Focus MK1 tdci starting and diagnostic?

[Ian Geary]

My £800 2002 focus tdci is getting near the end I think, after 3 years faithful service. However, I think it deserves a last attempt at car resuscitation.


Symptoms are a flat refusal to start. Turns over well enough, but I don't think there's any fuel getting to the engine (it has half a tank)

Here's a video of the breakdown chap taking a couple of years off the starter motor's life (i had already tried to jump it from my car before I called them)

https://youtube.com/shorts/ZKDlApEvdHc?feature=sha...
(apologies for portrait to landscape flip)


The car has had a new battery and starter motor in the last year, and glowplugs are about 2 years old. It's never started well in the cold, but in the last week or so got really bad at starting when slightly warm as well.

I've not done any diagnosis (yet) in the fuel system or injectors.

Any ideas where I should look? I believe testing for fuel at injectors, the fuel filter, then fuel pump would be sensible.

Also, does anyone have any suggestions what to use to check fault codes?

My £10 obd scanner won't connect, and nor will my Bluetooth jobbie with torque lite. I think 2002 is perhaps too early for that.

I have various usb -> obd cables. (Multiecuscan for Alfa, tuneecu for my triumph, Inpa for my BMW etc)

can anyone advise if there is there some similar software that works with 2002 era fords?

Thanks

Ian

[cknotty]

Can't help with the issue, but download Forscan. Worked ok on my wife's '99 Fiesta, you should be able to have a look at some live data (fuel rail pressure maybe?) which will hopefully give some pointers

[Ian Geary]

Great, thanks for that.

[LordLoveLength]

I’d definitely be looking at fuel rail pressure first in live data.
Also, has it had a new fuel filter? That could be an issue, put a new one on.
Don’t know if they have lift pump in the tank? Does that work? Can you hear it?
Could be air getting into the fuel line somewhere- have a good look at pipes and joints.

[Ian Geary]

Quick update:

Downloaded forscan, and bought a £20 Vint OBD2 cable.

It worked flawlessly. (To be honest that software is like a dream compared to the several hours I spent struggling with BMW's Inpa)

The car has error code p0355 which is I think either cam (CMP) or crank shaft (ckp) sensors




It's been nasty out, and also been busy at work, so not crawled under the car yet to look for fuel faults.

Hopefully it will be a sensor, so will do some multi meter diagnostic this weekend.

Pretty sure the wife wants it gone now, but it will be easier to sell a car that runs.

[Ian Geary]

Quick update.

Never got round to fixing it. Now been taken away by a chap who will turn it into a banger racer (presumably after fixing it)

Got £100 for it though, so not all bad


Ian