Do I have an engine problem?

**Mark** · 13th Aug 11, 15:56

I have a 1.6 TDCi Fiesta, it does not have a DPF. I was driving home and has just joined the motorway and I was accelerating in 5th gear when the car just stopped accelerating. Then I realised I was losing speed!

I managed to keep it going but at reduced speed but could still maintain 60mph but it felt like there was no power. Closer to home it accelerated away from standing starts fine but as soon as it got above 2k revs there was nothing there. Felt very much like the turbo charger just wasn't working at all.

However, I parked up for no more than 10 minutes and then went out again and the car drove perfectly well, power exactly where I would expect it and I could feel the turbo working.

What's going on?!

**Daniel** · 13th Aug 11, 17:07

Probably nothing major, a lot of dismal's suffer from issues with the EGR's getting filled with crap for instance. It's rained quite hard up North (and here for that matter) in the last few days, did you get a lot of rain and were you driving in the rain in the last day or so? I would guess that it's probably something like a clogged EGR, a duff MAF (they can be cleaned) or MAP sensor.

Did the CEL come on at all? Any unusual noises while it was losing power? When was it last serviced? How often should it be serviced etc etc.

**Mark** · 13th Aug 11, 17:21

Service interval 12,500 miles and last serviced 3,500 miles ago.

There were no warning lights or noises or anything else apart from a lack of power.

**Daniel** · 13th Aug 11, 17:41

Originally Posted by Mark

Service interval 12,500 miles and last serviced 3,500 miles ago.

There were no warning lights or noises or anything else apart from a lack of power.

If I were to take a punt I'd say it's a MAF (mass airflow sensor) issue or a blocked EGR valve. Most likely the EGR valve.
EGR Systems - how it works
Cleaning the MAF - solving overdrive problems

Here's a good little wiki which shows what happens to the EGR.
EGR Valve and Inlet Manifold Clearout TDCi - www.FordWiki.co.uk

**airshifter** · 13th Aug 11, 18:54

I'd see if you can pull any codes. If done soon enough you can get a code before it resets, and most cars have codes that will not trigger a CEL unless they go beyond a number of cycles.

If you have no codes I'd look at the EGR more than the MAF. EGR valves can get sticky and intermittent before they stick completely, whereas a MAF will tend to have problems until it's cleaned or replaced.

**Daniel** · 13th Aug 11, 20:07

I doubt mark has an obd2 reader sadly. Been meaning to get myself one actually.

**Mark** · 13th Aug 11, 20:11

No but in my last Fiesta there was a keypress combination to get the error codes. I expect my Mk 7 might have a similar arrangement.

**Daniel** · 13th Aug 11, 20:22

Bingo

Ford Fiesta Error Codes - TalkFord.com

**driveace** · 13th Aug 11, 21:53

Without ANY doubt,fit a NEW FUEL FILTER,its full of water and crap ,also fit a new air filter,you dont need any codes.Ran diesels since 1986,50K miles a year ,always the fuel filter !

**driveace** · 13th Aug 11, 21:56

I had the same problem last week ,New fuel filter £13 ,fitted ,now it catches pidgeons again !!Thats a Ford Fiesta 1800 TDI

**Daniel** · 13th Aug 11, 22:06

Originally Posted by driveace

Without ANY doubt,fit a NEW FUEL FILTER,its full of water and crap ,also fit a new air filter,you dont need any codes.Ran diesels since 1986,50K miles a year ,always the fuel filter !

So a new fuel filter would have sorted out the HGF on my 406? Interesting!

**Mark** · 14th Aug 11, 10:03

Doubt the fuel filter would immediately become blocked half way down the motorway and then unblock itself after a 10 minute stop.

**Brown, Jon Brow** · 14th Aug 11, 11:13

Why would the fuel filter become blocked? Would regularly running a close to empty tank be a factor?

**Eki** · 14th Aug 11, 11:30

I have often suspected that Mark doesn't fire on all cylinders.

**Mark** · 14th Aug 11, 11:31

Originally Posted by Brown, Jon Brow

Why would the fuel filter become blocked? Would regularly running a close to empty tank be a factor?

lol. Can't be that for me then

**Daniel** · 14th Aug 11, 12:15

Originally Posted by Mark

lol. Can't be that for me then

That's not it. Water doesn't "block" the filter as such, there is a water trap at the bottom of the fuel filter and having that full of water doesn't help, has the fuel filter been changed recently? Running a car and never coming close to emptying the tank is just as bad an idea as running a car low.

Have you checked for a code?

**markabilly** · 14th Aug 11, 12:25

you should have bought a Ford......

**Daniel** · 14th Aug 11, 12:47

Originally Posted by markabilly

you should have bought a Ford......

He did.

**markabilly** · 14th Aug 11, 13:08

good. Then it is not my fault he did.

actually, the first place to start is fuel filter/water seperator. Got a 2000 f250 diesel, and had the same kind of problem twice, and the first time it was water, and the second time, it was the filter.

for some reason. diesel gets more junk in the tank than gas, and every 20k miles, i NOW change the filter, and it always has stuff in it.............also keep the tank full. It keeps water from condensing inside the tank, and diesel loves water.............

**Mark** · 14th Aug 11, 13:15

Here's the results of the diagnostics

Er0121
E 01
Dt5t6C
Dt1898
010000
sP 0 mls
Sp 0 kmh
590031
Ta 0
T90028
Od 000
F 0336
F90388
FL 00
FP 3E
16 C
bt110
dte454km
Rafe06 l/100km
A0-237
A1-3ff
A2-200
A3-088
A4-052
A5-198
A6-237
A7-370
A8-331
A9-0fa
AA-3ff
Po1-a0
Po2-48
Po5-05
P11-01
P13-3c
P16-30
P19-41
P20-3a
16
9a9e

All capitalisation is mine (well my phones)