Ford Focus Owners Manual: Starting a petrol engine

Note: You can only operate the starter for a maximum of 30 seconds at a time.

Cold or hot engine

All vehicles

CAUTION:

When the temperature is below -20ºC (-4ºF), switch the ignition on for at least one second before starting the engine. This will make sure that the maximum fuel pressure is established for starting the engine.

Vehicles with manual transmission

Note: Do not touch the accelerator pedal.

1. Fully depress the clutch pedal.

2. Start the engine.

Vehicles with automatic transmission

Note: Do not touch the accelerator pedal.

1. Select park or neutral.

2. Fully depress the brake pedal.

3. Start the engine.

All vehicles

If the engine does not start within 15 seconds, wait for a short period and try again.

If the engine does not start after three attempts, wait 10 seconds and follow the Flooded engine procedure.

If you have difficulty starting the engine when the temperature is below -25ºC (-13ºF), press the accelerator pedal between ¼ to ½ of its travel and try again.

Flooded engine

Vehicles with manual transmission

1. Fully depress the clutch pedal.

2. Fully depress the accelerator pedal and hold it there.

3. Start the engine.

Vehicles with automatic transmission

1. Select park or neutral.

2. Fully depress the accelerator pedal and hold it there.

3. Fully depress the brake pedal.

4. Start the engine.

All vehicles

If the engine does not start, repeat the Cold or hot engine procedure.

Engine idle speed after starting

The speed at which the engine idles immediately after starting will vary depending on the engine temperature.

If the engine is cold then the idle speed will automatically be increased in order to heat the catalytic converter as quickly as possible. This ensures that vehicle emissions are kept to an absolute minimum.

The idle speed will slowly decrease to the normal level as the catalytic converter warms up.