this done next.

[octaviantudor]

A mechanic told me that the engine vibration itself is normal but I shouldn't feel it in the car. On the Romanian Ford Owners Club’s forum (I’m a club member) are discussions about this between people that had encountered the same problem. Some of them said that the rear engine mount's rubber, because of its exposed location under the car (subject to water, wind...), in time, hardens and does not its job anymore. In these cases there are not visible defects.

[LEK7686]

@octaviantudor Yep very minor engine vibration is normal, but from looking at a friend's petrol Focus engine bay - his engine does not shake as much as mine does. Yeah a couple of people off my local Ford Focus forum have told me that they had the same problem as me and they got their's fixed after having the rear mount replaced and as you said - it's down to the rubber deteriorating and causing excessive play. I have already got a genuine replacement from Ford so I am going to get it done soon.

[LEK7686]

I forgot to mention as well that I noticed that during heavy rainy / wet weather the vibration does not seem to be as bad in the car strangely (maybe because if it is the mount, it's wet and therefore helps temporarily cure the vibration until dry again?)

Also I am getting a new smart phone next week that has 720p HD video recording so I will be able to upload a new video that will hopefully will be better quality which will make the engine shaking more clear to view.

[MrPerkinsproductions]

its a valve seat probably droped in the motor what year is it and is it a ticking noise comingfrom the valve cover

[antman66100]

we had a Ford Focus 2000 Red and no pronblems at all.where i worked at the dealership.

Take the Focus to the Ford dealership.

[gamefan101]

if its ideling high along with the erratic shaking then its your EGR valve

[balaamester]

@LEK7686 Hi I have the same model as you ( 11.2001 facelift) 1.6 zetec se and the same problem. All part of the engine has been checked and OK. In the service the technician told me it can be recommended to update the software in the ECU. Here in Hungary it coasts not a hell of many (20-25 EUR) but I didn't have time yet to make this. I think it coming soon...

[zozuef]

engine mounts??? a common problem on foci..

[richard2590w]

oops, already said that.. octaviantudor - iv never hear of a harmonic balancer but the crankshaft pulley on my car has been changed as the rubber was prety much perished... but word of advice, make sure you get a garage who knows what theyre doing, i had mine changed and they must of let an apprentice tighten it up because when they started it the timing changed resulting in a piston having a valve stuck in it and the engine needing a rebuild. the crankshaft bolt must always be replaced with new

[richard2590w]

lek7686 are you on ffoc? i had a similar engine vibration, but when you rev a little it stops and you cant hear anyting, the cure for me was the airbox tapping on the strut, the bit where the front shocks go into and get bolted. i wedged a bit of foam between the metal and the airbox to stop it. it was quite loud in the car but iv not heard it since i put the foam there... believe me i thought it was the engine 2 but cleaned my ears and checked everything, urs myt be difrent but this myt work 4u

[octaviantudor]

Update: this engine does have a harmonic balancer. It is also called vibration dumper or accessory belt crankshaft pulley. From the center out, it consists of two pieces of metal and between them is a rubber layer. If this rubber in damaged, the harmonic balancer does not its job, especially at idle speed.

[richard2590w]

this could be similar to what my car used to do. where your airbox is located, one corner is right next to the suspension hitting on the metal... this is what caused mine to make quite a loud ish annoying tapping sound from inside the car. as you rev the car a bit the engine vibrates less or more whatever and doesnt make a noise... so i just stuffed a peice of foam inbetween the airbox and the metal to keep the box steady so it doesnt move about. mine only made a noise on idle as well. good luck

[octaviantudor]

I hope that telling you about the balancer will not bring another thing to think about... this balancer, if it exists on our cars, may be responsible for excessive engine vibrations. But we must see the difference between excessive engine shaking and vibrations transmitted to the chassis. The causes for these two symptoms may differ as well.

It seems that the mechanics are superficial in your country as well... can we find one to precisely diagnose a problem? We have to dig out to find answers.