PDA

View Full Version : Focus TDCI - intermittent fault


Jimmy Page
24-08-2006, 23:41
Just bought an 02 one of these (one of the 115BHP models). Just wondering if anybody's come across an intermittent cut-out fault on them at all? Happens from time to time, often going into 3rd - engine cuts out completely, and the glow plug light flashes. It's led to some fucking hairy moments coasting to the hard shoulder/wherever I can pull in. Only took delivery of her last night, and this happened a few times on the way home.

(Dealer I bought it from hadn't had the problem with her, but he's paying to have her sorted, so that's not a problem there).

The first two times it happened, she restarted without a bother, but it seems that the hotter she gets, the more difficulty there is. Had it in with a mate today who checked the heater plugs, and they were, for want of a better word, ******. So we changed those anyway. And a Ford garage we consulted thought this might be the cause of the engine cut-out (we couldn't see how the plugs which are only a wee aid to fire her up would cut the engine out when running, but they seemed fairly adamant. Problem still persisting though anyway. Only happens the odd time, which is a bit of a pain, because it'd be easier to cure if it was there for all to see!!

Going to take it in tomorrow to have the diagnostics checked, hopefully they'll register some fault which will be reprogrammable.

Has anybody else had similar trouble with one of these? I'm led to believe that the flashing glow-plug light when she cuts out is a code for an engine management fault (the engine management light itself doesn't light).

x-works
25-08-2006, 16:49
Glow plug light only signals glow plugs being used, engine managment light used for all flash codes. Glow plugs use some serious current when being used and if a faulty one was to semi-short out it can draw a lot of current before the 60amp fuse will blow. The ecu relay shares a feed with the glow plug relay and and a fault with one circuit "could" cause the other to have problems to, shutting down the ecu relay and if effect switching the engine off. Unfortunately theres also a thousand other things that could be doing it. Hopefully the ecu will have registered a fault code when the problem occured which should point in the direction of the fault.

[Edited on 25-8-06 by x-works]

Jimmy Page
25-08-2006, 18:46
Thanks for the reply. Just left it in with a diesel specialist there today. He plugged it in and found the problem registered straight away. The cam shaft sensor was gone. A £16 part was causing all that trouble. The glow plug light flashing in the Fords does signify an engine management fault, as with the VWs and Audis. So I'm told.