Hope someone has some good advice 

So my 2008 ford focus 1.8tdci diesels engine malfunction light came on thursday afternoon. No issues before this had new breaks new shocks new tyres new front coils all ready for its mot in 2 months time ( grrr ) the car was driving absolutely fine then it just switched. Binging its head off and loss of power. Can get the car up to speed but its soooo ***** hard. We have changed the fuel filter today as advised by garage and still no better off. Googling it is a mind feild and with the garage not open till Monday its a bit of a pain 😫 

An engine management light could mean anything. You need to read the codes and come back.

There are no codes coming up 

What did you use to read them?

If it still says engine malfunction then there will definitely be a code stored.

Three different code readers , this is what is confusing us. My brother in law and husband spent 7 hours on the car today checking everything and replacing the fuel filter 

Define "checking everything" lol. We can't help you if you're only going to tell half a story...

Have you checked with Forscan? Sometimes you get Ford specific codes that a generic code reader won't pick up.

All they have said is that anything they could get to and physically check has been. My brother in law is going to borrow the get the machiene that they use at his work to run tests on vehicles for codes as its in his words the best one you can get. Not sure what it is called he didnt say but thats not for another few days. I will check on that forscan. They have used a cheap version, a semi cheap version and a bit more expensive one which all are not bringing up any codes. Iv ran a check through the dashboard but nothing comes up on that either

After its been sat overnight the car is back to normal untill around 2 miles down the road then the engine light comes on and it slows again i dont no if that helps 

You should start performing diagnostics with a Ford specific diagnostic system like for example IDS, FDRS, Forscan or UCDS. These diagnostic systems are able to show Ford specific DTC codes that are not recognized by most generic diagnostic systems. 

Generic diagnostic systems usually only read the PCM, ABS and RCM modules for DTC codes. A Ford specific diagnostic system will read all available CANbus modules for DTC codes. 

 

If there are no stored DTC codes in any of the CANbus modules the problem will most likely be caused by the classic instrument cluster problem. As a result of the usage of lead free solder (for environmental reasons) combined with vibrations the soldering connections of the instrument cluster circuit board develop microcracks/cracks. This can result in several problems varying from an activated engine malfunction light to a car that does not even start. 

Thank you ,

 

If it is the instrument panel, this may be of use...

 

Brilliant thank you. Took it off today and looked under a magnifying glass and can see a few bits that dont look right so will try to sort that once the tool arrives. Interesting to see about the fuse box as last year my car literally just stopped locking and the dash was showing no indicators ect took fuse box down and noticed it came back. Went to put it away again and it went so there is a sensitive wire somwhere along the lines. Least to say the people before me didnt look after this car at all so its really not unexpecred if we occur more issues along the way 

Just an update 

Still no where closer to solving the issue. Cluster board has been done and its not that. Took it to garage who used there computer which didnt bring up a single code. 

Car is now being put to the side in which i hope to be able to go through every single little thing to get it back to a working car 😞