Air con & Stalling

fiestaz · 04-12-2013, 05:03 PM

Hi Guys,

WT Fiesta zetec done nearly 40,000kms has developed an issue.

It appears that when driving with the A/C on, at low speeds. Or even going up my drive way where you need minimal throttle it will stall. BUT not straight away.

For example, and it only just happened now. I was going up my drive way, one wheel at a time up the gutter. Giving it about 800 rpm which has always been plenty to get up without stalling or pinging or just generally being a bad driver to it. Anyway i put the clutch in as i was going up the driveway revs went back to idle, then down to about 300 rpm or less, then back to idle, then back to about 500 rpm then stalled. All this while the clutch is in and i am stationary.

This has happened a number of times in various slow moving situations, such as heavy traffic. All with the AC on.

Im quite worried about this, i know its not my driving, for the last 40,000kms my driving has been exactly the same. Car has 6-7 months warranty left and i'd like to know what it could be. Already been to Ford and they think its fine. no codes logged.

Only thought ive had is a dirty throttle body? otherwise i always run 95-98 fuels and dont thrash it.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

**aussiblue** · 04-12-2013, 11:51 PM

There should be a sensor somewhere that tells the ECU the air con is on and adjusts/increases the revs accordingly; check for a loose wire on the TX valve.

ebv8 · 05-12-2013, 12:55 PM

i almost stalled mine everytime i took off on a hill with a/c on, i had to always give it more gas then without aircon on otherwise it would buck and almost stall
its just the a/c takes power from the engine to run and you feel it most just off idle.
just give it more gas or bounce the throttle a bit on take off
oh and 4 people with a/c on was a no go so i had to turn the a/c off when i stopped or going up hills.
mine was a dec 2012 WT manual but i sold it for something with a bit more power...a BA GT

fiestaz · 05-12-2013, 05:49 PM

Thanks for getting back to me guys,

@aussiblue im thinking a sensor or something, however i really dont know enough about the mechanics of cars. I have rung ford twice with no answer, left a message so will have to wait and see i spose.

@ebv8, ive only ever driven four cylinders, so i know the A/C takes a fair bit of power from the motor, but i think it is getting worse. I do usually give it more revs to get going. However after another stalling incident yesterday when plenty of revs were on board to get me going i dont think that is the issue. (nearly got rear ended from that one).

Thanks guys

fiestaz · 23-12-2013, 03:40 PM

Well its still doing it. Doesnt appear to be a lack of revs on my part. I was rolling up to a set of traffic lights. Knocked it into neutral, at about 40kmh, as i approached the lights to stop still in neutral it stalled. so im not really sure whats going on, and ford reckon they cant do anything unless i can show it to them. but its random.

Any ideas?

Pursya · 23-12-2013, 09:34 PM

Find somewhere safe to do some "testing".
Have a friend with you videoing your inputs and try to replicate the issue.
If you can catch it on tape then Ford may have more of an idea.

fiestaz · 09-01-2014, 01:39 PM

Well it is safe to say that the problem has been fixed. With absolutely no help what so ever from my local ford dealer.

The problem was getting worse as i mentioned, so i decided to get it serviced early. put some good oil and mentioned the stalling to the mechanic (not ford). His immediate thoughts were a dirty throttle body. Upon the service he found the air filter (due at 60,000kms according to the book, only done 38000kms) was absolutely filthy and as a result so was the throttle body. He replaced the filter, thoroughly cleaned the throttle body and what a difference that has made. You can actually feel and hear the car breatheing properly, and no more stalling.

My ford dealer insisted that for them to even look at the issue, i had to replicate it. Which is not possible for a intermittent fault. My new mechanic didn't even drive it or ask me to get it to do it, he just used his brain (not hard to do ford!!!).

So if anyone has any issues like this, doesn't even have to be a fiesta, this is probably your best bet as to why its stalling. I just recently heard a focus was doing exactly the same thing. Ford are deadset USELESS!