I have a 2005 Ford Focus ZX4. It is a stick. For the past month it has been having trouble starting, example I will turn the key and it will try to start up, but doesn’t. Then it will start but it is weak, sputtering, not wanting to really start, but I give it a little gas and it is fine. The last time it happened, It started after about 8 tries. I was driving a little ways and all of a sudden the radio/cd player quit working flashing a message that said low battery. Then all the lights in the car started to dim out. The headlights started dimming out too. I did make it home, turned it off and when I tried to start it again all I heard was a click, click, click noise. It is at the shop now. I thought for sure it was the alternator, but they said the alternator is testing fine and once they ‘recharged’ the battery it is fine too. They drove it around for about a half an hour and they said it was running fine. What the what? They said they did have the problem getting it to start that I did, but only once. Now they aren’t sure what the problem is. I don’t want to get ripped off! I also don’t want to have to fix something that isn’t broken. I really don’t know anything about cars, so any help is appreciated! I kind of feel like they have the upper hand here since I have no idea really what they are talking about. Thanks so much.
Edited to add: The shop said they cleaned some corrosion off the battery, if that makes a difference?
You are confusing us with your terms of “START” I think I know what you are trying to say though…we have gotten good at reading between the lines on this site…LOL. But for the record and for us to help you we need to know exactly what issues you are having and with what part of the starting process.
***Heres is how these things work…and how you communicate what is happening so we and others in the future can help you… When attempting to start a car you…
- You turn the key…
- The engine “TURNS OVER” or “CRANKS”… You hear noises from starter
- Then the engine actually “STARTS/RUNS” or “Fires up”…you can now rev the engine using the accelerator… and then DRIVE…if youre lucky Savvy? LOL…
When you state that it “tries to start up, but doesnt”…IS the engine TURNING OVER? but not running? Turning over slowly…or “weak”? OR IS it NOT DOING ANYTHING?..no noises…nada? Clarify…
The you state Then it will “Start” but it is weak? Are you saying that it is Turning over Slowly?..there is no such thing as a “weak” “started engine”…Extremely confusing… Trust me you will be confusing all of the other guys here as well… I am doing my best to read between the lines here so bear with me and PLEASE Clarify my questions…so I and others can get to your issue. We are trying to help and maybe I am just being a Bitch today…lol… I think I read you loud and clear tho…
SOLUTION:
SOUNDS to me like you need to read the post I created today about THE BATTERY BIBLE… I would say that if your alternator is OK…then it is probably having trouble getting the 12V it is generating over to your battery to keep it charged up… The most common reason is poor quality connections at your battery…dirty posts on the batt…corroded batt clamps etc… Read my post… the solution to your problem is defined in there…
If all of your connections are OK…clean and tight etc… Then your batt quite possibly may need to be replaced… They die when they have to live with dirty connections…bec they never actually get fully charged by the alternator…this will kill a battery…and then it cant be charged or used any longer.
Hope this helps… I think I read between the lines adequately…pretty sure I have. Good luck
*Blackbird…
Thank you so much for explaining it kindergarten style. 
I really am not sure how to ‘talk cars’.
The engine is sometimes turning over when I turn the key but not firing up. Sometimes it turns over and cranks, but sputters and then ‘dies’ again. Sometimes it will turn over and crank right away with no problems at all.
What I meant by weak was that I would put in the key, turn it, get the car to crank, but I heard sputtering and if I did not give it a little gas, it would stall out. It sounds like everything is struggling to keep running.
When it was not running at all, I would turn the key and it did not try to fire up, but I just heard a sound 'click click click.
Does that help?
Edited to add… Now my husband is on his way to get the car and they said there is nothing they can find wrong and its running fine. I just want to scream! (and, I’m off to read your post about batteries!)
It may have been just corrosion between the battery post and battery which it sounds like they took care of. Read HondaBlackbirds tutorial to see how to stop it from happening again. Instear of white lithium grease I just use vasoline petroleum jelly - it also stops my heels from cracking in the winter.
"it also stops my heels from cracking in the winter. "
hahaha… bonus!
LOL…Too true! No problem Angela… Yeah I think the garage saw the corrosion I was talking about. Your Car linguistics are going to be just fine now that you know the differences between Turning over …and Starting… You have no idea how common it is to see a post like you have written… No worries… Now you know, right?
Your issues still point strongly to the corrosion… It causes all sorts of issues… Not the least of which are the starting issues… It will even make the car run poorly after it has started. Lets just see how you make out in the next few days after the corrosion has been taken care of. My only remaining fear is the integrity of your Battery now… Hopefully it has survived the prolonged service with the corrosion…and subsequent low charge state… This is VERY hard on batteries believe it or not. You will either be just fine moving forward…OR you will have to replace your Battery…
Time will tell. Good luck and keep us posted…We are here to help.
Blackbird
Well, I drove old Focus all weekend and no problems! I hope it stays that way. We need her to keep trucking until March when we can just drive her off a cliff and get something new! Thanks again!
bad battery connection. I have had this one happen to me a few times.
I have a battery disconnect on my focus that likes to loosen up about once a year. Same symptoms
THATS ALL IT WAS. Please dont toss the focus - they really are good cars.
battery might have been a little low (how old is it, more than 6 years? maybe its time to replace?)
wiggle the wires on top of the battery one at a time and see if that makes a difference next time it gives trouble starting.
Oh, yeah, and get a turbocharger for that focus. dont drive it off a cliff, boost it till it it dont run no more. More fun. there are a ton of turbos for duratec. get a used kit + a tune. FUN FUN FUN.