Ford Fiesta 1.4 TDCI 2007 - After engine start car goes into limp mode just for first 2 gears.

[WreckOnFire]

Hi Guys,

All of a  sudden, car goes into limp mode when starting it but just for the first two gears, as I shift up towards the third gear and give it some rpm the limp mode goes off and car returns to full power with no apparent problems. Limp Mode comes back up as you stop at a red light again for the first 2 gears then it goes away.

Has anyone else encounter such a problem before?

[Luke4efc]

What fault code are you getting?

[WreckOnFire]

Unfortunately I did not manage to get an OBD reading on it to see if it displays any yet. I was hoping to do that as the latter option even if it seems like the obvious next step 🙂

[Luke4efc]

It's complete guess work without the fault code. Ideally you need to use Forscan to have the best chance of obtaining one.

[WreckOnFire]

So I can take my mind off purchasing a 17pounds OBD II compatible with cars built 1999 up?

[Luke4efc]

You need a modified ELM327 lead, like this one (note the switch for HS/MS can switching). Then download Forscan onto a laptop

[WreckOnFire]

Thank you

[WreckOnFire]

To whom may concern:

I used a default ELM327 OBD2 with Torque Pro as that is what I had access to initially, I was curious to see if it shoots any fault codes without hs/mscan options. 

The only fault code reading is P0380 Glow plugs / Circuit A  

- Should I consider it is a glow plug 100%  or should I try and troubleshoot it from the battery down the circuit to make sure? I opened up the relays they look ok and in working order I'm not sure if in this case looks can be deceiving?  Warning! possible stupid question: Could a dying battery cause this? 

- Should I change all 4 glow plugs? or just the faulty one ?
- I know that changing the glow plugs can be a headache as there is a 50% 50% chance they will snap ? Some people choose to just cancel the code coming up just to avoid the possible headache of changing them. 

Any experienced individual that is willing enough to enlighten me in my quest would be much appreciated 🙂

[unofix]

Most probable that it is the Glow Plug.

If you can afford to change them all it would be best, but its not as important like changing spark plugs on a petrol engine.

[anon]

If you can identify the faulty glow plug(s) then swap them out. Plus Gas, close fitting six sided socket (preferably on a T handle,) and patiently apply force forwards and backwards. How long does the problematic phase last?

[WreckOnFire]

1 minute ago, unofix said:

Most probable that it is the Glow Plug.

If you can afford to change them all it would be best, but its not as important like changing spark plugs on a petrol engine.

noted

 

1 minute ago, anon said:

If you can identify the faulty glow plug(s) then swap them out. Plus Gas, close fitting six sided socket (preferably on a T handle,) and patiently apply force forwards and backwards. How long does the problematic phase last?

The engine starts just as before, no problems there. Cold starts at around 10 degrees Celsius with no problem. As soon as the engine starts Intermittent Limp Mode orange warning light starts and goes away after you reach around the 3rd gear. After the engine heats up and you stop at a red light sometimes it takes a minute until Limp Mode comes back, almost like the coolant liquid cools down and it tries to start the glow plugs to compensate and then it finds the problem again, and so on.

[anon]

Right. As I expected the glow plug is not the problem. Problems that occur when the engine is hot are nothing to do with the glow plugs. Sorry if that is not what you want to hear but I think you  need to do a few more readings, preferably when the car is playing up. Looks like it could be at least one of about three different things so get some decent data before coming to any conclusions.

[anon]

Incidentally, If you want to get a glow plug out, you can tilt the ofdds a bit by getting the engine good and hot then giving the offending glow plug a good ten second blast of freezer spray before going in with the socket. Even gets number six out of an OM606 Merc!

[WreckOnFire]

that sucks to hear 🙂

"Looks like it could be at least one of about three different things" May I ask what are the three different things that you had in mind?

[anon]

No. It will not help you to know. Until it is analysed properly, they are all possibilities but only guesses. You need something more to pinpoint the fault. Do it properly  or don't bother.

 

[unofix]

On 10/27/2021 at 9:06 PM, Luke4efc said:

You need a modified ELM327 lead, like this one (note the switch for HS/MS can switching). Then download Forscan onto a laptop

 

[WreckOnFire]

Ok I will keep you posted thank you all for the prompt replies.

[WreckOnFire]

So after a while I went ahead and bought a HS/MS elm327. Right before I had a chance to use it I had to do a 100km trip. At the end of that trip the limp mode just stopped popping up, and for a few days now It did not come back.  I went ahead and got forscan on to try and understand what is going on. The P0380-60 error was still there, I cleared the code and did a reset on the PCM (2 times) and it stopped showing up (tried to see if it pops up again 2 extra times 2 different days, seems like its miraculously gone).

- Used a multimeter to test the battery and ground, and glow plug relays, everything seems fine (I failed to test the glow plugs resistance as they are in a difficult position to fidget with and couldn't remove the plastic caps that power them so I gave up on that for now) this was before the limp mode stopped popping up. I also went ahead and cleaned the EGR Valve which was more than half blocked with sooth on the outtake part of the valve.

- I am now thinking that maybe humidity was a factor and was messing with part of the control circuit for the glow plugs.. and added to this a hunch that the system was failing to regenerate the DPF? and the 100km trip somehow fixed the problem? It did eat more diesel than usual this time and after the limp mode stopped popping up it suddenly went back to its usual mileage consumption? 

- After all this I monitored live data on cold start on a 2-3C day. The Glow Plug Control (GPC) showed as ON when engine was ignited and looked like it was doing its job along with the EGR valve which seemed to cycle exhaust as intended. 

As a final test I tried to run Mode 6 which surprised me with these errors. What am I doing wrong or how should I look at this? The first time I ran it, a dash warning light for the airbag popped up. 

(OK) [12:35:02.125] Mode 6 - Test Results for Specific Monitored Systems has been started
(WARN) [12:35:02.180] Comprehensive component monitoring: Incomplete
(WARN) [12:35:02.191] EGR system monitoring: Incomplete
(ERR) [12:35:04.094] Test completed, malfunction detected
 

Any other suggestions on what live data I should monitor and where could I find normal parameters to compare with are a blessing for me as I want to make sure the engine runs as it should.