2011 Ford Focus 5Dr: Engine Warning Lamp Issue

[Kal139]

Hi,

I have a 2011 Ford Focus Titanium 5dr, it's an ex Motability car recently purchased from an auction.

The problem I have is that the "Engine Warning Lamp" indicator is always on when I start the car. There is no flashing of the indicator, it just stays on.

All the owner's manual says is that this indicates a malfunction and that the vehicle needs to be checked by a trained technician.

Could this light simply be one because the battery has been disconnected for some time whilst at the auction centre?

The car drives really well so I am not aware of any problem whilst I'm driving the car.

If anyone has had this problem, can you tell me please what you did to resolve it?... Also can I take the car to any garage or does it need to taken to a Ford main dealer?

Your help and advice would be much appreciated.

Best regards

Kal

[jeebowhite]

Hi Kal,

Where abouts in London are you? Are you central to west or are you more to East and verging on Kent?

I would suggest that you need to get the codes read which many garages, or for that matter other members can help you with.

[Kal139]

I'm in the Middlesex area not far from Harrow. To get these codes I presume the garage will have some sort of electronic instrument/device they connect to the engine, and I guess each codes identifies a specific problem?

Thanks

[jeebowhite]

Hi Kal,Pretty much, but its really not that scary!

Have a look at my signature "Got an error on your car?", you could buy for so cheap the parts you need and you could start diagnosing your own issues! I have 3 sets of kit, spent less than £20 on all 3, and use free software and I can pretty much diagnose most faults on my car! it really is simple aand we can help translate things :D

[Kal139]

Looks like a great guide!... just skimmed through it and looks really useful, going to read it again slowly and may have some questions, certainly want to know more about this "Secret Dash Trick" for us focus owners :)

[Kal139]

Not sure if this next question should be a separate post... but where exactly is the OBD2 port located on a 2011 (new shape) ford focus?

I found something on youtube that showed where it was on a lefthand drive vehicle. I looked on the same place on my righthand drive model and nope! no port!... checked underneath both sides of the dash but couldn't find the port... anyway have any ideas?

[Kal139]

Just checked in and around the fuse box under the bonnet and still can't locate the OBD2 port

[Kal139]

Ok I think I've found the OBD port (hopefully!)... please have a quick look at the attached pics and let me know if I have found it :)

PS: Found a link that talked about an OBD (Gas) and OBD (EV) port... what's the difference?

[jeebowhite]

Hi Kal,

Sorry been away from the boards for a little while!

OK so the secret trick, depending if you have a reset button on your stalk or an OK button on the steering wheel, switch the car off, press and hold either of these buttons and turn the ignition on, keep hold of the button until it beeps and enters test mode, then repeatedly press this button to scroll through the tests.

As for the OBD port that is the correct one you are looking at :)

The OBDII port is universal, but I think that certain cars overseas have different versions, but I think it may also relate to the fact that Petrol had the OBD Standard enforced before diesel (4 years difference I think)

If you need info on how to connect to your car, check my signature and look at "Got an error on your car?"

[Kal139]

No worries... yeah I managed to figure out in the end that I had to scroll through the tests with the up/down arrows rather than just sit there like a dork stairing at the screen!! lol

[jeebowhite]

so what codes did you pull out of there?

[Kal139]

Ok my D900 2014 scanner arrived today and this is the procedure I followed:

- Plugged cable into OBD port & switched scanner on

- Selected Ford (for vehicle manufacturer)

- From the Function screen selected "New Scan"

- From the 7 options on the New Scan screen selected option 1 "Read DTCs"

- Only one code was displayed ie -----> "P0304 Cylinder 4 Misfire Detected" (see screen pics attached)

I did a quick google search and found the following link:

http://www.obd-codes.com/p0304

Which suggests that if there are no symptoms I should simply reset the code and see if it comes back. I'm inclined to do this as the service manual shows the car was serviced March of this year and the car seems to drive fine ie engine starts fine and no stumbling... what do you think?

I also re-ran the onboard diagnostics and the only DTC code that comes up is "DTC #1 F006_16" though couldn't find any information when I googled this code so don't know what it means???

[jeebowhite]

I wouldnt worry about that code, it looks like a false generated by the instrument cluster. If you clear all DTC's on the car then it will settle and go away, some codes on the cluster dont just disappear, they are marked as "old" and if they dont come back the ECU removes them itself.

Definatey worth clearing and watching, but it could be an indication of a bad seal, or a bad injector. Might be worth running a BG244 treatment through to see if this improves the sitation?

[Kal139]

What's a BG244 treatment?... mine's a 1.6 petrol by the way.

[jeebowhite]

BG244 is a fuel treatment, its basically a better redex.

It just helps to clear up any extra cack that may reside in the system, making life easier for the car, so if its got a contamination that is causing the issue, then this might help to clear it up

[Kal139]

OK... it's just that the links I found on BG244 seem to suggest it's a diesel fuel additive... for petrol I think I have to use the BG44K additive?... or is there something else?

[jeebowhite]

yeah there is one diesel and one petrol specific might be the K version :)

[Kal139]

Ok the links I found on BG244K say it's for diesel?... and I found another link that says I need the fuel additive BG44K for petrol?

Btw I cleared the DTC codes and my engine warning lamp has now gone off. I'll keep an eye on it in case it comes back in.

[Kal139]

Oops sorry ignore previous message re BG44K... I had a problem with my computer and wasn't sure if my earlier message went through!!... anyway you've already answered that query :)

[Kal139]

Well some bad news. The engine warning lamp has come back on after the DTC code was cleared using the OBD scanner.

I rechecked the DTC code with the scanner and it's the same one ie "P0304 Cylinder 4 Misfire Detected"

Also I've noticed that the car struggles a bit when driving up an incline, I suspect this loss of power is linked to the engine issue.

Obviously I have to take it now to a garage to get it checked out properly. I don't really want to take it a Ford dealership workshop as they tend to be a bit expensive, but for a problem like this can I take it to any local garage or do I need to find a ford specialist?

I live in the HA4 postcode if anyone knows of a good & reliable mechanic/garage that's reasonably close to me?

Cheers

[jeebowhite]

Sounds like a bad injector to me sadly

[theredfox]

where can youbuy this BG244 diesel additive

[jeebowhite]

kwik fit seem to have them for sale last time I was in that area....