Focus spluttering on acceleration..??

[martyc]

Hey there,
Have a 99 focus 1.6 Ghia...its 1999.
just the other day it has started spluttering when you demand more power...usually going up a gear etc causes it to die for a second or two then "catch up"..as if you have no ignition for a few secs.
I can get it to splutter if i change up throughthe gears @ slow speeeds.
other than that its running quite smooth and power is fine so i dont think its a fuel supply problem...mass flow meter maybe???
Its actually the Gf's car...when she mentioned the problem i popped the hood and noticed a breather pipe from the bottom of the the air filter had popped off (its the breather pipe that links to the spark plug cover)...it may be possible that while it was off a little dirt got drawn in...if so where would this now be...???
Im actually quite competent with engines etc....just dont have the time these days to dabble for long to find the problem
Cheers,
Marty.

 

[martyc]

Ok..slight update...took out the plugs cleaned em etc..they looked fine in any case,no tell tale signs there.
opened up the air filter and cleaned out the housing with the hoover...was a small bit of crap in there.
finally cleaned the connections on the air flow meter and reset the air mixture.(i read somewhere just to disconnect the battery for 20 mins with a hot engine...then reconnect, start it up and allow it to idle for 5 minutes)
anyway it is running a LOT better now but still if i bog it down say in fourth gear @ 20MPH it misses the odd beat...
Anyone anything similar on a focus?
Cheers,
Marty.