Dealing with car troubles can be incredibly frustrating, especially when the issues are persistent and seemingly defy diagnosis. For Ford Focus owners, encountering a P0456 code, indicating a small evaporative emission (EVAP) system leak, can be the start of such a frustrating journey. However, sometimes the problem goes deeper than a simple EVAP leak, leading to a cascade of dealer visits and unresolved headaches, as one Ford Focus ST owner recently experienced.
This owner’s saga began with intermittent stalling issues, a problem that brought them to the dealership not once, but four times over eighteen months. The initial diagnosis pointed towards an outdated Powertrain Control Module (PCM), resulting in a software flash. This offered only a temporary respite, lasting merely a week before the stalling returned. Adding to the woes, a collapsed gas tank – reportedly due to a batch of defective tanks from Ford’s vendor – required replacement. Despite these fixes and completion of related recalls and advisories, the stalling persisted.
Further attempts to resolve the issue included a throttle body replacement, deemed faulty by the dealer. Yet, even this significant repair failed to eliminate the stalling, which recurred on the drive home from the dealership itself. This series of misdiagnoses and ineffective repairs highlights a common frustration among car owners: the feeling of being trapped in a cycle of dealer visits without a true resolution.
Adding another layer to the problem is persistent corrosion on the negative battery terminal. This issue, present since the car was new, raises concerns about a potential electrical short. Could this seemingly unrelated corrosion be linked to the stalling? The owner suspects a connection, especially after repeated dealer claims of “bad batteries,” despite replacements with reputable brands like Motorcraft and Odyssey. The possibility of a faulty O2 sensor has also been considered, further complicating the diagnostic puzzle.
Frustrated but proactive, the owner even volunteered to drive the car with diagnostic equipment plugged in, aiming to capture the stalling event in real-time. This offer, as of yet, remains unaccepted by the dealership. At this point, the stalling issue has become predictable, occurring reliably after 20-30 minutes of driving, suggesting a heat-related or time-dependent factor might be at play.
Adding another dimension to this frustrating situation, the owner has received solicitations regarding class-action lawsuits against Ford, particularly concerning the PowerShift DPS6 dual-clutch transmissions. While the owner acknowledges unfamiliarity with those specific transmission issues, it points towards a broader pattern of Ford facing legal challenges related to vehicle defects. The owner intends to explore these legal avenues, seeking potential connections to the widespread stalling problems reported by many Ford ST owners.
This ongoing ordeal serves as a stark reminder of the complexities of modern automotive diagnostics and the potential for frustrating and prolonged issues. While the P0456 code itself points to a small EVAP leak, this owner’s experience suggests that underlying problems can manifest in more significant drivability issues like stalling. The search for a definitive solution continues, and the automotive community awaits updates on this perplexing Ford Focus ST saga.
