Car Help, And Suggestions.

[BASSclary]

So basically, my car is a 01 Ford Focus 4 door, and its been a good car as in gets me to point a and point b with reasonable gas mileage. However, I felt it has slowly been getting worse, and on Saturday I filled up the whole tank, reset the tripometer(?) (The thing that measures how far you've gone) and today coming home from work I glanced down at and I burned through a 1/4 tank and only went 40 FREAKING MILES. The amount of miles is accurate, but there should be no way i've gone through 4 gallons of gas. 10 mpg is way of from the usual 25. What is the cause for my sudden drop in fuel mileage? I always get the same gas from WaWa, and we just put a new air filter and spark plugs in a month ago, however when we replaced it, apparently from the dealer they forgot to attach the hood on all the way so all winter all the sand and road salts have probably been getting in there and destroying the motor, but it's been rough since I first got it. But since then up until now mileage was the same 25 until this weekend.  What could be the issue? Im going to go ahead and assume it will be something generally expensive, which also begs my next question. The car already has a bunch of other issues with it, needs a whole new suspension, probably a lot of motor work, new tires, brakes, etc. So should I just repair everything on the car? Or upgrade to something newer. I was thinking the latter of the two, but im also not a motor head by any means.

 

Also, what would you guys recommend for good solid cars? I dont have a brand preference but I do want something a little sporty, cool features are plus', but mpg is also a big factor. Im looking for around 25 mpg, and of course, more is always better. My budget would be around 5-6K tops. I've been looking at some Mazda 6's and a few Scion tC's, but I would like to hear more opinions from you all. 

[rockchalk06]

You drove around all winter with the hood open and not latched all the way?

Your focus is a computer on 4 wheels. Take it to the dealer and have them put it on the dyno. It will be able to tell then if you have a bad plug wire, missin out or what ever else is the problem.

If I were to ever by another car it would be another Jetta. That was by far my favorite car I've ever had. 33 MPG, would do a buck 140 on the track, all around great car. I'm a truck guy so I will probably never own another.

[BASSclary]

LOL no, the plastic hood that goes over the filter and takes the air to the motor.

[rockchalk06]

LOL no, the plastic hood that goes over the filter and takes the air to the motor.

Ah gotcha lol.

[tipptruck1]

Take it to a place like advance auto. They will scan your car for free. The dealer will charge a minium of 60 bucks. Chances are it stuff you can fix your self in a few hours. Plugs and plug cables, air filter, fuel filter is all that might be wrong. You dont need any special tool for them. Just a spark plug socket. If you don't have one. A deep well socket 1/2, 5/8 or 3/4 will work. More then likely its 3/4.  

 

Breaks can also be dont with basic hand tools. The only other tool then wrenchs I need is a BFH. You will understand if you do them your self. Shocks might be a little harder. But those to can be dont at home. Since you have the wheels and rotors off when you do the breaks. It wont be that bad. The itnternet is your friend for diy stuff like this. 

 

If you do the work your self. You will only be paying for parts. Every thing should be less then 500 bucks. think of all the money you just saved for other stuff. And if you fix it. You dont have to worry about your insurance going up on a new car.

[slonezp]

If it just started now on your last tank of gas, maybe you got a bad tank or the pumps were off. Burn thru this tank and fill up somewhere else next time before you jump to conclusions.

[BrianinMD]

Initial guess would be a bad sensor somewhere, taking it to have it scanned, as previously advised, would be the best first step.

[CoBass]

I'm going to go the simple route here. Could it be that your gas gauge isn't entirely accurate? The only way to know for sure how many gallons of gas you've used is to go top it off and see how many gallons it takes. I'd suggest using the rest of the tank with a good mix of hwy vs city driving to get a better estimate on your true mpg.

[tyrius.]

My car has issues with the gas guage.  I can drive 150 miles and use up 1/8 of a tank and the next 200 miles uses the rest (7/8).  I need to get it fixed (still under warranty, but have been too lazy).

[J Francho]

Also, what would you guys recommend for good solid cars? I dont have a brand preference but I do want something a little sporty, cool features are plus', but mpg is also a big factor. Im looking for around 25 mpg, and of course, more is always better. My budget would be around 5-6K tops.

 

That would get you a decent use Civic. Easy and cheap to fix.

[grizzly1654]

That would get you a decent use Civic. Easy and cheap to fix.

And they run forever. Its hard to beat a honda!

[Raider Nation Fisher]

Never had any of our focus's (foci?) Do that. Probably a bad plug however I'm not a mechanic.

As for new viechles. Stop worrying about MPG. At five or six you could get all kinds of used cars. Personally if it were me I would be looking for something that rides low, is tinted out, and has some thump in the trunk. However I already have a soon to be turbo charged 07 focus. As well as a tinted out blinging Denali Envoy. So my priorities mag be a bit different. There's just something about a murdered out all black 64 Impala or 67 chevelle ss that can bounce the front end in the air, that just screams my name.

[Raider Nation Fisher]

Like the ones in this video. Especially the one at 3:08.

