what is this banging? at end of my tether

[redcrx]

My Ford C-max is playing up again.
2 years ago i noticed that occasionally if i had stopped the engine within 20 mins before it would start badly. It started engine but wasnt fully working, whole car would shake violently and bang.
It happened rarely and would start normally straight after.

The Ford service centre could never find a problem on diagnostics and it never replicated the problem when there.

Its become more and more regular and on Tuesday the car just wouldnt start normally. After half an hour of it starting with this banging and shaking or just starting but making a smaller spinning banging noise and having no acceleration i gave up.

I got towed to the ford service centre and left it with them, where surprise surprise it started first time every time they tried it.

They said the starter motor was making a small noise and may need replacing but that they think the flywheel needs replacing though they are not sure because it doesnt do this when they have it.

On my way home that night (60 mile journey) the car felt as if it wasnt quite full of power as usuall. I didnt dare stop in case it didnt start again as i had 2 kids in back.

Anyone have any ideas as to what this might be? Im reluctant to keep paying for diagnostics and work that may not be necessary.

The car is the 2.0TDCI model 53 plate and has only done 48k miles.

[M-A-T-R-I-X]

hey red

ask the ford experts here

http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/

[redcrx]

thanks MATRIX.

Ive asked before on 2 ford owners clubs. They were unable to help me :( although they had always been a source of information about other niggles and the EGR faults

Im hoping a mechanic on here may know the answer.

[Daisho]

redcrx, If I didn't know any better I would say you are running on 3 cylinders. This happened intermitantly on an old Peugeot 306 I owned, It was worse when trying to start it from warm and it sounded as rough as hell with a drop in power. What I did was put some fuel cleaner through the system and after about a week everything got smoother.

[TWR]

You may think this a stupid answer, A few years ago I used to drive the old Gardner Engines, Belive it or not these Engines used to reverse themselfs!!! Think Im joking, Lets wait for some replies from someone that used to drive these Motors, Its just a thought I wonder if this motor is doing the same thing, the old Gardener used to BANG FART THEN START.

[redcrx]

a reversing engine? thats a new one on me, but i dont know enough about cars to know if youre right :)

Anyone else got any ideas?