Focus 1.8 Tdci Cutting Out After Fitting A Tuning Box

[Rafterman1976]

Hi all, i have been looking through the forums to try and figure out what has happened to my focus, i bought a tuning box from a tdi tuning company, it came with a money back guarantee which i have had to use, after i put the box on the car was using a hell of a lot more fuel, i mean a lot - without any noticeable power gains, so after a few days i decided it wasn't for me, however ever since i installed it, and now even more so since i removed the box my car loses power, glow plug light flashes and the car dies! i turn the ignition off and on and away it goes.

the car has had a fully synthetic oil change 3 months ago along with all filters, coolant etc. I removed the cam sensor as advised on other posts here but i cant really tell by looking at it if its ok. I also last month cleaned the egr and maf sensor.

im hoping this dam tuning box hasnt messed up the injectors or fuel pump, as when i restarted the car after it died the other night there was a horrible whining coming from the engine bay!! this went away as i stopped the car straight away.

also im thinking of getting it on a diagnostics machine but surely there wont be any codes if the problem is intermittent?

any suggestions would be greatly appreciated,

cheers in advance!!

[IINexusII]

Chances are it has. Codes could still be stored in the PCM if there has been any. youll probably need to use a ELM327 cable and an app like ForScan to read the codes of all the modules, or find a garage that has the ability to read more than the standard OBDII codes.

was the fuel filter also changed? if so, was it a genuine ford fuel filter? ive had issues myself with aftermarket filters, even top quality ones like Bosch, Mann

[Rafterman1976]

Hi thanks for the response, I am just home as the car gave up about 30 miles from my house! It started cutting out every few miles until it decided to move not very far at all, managed to get a lift to a parts shop and get a fuel filter, which was the wrong one so got another lift back just before they closed and got the right one, got as much fuel transferred as it was dark, fitted it and it fired up and died, then wouldn't start.

I had no choice but to leave it there, a mechanic is meeting me there tomorrow he said it sounds like the box has done something to the settings for the injectors and reckons he can reset the codes?

Now I've a 30 mile bus trip to look forward to tomorrow

And all for paying £80 for a tuning box, think the lesson learned here is if it's not broke don't fix it!!!

[IINexusII]

could you provide a link to this tuning box? they shouldnt do anything apart from overridng the fuel rail, pushing more fuel into the system to provide a hacked way of more power.

they should be writing anything to the ECU unless it was a proper remap

make sure you fit a GENUINE FORD fuel filter, ive tried two aftermarket ones before and they both gave me issues. you will need to go to a ford dealer to get one, or order from www.fordpartsuk.com

[Rafterman1976]

I don't know if that's what's caused the problem it just seemed strange that the car has always been fine and a day or two after I fitted it this has happened, maybe just coincidence

[MONDEO TXS 2.2]

What make box is it ?

You don't get much for just £80

[Rafterman1976]

Sorry I haven't been online for a couple of days, the tuning box was a unit bought from a tdi tuning specialist, it connected to the fuel pressure sensor I think, I was told it was an electronically controlled unit mapped to my cars engine, as I had to provide the chassis number,

I have now changed the fuel filter, the cam sensor and the spider thing with the pressure sensor (twice) and the sensor on the fuel pump, it's still starting then after about 15-20 seconds it cuts out.

Had it on a diagnostics machine and its reading:

P1211 - injector control pressure higher/lower than desired

P0251 - injection pump fuel metering control A

Car is still abandoned as I have no way of moving it as its 30 miles I don't fancy towing in that weather, spent all weekend trying to get it going by changing all the parts mentioned above,

I'm not sure what to do now as I've been told now it's either injectors or a fuel pump, it's very close to the scrap yard lol

[artscot79]

I always state caution buying these tuning boxes truth I if its the injectors or pump I wont be cheap ide be contacting the so called tuning company but no doubt they'll have small print to state they aren't responsible for damage caused

[Stoney871]

The hint to the problem may have been in the cost of the tuning box.

£80? I reckon you've done major damage due to an incorrectly wired POS cheap box.

Caveat Vendre I'm afraid.

If they have a guarantee then pray it's worth the words they used in it or you'll be footing the bill.

[artscot79]

My understanding is that a tuning box fits between the ECU and the fuel pump/injectors etc and modifies the signals being sent which control how much fuel is injected.

Baiscally you are just adding a certain amount of extra fuel under pretty much all conditions except idle or the over run. As everything else is still unchanged, turbo boost being the main factor you are simply running richer which may produce more power but probably with more smoke etc.in most cases theres little to no improvement a remap is the way to go not these supposed generic maps since every car is different despite having the same engine a generic map is basically not possible

You may find the only warranty given was on the box itself and that they accept no liability for any damage caused even if they did they will argue that since it wasn't professionally fitted and checked over they aren't liable

[Rafterman1976]

Thanks for the replies, I didn't notice any difference when I fitted the box, they suggested turning the tuning screw up a quarter of a turn at a time, 3 and 1/2 turns later all I was doing was using more fuel, I emailed them and they said I had it turned up too much (the manual says don't go beyond 4 turns) so it has been returned as of last week,

I am going to the breakers yard again today, the last thing I think I can try is the pump inlet metering valve located on the fuel pump, I have already changed the sensor on the pump, it's got a green electrical connection but this one has a brown electrical connection, if this doesn't cure it then it's probably beyond hope,

Thing is the car was great, I got it very cheap as the woman who owned it his a badger and the bumper was smashed, think this freaked her out, I got a bumper the same for £30! The car has never missed a beat, until this,

Any ways I'll go today and see if I can get this other bit and cross my fingers!

[spurswes]

Let's hope the problem gets cured.Keep us updated

[Rafterman1976]

Went today and got an injection pump inlet valve, swapped it over with the existing one on the pump, hey presto it worked! Ticked over as normal, drove 6 miles to get some diesel, and then amidst all the school traffic it died! Back to the way it was, so unfortunately the focus has me defeated as the only other thing it could be is fuel pump or injectors, and that's not even going to be a guaranteed cure.

So my finances are now stretched and it's looking like a sale for spares or repair!

Many thanks for the help but as I say it's beyond me now lol