HELP!!!! My car keeps dying

Asked by Ashley Jan 25, 2018 at 08:14 AM about the 2003 Ford Focus LX

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

So i didn't have a problem with my focus until this week. It has died on me 5
separate times. You can drive it for 30 mins and then it feels like the
transmission starts to slip and then it stalls out. The first three times this
happened my battery was completely dead after. I have a new battery and a
new alternator so now after it cuts off it will come back on. However i was told
I had a bad ground wire and so they replaced my terminal cables. The light
new to the hazard light will pop on and off. Pep boys told me it was my anti
theft kicking on and the car was saying it couldn't read my key. So i got a new
key. So here i am up to 400.00 in the last week in to this car. An the car still
won't stay running. They are trying to tell me I need a PCM because the
ground wire being bad for so long basically made mine die. Does this sound
right to anyone I mean a new PCM is like 600.00  this car also has 161,000
miles on it and i do not have another car or away to just go buy another car.

3 Answers

65,510

If vehicle is an automatic have them check the Torque Converter Clutch Solenoid.

1 people found this helpful.
475

U can get one on eBay for way way less https://m.ebay.com/sch/i.html? _from=R40&_trksid=p2056088.m570.l1313.TR2.TRC0.A0.H0.X2003+ford+fo cus+l.TRS0&_nkw=2003+ford+focus+lx+pcm Oh yea if you change your pcm I think you have to get a new programmed key (double check)

2 people found this helpful.
80

I had the same problem so I changed the fuel filter $15, fuel pump $60, fuel pump modulator $100, checked the ground wire for that cost free with a piece of sand paper to sand where wire connected to get a good ground connection, pcv valve $ 2, and hoses $20, throttle body $20 (from junkyard off a 2001 focus that had rear end damage), mass air flow sensor $60, both o2 sensors $70 a piece, cadallaic converter $390, and checked all vacuum hoses for leaks free, EGR valve $20, and somewhere in there I fixed the problem, I think and hope ?? Keeping my fingers crossed the check engine light don't come back on, and now the other day my passenger side CV axle broke loose cost me $90 for new one, now my car will run then die out and battery acting like it's dead, jump starts then dies from just sitting turned off, needs to be jump started again to start, new battery in it, now I'm leaning towards a new alternator $160 rebuilt 1 yr warranty .... FML !!!! Grrrr !!!! Time for the junkyard I'm thinking !!!

1 people found this helpful.

Your Answer:

Focus

Looking for a Used Focus in your area?

CarGurus has 487 nationwide Focus listings starting at $2,250.

Postal Code:

CarGurus Experts

  • #1
    Savoy_1800
    Reputation
    3,300
  • #2
    dandyoun
    Reputation
    2,650
  • #3
    Gene Arnett
    Reputation
    2,400
View All

Find great deals from top-rated dealers

Search

Related Models For Sale

Used Ford Fiesta
14 Great Deals out of 150 listings starting at $3,777
Used Honda Civic
180 Great Deals out of 3,705 listings starting at $1,995
Used Ford Mustang
65 Great Deals out of 1,259 listings starting at $4,995
Used Toyota Camry
52 Great Deals out of 985 listings starting at $2,212
Used Toyota Corolla
108 Great Deals out of 2,035 listings starting at $2,795
Used Ford Escape
124 Great Deals out of 4,594 listings starting at $1,995
Used Ford F-150
321 Great Deals out of 14,968 listings starting at $1,712
Used Honda Accord
40 Great Deals out of 910 listings starting at $1,599
Used Volkswagen Golf GTI
25 Great Deals out of 608 listings starting at $4,900
Used Chevrolet Malibu
50 Great Deals out of 1,139 listings starting at $1,295
Used Hyundai Elantra
163 Great Deals out of 3,544 listings starting at $2,995
Used Mazda MAZDA3
74 Great Deals out of 1,510 listings starting at $2,495

Content submitted by Users is not endorsed by CarGurus, does not express the opinions of CarGurus, and should not be considered reviewed, screened, or approved by CarGurus. Please refer to CarGurus Terms of Use. Content will be removed if CarGurus becomes aware that it violates our policies.