# 2008 Ford Focus hard start

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/2008-ford-focus-hard-start/143576>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** focus, ford\
**Created:** [July 3, 2019, 9:26am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2008-ford-focus-hard-start/143576 "2019-07-03T09:26:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![BruceCollins](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c89c15/32.png) [@BruceCollins](https://community.cartalk.com/u/BruceCollins)\
**Post date:** [July 3, 2019, 9:26am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2008-ford-focus-hard-start/143576/1 "2019-07-03T09:26:59Z")

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last few mornings experiencing hard starting problems. Engine indicating light remaining on. Battery checked & replaced. Still same problem. Once started initially a lot of exhaust smoke.ODP meter at 212,000km

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**Author:** ![It\_s-Me](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/it_s-me/32/12660_2.png) [@It\_s-Me](https://community.cartalk.com/u/It_s-Me)\
**Post date:** [July 3, 2019, 9:40am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2008-ford-focus-hard-start/143576/2 "2019-07-03T09:40:54Z")

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> [@BruceCollins](#):
>
> Engine indicating light remaining on

Is that anything like the  
“ **There’s Something Wrong With Your Engine And You Need To Check It** ” light

![4](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/original/3X/6/e/6e6f06d0244fc49465bcb94d0f922de97b34aae8.jpeg)

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**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\
**Post date:** [July 3, 2019, 3:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2008-ford-focus-hard-start/143576/3 "2019-07-03T15:51:33Z")

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If you mean the check-engine light, then one or more codes are stored that you need to read and post here. In the U.S., most auto parts stores will do this for free, but I don’t know about in your country.

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**Author:** ![CapitalTruck](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/capitaltruck/32/16592_2.png) [@CapitalTruck](https://community.cartalk.com/u/CapitalTruck)\
**Post date:** [July 4, 2019, 9:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2008-ford-focus-hard-start/143576/4 "2019-07-04T21:24:39Z")

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Fuel injector leak down? Sure sounds like it.

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**Author:** ![shanonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de053/32.png) [@shanonia](https://community.cartalk.com/u/shanonia)\
**Post date:** [July 5, 2019, 1:57am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/2008-ford-focus-hard-start/143576/5 "2019-07-05T01:57:40Z")

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Could be. If holding the gas pedal to the floor while cranking makes the engine start more quickly, that would support the leaking injector hypothesis. A can of injector cleaner with Techron in the fuel might be enough to fix it while it’s being driven.

Good luck and please let us know.