"Reduced Acceleration" warning on Ford Focus

championc

Hi all

I got this on our 2004 1.6 petrol Focus yesterday. Obviously, the car went into protection mode and the Engine Warning Light is now steady Amber.

I took the car for a quick spin last night and all seems fine.

Plugs and wells are dry so I'm moving away from possible failing coil pack too and thinking more towards blocked fuel filter or dirty MAF.

Any thoughts ?

championc

Right, first off, looks like there is no MAF. Second, I can't see a fuel filter anywhere under the bonnet. The pipe from the injectors goes around the right side of the engine near the coil pack and then down the back of the engine.

obezyana

The fuel filter will be under the car.

BohsCeltic

Fuel filter would be under rear of the car

championc

Problem sorted. Simple fix in the end. The AIR filter was completely clogged up with dirt and oily grime so I guess the engine was unable to breathe properly.

So the light went out itself, without any need for any reset or odb2 tools

championc

Problem sorted. Simple fix in the end. The AIR filter was completely clogged up with dirt and oily grime so I guess the engine was unable to breathe properly.

So the light went out itself, without any need for any reset or odb2 tools

BohsCeltic

Oil in the air filter doesn't sound right

punisher5112

Sounds like its due a service by air filter in a bad way.

Ford's have the oil breather in along with the air filter so a bit of oil is normal from my experience with them.

Coil pack would give similar problems also and have gone throgh a hell of a lot of Ford's and nearly all had a coil pack go.

championc

Old and new

jca

championc wrote: »

Problem sorted. Simple fix in the end. The AIR filter was completely clogged up with dirt and oily grime so I guess the engine was unable to breathe properly.

So the light went out itself, without any need for any reset or odb2 tools

Ever try servicing the car? Works wonders I believe.... Or are you the "leave it until a light comes on" brigade??? Ah shur I know nuttin about cars and all dem garages is robbers...

championc

jca wrote: »

Ever try servicing the car? Works wonders I believe.... Or are you the "leave it until a light comes on" brigade??? Ah shur I know nuttin about cars and all dem garages is robbers...

I have obviously completely overlooked the air filter during previous services and it looks like the previous oowner did too. It's not the easiest thing in the world to change thanks to the air duct and torx screws.

However, I'd hate to think as to how much "dem garage robbers" would have charged me had I brought the car to them with the Engine Malfunction light illuminated. I'm sure there could be many who could cry at the thought that the air filter just cost 12.50 as opposed to the potential lengthy list of parts that could have been installed - and no doubt a light reset for good measure too no doubt

jca

championc wrote: »

I have obviously completely overlooked the air filter during previous services and it looks like the previous oowner did too. It's not the easiest thing in the world to change thanks to the air duct and torx screws.

However, I'd hate to think as to how much "dem garage robbers" would have charged me had I brought the car to them with the Engine Malfunction light illuminated. I'm sure there could be many who could cry at the thought that the air filter just cost 12.50 as opposed to the potential lengthy list of parts that could have been installed - and no doubt a light reset for good measure too no doubt

Very true. A lesson learned eh? Start with the air filter next time you're servicing it... I'm joking by the way. One of those things you never forget.

jimgoose

Not unheard-of. I have a Citroen Xsara here with a PCV hose entering the airbox upwind of the filter. There's always a little drop of oil in there when I go to change it.

riverrock1

There is a small piece of sponge that sits at the end of the breather pipe where it enters
the air filter box to soak up the oil.Its a good idea to swap this out as well or you can wash it and just re fit it again.

jimgoose

riverrock1 wrote: »

There is a small piece of sponge that sits at the end of the breather pipe where it enters
the air filter box to soak up the oil.Its a good idea to swap this out as well or you can wash it and just re fit it again.

Don't think Frenchie has that. I give the inside of the airbox a good wipe with kitchen paper, though.

riverrock1

I was talking about the ford focus

jimgoose

riverrock1 wrote: »

I was talking about the ford focus

Yes, I know. I'm more on about the PCV-hose-pissing-oil-and-crap-into-the-airbox phenomenon generally, largely in response to the person who thought oil in the airbox was strange!

championc

The small square sponge is there - with very little oil on it. Based on the dirt on the air filter, it unbelievable that both are on the same car

championc

Arrrrrgh, it's back again. Yesterday, both the Red and Orange lights came on.

There's one surprising simularity in both times when this happened. Both days were scorchers.

Now I cannot see how the weather could have such a part to play in this. My only thought right now is a dodgy sensor somewhere - but which one, and where ?

jca

championc wrote: »

Arrrrrgh, it's back again. Yesterday, both the Red and Orange lights came on.

There's one surprising simularity in both times when this happened. Both days were scorchers.

Now I cannot see how the weather could have such a part to play in this. My only thought right now is a dodgy sensor somewhere - but which one, and where ?

Get the fault codes read and start from there.

championc

What OBDII software would anyone recommend for reading all codes generated ?