Ford Ikon 1.6 ZXI Engine Stall Problem - need any expert comments?

[rkkoul]

My Previous post was about Sun glare issue with Ford Ikon Dashboard. Thanks for suggestions on that - though I haven't yet arrived at some working solution....A different problem with the car this time

My Ford Ikon 1.6 Zxi Petrol is 12000km run. While slowing down and shifting from 5th/4th/3rd gear to 2nd gear (of course with clutch fully depressed), the engine stalls sometimes. It happens very randomly. When the engine stalls, clutch is still fully depressed. Have got the spark plugs cleaned twice and petrol filter cleaned, didn't fix it. The issue doesn't happen while going up-slope, happens with AC On or off - doesn't matter; doesn't happen during shifting gears UP, happens only during shifting gear down. Service guy says battery is OK and battery can't cause this problem; I'm using Bharat Petroleum Normal (no SPEED) petrol from same petrol pump for last 6 years. Any suggestions? Change petrol? But wondering my other car Santro has no issues with same petrol. Garage guy says ECM needs to be checked for electrical issues. Or fuel injection pipes need to be checked for blockage. If nothing helps, ENGINE inspection is needed. Haven't consulted Ford Dealer, since in Bangalore, their service is nothing less than pathetic. - RK

[ajmat]

Sounds like your fuel mixture is too lean or breather pipes from inlet manifold are leaking or idle sensor valve faulty.

A Bosch car service centre may assist

From your avatar, I believe you occasionally get chased by a madman in a bellowing black Honda Vtec or a blue blinged swift who works in the same company. That madman is me - I believe we share a common friend whose first name is the same as yours

[Jaggu]

go with Ajmat's suggestion, looks like a vacuum leak or idle setting issue

[Psycho]

Originally Posted by rkkoul

The issue doesn't happen while going up-slope, happens with AC On or off - doesn't matter; doesn't happen during shifting gears UP, happens only during shifting gear down. Service guy says battery is OK and battery can't cause this problem;

looks like grounding problem of the tps/iat and the manifold, or tps needs cleaning.

[Psycho]

Originally Posted by Jaggu

looks like a vacuum leak or idle setting issue

Avaccum leak would immediately increase idle rpm.

[Jaggu]

i defer psych's, atleast i saw car shunt and switch off while fiddling around at ford shop

[rkkoul]

Update on Ford Ikon 1.6 Engine stall problem:

I got it fixed. This update may help somebody if he sees the same problem. After few visits to local garages I finally decided to contact Metro Ford, Bangalore. My friend recommended to email Metro Ford customer care. I did. Suprise, they actually responded by email and then on phone! No solution on phone, they asked me to visit their workshop next day. The reviews I read about Metro Ford were never good. So, I was cautious. I reached Metro Ford and asked for the guy whom I was supposed to get in touch with. This guy listened to my problem for 5 min. Next he sat in the driver seat and reached out for a plug just over clutch which he said was disconnected. He said it is a clutch sensor and it was disconnected. For a min, I thought this guy is crazy, because if the clutch sensor is disconnected, how was my car running all these days. And it was the 4th or 5th time I was showing it to the garage guy. Nobody else could find it out earlier? I had got spark plugs cleaned twice, fuel filter cleaned, vacuum leak checked. My next thing to do was to get ECM checked and this guy was telling me that clutch sensor was disconnected! Anyway, I had no option than to trust him. With a mixed and confused feeling, I left Metro Ford. That is the end of story. The issue hasn't happened again. Was it really so trivial a problem? I was ready to get ECM scanned and do anything Ford guy would have asked me to do, since it was very irrirating a problem and had to be fixed. Good job from Metro Ford! Interestingly the guy who fixed the issue was not a workshop engineer. He was the guy who attends to customers and makes the job card. More importantly, I didn't pay anything to Metro Ford - RK

[Jaggu]

great to hear car problem is solved, and if you have read my review of metro ford, they are tricky that all but ok guys, and the guy whom you spoke to should be an service advisor/engineer, usually they are the ones who take the car in

clutch sensor this i didnt knew off, might be something to do with the engine rpm thingie with clutch activation, guessin

still doesn matter as long as she is purring..

[danlalan]

great...you must have been ready to pay a high amount..but it feels real good when the problem gets solved without your hand reaching the pocket..

[sanju.sreekumar]

Searched a lot to get some topic like this. Thanks all..i have the same problem with my car and i will try that out tonight and see where it goes.

But one thing i have noticed is that this problem happens only when the engine is cold. Not on the way back home from office when the engine is quite heated up.

Any chance the problems can be same? or is it something different i should look in to?