"Paul Giverin" <paul@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
news:hkseINDVcPkHFwxO@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> My Focus 2.0 TDCi had a problem in last spring where sometimes when you
> started the engine, it didn't quite reach idle and didn't respond to
> throttle inputs. The main dealer replaced the EGR valve but a month or
so
> later, it did it again. The dealer said there was no fault codes and
they
> couldn't reproduce the fault so nothing was done.
>
> The car has been fine throughout the summer but over the past few weeks
> the problem has reappeared. Today it took about 8 attempts to get the
> engine running properly. I drove to my dealer and booked it in for
> investigation next week. As I got into the car at the dealer..... a
lucky
> break. The engine didn't start correctly. The exhaust was belching out
> black smoke and it wouldn't respond to throttle.
>
> I dashed back into the dealer and said, "quick, the fault is present
> now... get someone to have a look". The service receptionist said, sorry
> our diagnostic technician isn't here at the moment. I pointed to the
other
> Ford technicians working in the workshop and she said they were not
> trained to operate the equipment. I said that it was important that
> someone witnessed the fault because I knew that it was unlikely to
> reproduce the fault when it is booked in next week.
>
> The receptionist came out and witnessed the defect. I told her
(politely)
> that I would not accept any "unable to reproduce fault" excuse when it
> goes in next week. She said that Ford will not authorise any part
> replacement without a fault code present. I tried to keep calm because
the
> girl was quite young and I don't like to appear to be threatening but I
> tried to make it clear that my warranty conditions overrode Ford's
> instructions to its dealers.
>
> I left feeling quite shocked that these modern, well paid vehicle
> technicians can't do anything without a fault code. I'm an aircraft
> engineer working on modern aircraft. As you can imagine, we make high
use
> of built in test equipment and external diagnostic equipment but if the
> equipment fails to show up a fault and the pilot insists that there is a
> fault, we don't just give up. We go back to basics, troubleshoot on
paper
> and start replacing bits.
>
> Sorry, rant over. If Tim or anyone else has any idea what the problem
is,
> I'm sure my dealer will be very appreciative :)
Hmmm. Tricky one. As Moray has said, first check for any software updates
or
TSB's that are available and address idling issues. Also have them check
the
wiring to the PPS, or do it yourself.
The black smoke sounds a different issue, perhaps an EGR one, but without
seeing the car it's difficult to say without seeing the symptoms it is
producing.
Normally the ECU is programmed such that if base idle rpms arent reached
within so many crank rotations of start up, a cut out is effected- the
engine cuts out just as it does if you pull rpms down by loading it, but
it
will restart fine and run ok as long as rpm reaches the target.
Tim..
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