[OHIO]

It is possible that the check engine light wouldn't come on if it was an electrical or sensor problem, but it is rare.

 

Does it idle rough at all?

If it's a plug or plug wire that's bad, it'll misfire, but it would also throw a code and turn the MIL on.

 

It could be a lot of stuff other than plugs and wires too though.

If your cat is plugged up or if you have a bad O2 sensor, it'll dump a lot of fuel and make mileage worse.

Get a new air filter too if you haven't already.

[SirSnookalot]

I'm going to go the simple route here. Could it be that your gas gauge isn't entirely accurate? The only way to know for sure how many gallons of gas you've used is to go top it off and see how many gallons it takes. I'd suggest using the rest of the tank with a good mix of hwy vs city driving to get a better estimate on your true mpg.

Makes sense to check out the true accurate mileage first, on board computers and gas gauges are not always on the mark.  If you car is running fine, the mileage should not be suffering, if the car is laboring you have a problem that needs to be addressed.  Unless you have tools and a good amount expertise fixing your own vehicle is totally out of the question, a driveway mechanic has no recourse at all.  Something as simple as buying a defective part from an auto store means you have to do the work all over again, the part is exchangeable but your labor isn't.  Have a professional diagnose then repair, put in on a credit card and if the work isn't 100% hold back payment, that's putting you in control.  That said, what's the car worth and does it pay to fix something that may be on it's last leg, my guess is time to move on, nothing lasts forever.

[Ratherbfishing]

Without kicking the tires, a bad oxygen sensor would be my guess.

[BASSclary]

It is possible that the check engine light wouldn't come on if it was an electrical or sensor problem, but it is rare.

 

Does it idle rough at all?

If it's a plug or plug wire that's bad, it'll misfire, but it would also throw a code and turn the MIL on.

 

It could be a lot of stuff other than plugs and wires too though.

If your cat is plugged up or if you have a bad O2 sensor, it'll dump a lot of fuel and make mileage worse.

Get a new air filter too if you haven't already.

 

There is no check engine light on.

 

The car has always had a rough idle, gets a bit better after it warms up, but still rough none the less.

 

Saw nothing on the electronics at the Advanced Auto Parts,im not sure if thats good or bad.

 

We just got a new air filter a month ago, and we checked it today, and looks fine.

 

Makes sense to check out the true accurate mileage first, on board computers and gas gauges are not always on the mark.  If you car is running fine, the mileage should not be suffering, if the car is laboring you have a problem that needs to be addressed.  Unless you have tools and a good amount expertise fixing your own vehicle is totally out of the question, a driveway mechanic has no recourse at all.  Something as simple as buying a defective part from an auto store means you have to do the work all over again, the part is exchangeable but your labor isn't.  Have a professional diagnose then repair, put in on a credit card and if the work isn't 100% hold back payment, that's putting you in control.  That said, what's the car worth and does it pay to fix something that may be on it's last leg, my guess is time to move on, nothing lasts forever.

 

Yeah, im not a mechanic or anything close and I dont want to take anything apart. I can do tires and brakes but thats about it and would prefer to never go inside the motor. Im thinking it may just be time to send her away to car heaven, and get a new one. We got a couple quotes for shocks w/ installation and they wanted ~$1200. Plus new motor work if it need be.

[OHIO]

It sounds like it could be a mass air flow sensor, but without seeing it, it's hard to tell.

 

Also $1200 for parts and labor on shocks is a ripoff. If you can do brakes you can replace shocks.

 

It doesn't sound like there is anything wrong with the engine itself if your just noticing bad fuel mileage. 

[SirSnookalot]

Online diagnosis are guesses, like looking at a broken clock, right only twice a day.  Fixing this car may be throwing good money away, something will always come up that requires money and time for a car with dwindling reliability.  Just the thought of losing work time, or even a job due to not be 100% mobile would be enough incentive for me to move on.  If I were looking at dollars and SENSE, I'd drop a few more bucks a week in the tank rather than making a major cash outlay.  

[Trailer]

Are you paying $5-6k cash for a car? If so, put that money down towards a new car in your payment range (perhaps a Buick Verano or GMC Terrain, both rated for 30+ hwy mpg). Factory warranty on GMC products is 36/36000 bumper to bumper and 60/100000 powertrain. Buick is 48/50000 and 72/70000. If you're worried about interest rate they have incentivized rates.

 

If you're not paying cash forget everything I said and go through another tank of gas.

[J Francho]

No way would I wish a car payment on a guy that young.

[OHIO]

No way would I wish a car payment on a guy that young.

 

Yeah please do not buy a car that you have to make payments on.

If you can't fix your car, buy a cheap Civic or something similar that you don't have to put a lot of money into.

[SirSnookalot]

No way would I wish a car payment on a guy that young.

I would agree, at his age his earnings most likely would not cover the expense of a new car payment.  Once a person enters the full time workforce buying a new car is a different story.  

[Hyrule Bass]

Drive it more, a 1/4 tank of gas isnt a very good guage to judge a vehicle...

[detroit1]

Some young punk siphoned it.