Engine system fault - likely suspect(s)?

[JulianHJ]

My '56-plate Focus 1.8TDCI has over the last couple of days started playing up. On starting from cold there is a red LED lit (the one to the right of the central LED panel) and a message saying 'engine system fault' on the main display. The yellow engine warning light has not lit at any point.

This is intermittent, and does not seem to occur once the engine is up to normal temperature. On at least one occasion the warning has come up before even starting the engine. When the warning is on, the engine is in some kind of limp mode - acceleration is very restricted. This lifts immediately when the light and message disappear.

Are there any common/likely causes for this kind of fault? A sensor perhaps? It'll be going in to a garage next week.

[Ray Luxury-Yacht]

Could be a million different things, on a late model CANBUS vehicle like yours, that trying to diagnose it is as good as pissing in the wind.

First port of call is a hook-up to a diagnostic computer. Only then will you have a direction to start looking in.

[JDMDrifter]

Will be a sensor of some flavour I'd suspect, coilpack issues could be causing it but that would be noticeable all the time.

[KingNothing]

My focus ST is doing it at the minute, the battery isn't holding its charge. Does it do it after its been drove for a while, then stopped and restarted. Or is it only doing it after its been left over night?

[mcford]

Best get it plugged into a code reader that can read Ford specific codes, as the engine light isn't lit I doubt that a normal OBD 2 reader will suffice.

JDMDrifter said:

Will be a sensor of some flavour I'd suspect, coilpack issues could be causing it but that would be noticeable all the time.

I'd be inclined to discount a coilpack fault on account of this:

JulianHJ said:

My '56-plate Focus 1.8TDCI has etc.

[JulianHJ]

It's happening intermittently whenever the engine is below normal temp - not just from stone cold.

Cheers for your thoughts, hopefully the garage can pinpoint it quickly.

[JulianHJ]

Quick update - it was glow plug failure on cylinders 3&4. All were replaced.