Ford Focus diesel problem

[foxhole]

Daughter has 2008 model which keeps cutting out, restarts immediately, no warning, no fault recorded when tested, had forced regeneration today as thought to be causing problem but still cutting out.? [new dpf filter at 80,000 miles , now at about 83000.]

 

[Burnerman]

Two devices which don't always throw a fault code up are the crankshaft and camshaft(s) position sensors, but this could really be an awkward one. DPF regeneration shouldn't cause any issues, and usually interrogation of the cars computer can show when it happened.
Fords software was updated from time to time to prevent stalling at low speeds, but I guess that has been ruled out......presumably the car has a recent fuel and air filter change?
John

 

[Belle427]

Id take a look at the crank sensor and its associated wiring too.

 

[foxhole]

Updated software and well serviced, while most of the cut outs happen at low speed it also cuts out on motorways which is dangerous.

 

[Burnerman]

At this point I'd want the fuel pressure checked at the common rail......any reduction in pressure and its all stop, but often enough the engine will restart.
I have to say, most times a fault code is shown but not all. If you suspect electrical issues, just look at the fuse array in the passenger knee area for any water or corrosion.
John

 

[alan333]

I recently had experience with two Focus 1.6 petrols cuttng out randomly, both the same model and similar age at 55 and 06 plates. One displayed a EAC fault (accelerator actuator control) on the display and the other showed no fault message. Both were wiring faults inside the dash cluster, diagnosed and repaired by a good auto spark.

 

[Burnerman]

In these cases, doesn't the dash display fail completely too?
John

 

[alan333]

In these cases, doesn't the dash display fail completely too?
John

Yep John you're right, I completely forgot that critical and blatantly obvious piece of info. Apologies for the bum steer.

 

[Burnerman]

It's probably called progress......
'Oh, my car tends to stall from time to time'.
'OK then, we'll fit a new dashboard for you. That'll sort it!'

John

 

[foxhole]

Academic now , sold to dealer, his problem now.

 

[Burnerman]

Did you declare that the car had a problem when you traded it in?
John

 

[foxhole]

Did you declare that the car had a problem when you traded it in?
John

What problem?

 

[Burnerman]

Just a wee tale - and I'm not pointing the finger at anyone, and I haven't a clue about the legality of anything......
Friend had a Focus auto, 55 plate, 35k miles. Everything fine when cold, but when warm the gears would change with a hell of a thump and sometimes would otherwise misbehave, including jumping out of drive.
I changed the auto box oil and filter, no difference whatsoever so the guy traded the car in, to a local Ford dealer for a second hand (07) Honda Jazz Auto. The car was clay cold when he did the deal.
Once the dealer discovered that the car was a dog, he got back to the seller claiming an unfair deal as the guy must have known about it (true) and said that his declaration was false, and therefore the cars value was significantly less - so the trade in price was 'adjusted'. I don't know by how much - it wasn't my problem and I didn't know how to fix it anyway, but I did suspect an oil pressure problem.
It may be a case of caveat emptor - I just don't know, but maybe its as well to 'come clean'.
John

 

[Belle427]

I think its a bit of a grey area, i always thought if asked you have to declare any faults but if not then its up to you to inspect the car thoroughly.
We bought our present car from a dealer and although i was happy with it when i inspected it i later found out when we got home it had had some accident repairs. It was displayed in among the paperwork but i was too trustworthy with the dealer when we sat down to chat about the service history etc, i always felt he was being sketchy with me by reading me the details but its my own fault.
You live and learn but i would have rejected the car if i would have known even though the repairs were cosmetic only.
I rang him when we got home to vent my anger a little and he basically said that i was on my own and had no comebacks.