Mondeo petrol engine stalling after starting

[Skirmisheer]

I've had my 2009 Mondeo 2.3 Auto for three years and it's been a fantastic car with virtually no problems at all with around 67,000 on the clock.

Recently I've noticed that immediately after I start the car the revs will drop down and sometimes the engine will stall. Restarting then requires a little footwork on the accelerator pedal to stop it happening again.
The problem never occurs when the engine is cold, only after it has warmed up.

The car has been to the local garage who put it on their diagnostics system however no errors were found.

I was wondering if anyone can suggest what may be wrong and if it's a quick easy fix then I'd be prepared to have a go myself.

Thanks in advance.

[Uncool]

Skirmisheer said:

I've had my 2009 Mondeo 2.3 Auto for three years and it's been a fantastic car with virtually no problems at all with around 67,000 on the clock.

Recently I've noticed that immediately after I start the car the revs will drop down and sometimes the engine will stall. Restarting then requires a little footwork on the accelerator pedal to stop it happening again.
The problem never occurs when the engine is cold, only after it has warmed up.

The car has been to the local garage who put it on their diagnostics system however no errors were found.

I was wondering if anyone can suggest what may be wrong and if it's a quick easy fix then I'd be prepared to have a go myself.

Thanks in advance.

My 2007 2.0 (Still a Duratec) does exactly the same thing, and again only when warm. The local dealer suggested it might need a S/W update, but that was their stab in the dark with no proper diagnostics.

[Skirmisheer]

Uncool said:

My 2007 2.0 (Still a Duratec) does exactly the same thing, and again only when warm. The local dealer suggested it might need a S/W update, but that was their stab in the dark with no proper diagnostics.

The trouble with this problem is that without any diagnostic error codes any action by the garage can only be, as you say, 'stabs in the dark'.
I presume you didn't have the software update?

[Uncool]

Skirmisheer said:

The trouble with this problem is that without any diagnostic error codes any action by the garage can only be, as you say, 'stabs in the dark'.
I presume you didn't have the software update?

Nope. The car is worth buttons and the garage wanted my right kidney for more pressing work that actually needed going. I suspect a leaky pipe, gasket or dodgy sensor, but for now the problem is just annoying and can be overcome with gentle feathering of the throttle once running, or turning it over with a WOT before it starts.

[Zad]

I would be tempted to get a diagnostic reader from Ebay. When was the fuel filter last changed?

[Skirmisheer]

Already got a reader and it showed nothing. Had a professional diagnostic done too and that showed no errors either.
Never had the fuel filter changed during my ownership and I bought it with 43k on the clock and it's now got 68k.

[Skirmisheer]

An update

Went to see my local Ford independent and they will do a full Ford standard diagnostics on the car and also a software update for £45 plus VAT. Too good to turn down so the car will be there mid next week to see if they can find anything.

I'll report back.

[Uncool]

Skirmisheer said:

An update

Went to see my local Ford independent and they will do a full Ford standard diagnostics on the car and also a software update for £45 plus VAT. Too good to turn down so the car will be there mid next week to see if they can find anything.

I'll report back.

Do let us know! Would also be interesting to see the current software version / date too?

[OldGermanHeaps]

Have you cleaned out the idle control valve and throttle body? What makes you think it’s software related if it worked fine then started giving problems with no changes to the software?

[Skirmisheer]

An update as promised.

The car went into my local Ford independent yesterday for a diagnostics and software update. There were 5 updates that were necessary so the car now has the latest software installed.

I am pleased to report that the starting problem has now been cured. Starting from cold is fine and so too is starting when hot.

What I have noticed today though is that the fuel consumption seems higher than before.
I haven't had chance today to enquire about that with the garage but I'm wondering if, as I use the car, that it will improve.
Maybe someone can advise on that??

[Uncool]

Skirmisheer said:

An update as promised.

The car went into my local Ford independent yesterday for a diagnostics and software update. There were 5 updates that were necessary so the car now has the latest software installed.

I am pleased to report that the starting problem has now been cured. Starting from cold is fine and so too is starting when hot.

What I have noticed today though is that the fuel consumption seems higher than before.
I haven't had chance today to enquire about that with the garage but I'm wondering if, as I use the car, that it will improve.
Maybe someone can advise on that??

Thanks for the update! I may investigate the same update then.

You say 'Ford independent'. Was it a Ford main dealer? If not, how did they have access to the software etc?

[Skirmisheer]

It's a company called Fordtech who are near Huddersfield. They're ex main dealer who now have their own business.

[Skirmisheer]

Should mention too that they only charged £54 inc VAT so a lot cheaper than main dealer price.

[Uncool]

Cheers!

Unfortunately I'm down south but at the amount main dealers charge I'd still be quids in if I drove up to your specialist to have it done, even factoring in fuel etc.

[Uncool]

Oh, and on 'using more fuel' I imagine that the software update has reset its learnings from your driving. I imagine it'll improve over the next few days if you just continue to drive normally.

[Skirmisheer]

There must be a Ford independent somewhere closer to where you live I'd have thought.

[mondeomk4]

I have a Mondeo mk4 Duratec (2.0)

When the engine is stopped and started again soon afterwards, (eg dropping someone off etc.) I have had a similar issue occasionally.

I believe that the engine can have a build up of inlet gases in those instances. A work around it to press the accelerator pedal after switching it off if you are due to start up again imminently.

I have found it happens less now than when I first had the car, it may be I am used to when it might happen now,
or perhaps that now I use vpower fuel mostly that it seems to like.

[bungz]

Isn't the 2.3 a completely different beast just for the Auto models?

Mazda lump isn't it?

I would be suspicious of a software cure, why would it be fine for years then not all of a sudden due to software...