My dad and brother have had to do an engine change on my bros 2003 focus.

Now theyvedropped the engine in they cant get it started. Theyve checked the spark and when cranking, they only get one weak spark no matter how long you crank it for. Theyve tried swapping the coilpack with the one on our fiesta (which has the same part number) but no different.

Anyone got any ideas as to what it could be?

Cheers

Immobiliser?
Have you locked the doors and unlocked them since re-connecting the battery (worth a go and won't take more than a couple of seconds to try)

Alternately take battery off and leave ignition on for a few seconds, then re connect power with ignition off

Thats what I would try anyway :-)
(assuming you have checked the VR sensor is plugged in - otherwise it would not know the engine is cranking and wouldn't spark)
worth checking all other sensors are attached and plugged in properly- not sure if they have a cam sensor as well- again this may well confuse the ECU


Regards
Rob

[Edited on 24/1/10 by robocog]

cheers rob will give he immobilisr a try

Now my dads had all the plugs out layed them on a metal bar connected the metal bar to the block to earth it, thencranked it,and they all sparked fine. But dontdo anything when in the engine. Hes checked all the contacts for the plugs and all seems fine

^ engine earth strap then?

if the engines not earthed, that would explain why it works on metal bar but not the engine?

edit, ah no you said the bar was connected to the block.. weird

[Edited on 24/1/10 by blakep82]

yeh it is weird, unfortunatly i can only give you the information as i hear it over the phone, im not actually by the car so i cant give too much detail really