Hi, not sure if anyone can help me. I’ve had my 2017 Ford Focus ST Line for just over a year and over the last few months at random times I get an indication on the dash saying ‘Engine Service Now’ and the car instantly goes into Limp Mode. When I turn the engine off and back on it goes back to normal again. This has happened around 5 or 6 times over the last 6 months at any random time. I have had the car plugged into a diagnostic however there are no errors and the engine is ‘sound’ according to the mechanic? Does anyone know what could be causing this?

Thanks in advance.

There will be a fault code. It will be a Ford specific one that needs Forscan (or equivalent) to read it rather than generic code readers.

You might need to take a laptop with you and plug it in when the fault happens, it may also reset when you switch the engine off.

I had 2 times that warning but at the second time, the engine was making a weird noise and a lot of vibration.

Since it's still in waranty (7 years), i've send it to the  workshop

 

in the Fordpass app..

 

Ford Focus Station 2018 ST line 1.0 125 ecoboost

On 1/19/2022 at 10:08 PM, Joe Kay said:

Hi, not sure if anyone can help me. I’ve had my 2017 Ford Focus ST Line for just over a year and over the last few months at random times I get an indication on the dash saying ‘Engine service Now’ and the car instantly goes into Limp Mode. When I turn the engine off and back on it goes back to normal again. This has happened around 5 or 6 times over the last 6 months at any random time. I have had the car plugged into a diagnostic however there are no errors and the engine is ‘sound’ according to the mechanic? Does anyone know what could be causing this?

Thanks in advance.

Did you find the problem with this I'm having the same issue?

On 8/16/2022 at 8:03 PM, Vince31 said:

Did you find the problem with this I'm having the same issue?

Have recently had this issue after buying 19 plate focus st line second hand from days. Took it to garage for diagnostic, was told historical codes included low battery voltage on 3 occasions but nothing wrong could be found. Two occasions entered limp mode going up very steep inclines. They wiped codes and it entered limp mode again. , strangely enough on the same hill in the same place! When cleaning the car this morning I found a USB cable plugged in, in the arm rest compartment. I don't use the car every day , so I'm hoping I've found the fault for mine in that possibly this has drained the battery over time! Will test over next few weeks. 

Welcome @Leeroy78, may have been better to start a new thread?
If that is 2019 with the original battery, you are way over borrowed time so need to watch it carefully and consider replacement.
However what were the codes that were cleared whilst actually in limp mode?
Unsure if the USB cable, unless plugged into something actually drawing current is the cause of anything?

Hi

Thanks for reply. 

Have attached diagnostic reading. Should point out that never in permanent limp mode , whenever I turn engine off it fully works again 5 mins later

2 minutes ago, Leeroy78 said:

Hi

Thanks for reply. 

Have attached diagnostic reading. Should point out that never in permanent limp mode , whenever I turn engine off it fully works again 5 mins later

Should add , car still under warranty 

4 minutes ago, Leeroy78 said:

Should add , car still under warranty 

Sorry, USB only plugged into USB socket nothing else 

19 minutes ago, Leeroy78 said:

car still under warranty 

Your profile is confusing. It's saying the car is both 2019 and 2025 🤔

Also I suspect it is an ST Line and not an AT Line

Thanks for pointing that out , ammended

And... all of the codes are U, communication except for power steering, so are any of them sticking now that you have sorted the battery (but as it's under warranty, someone else should?) and, and, you definitely need to have the codes read or get warranty supplier to drive car up same hill and read codes when in limp mode so that the actual fault codes can be determined and whatever is causing the problem can be fixed... by them, not you before your warranty runs out?

Sorry for meandering sentences...

Thanks. Haven't sorted the battery, the latest limp mode was earlier this afternoon. I think best option is to take it in under warranty. Just don't trust Ford to sort anything for free under warranty 

11 hours ago, Leeroy78 said:

anything for free under warranty 

If Ford, and replacement battery, likely 3 years  "warranty" BUT manufacturing defects (unlikely) only?
However they must be given the best chance to find issue so taking it in and leaving when fault not on means they won't find anything and will be a waste of everyone's time so some way of triggering the actual fault (your hill) plus your other code reads is needed?

Thanks. Am I correct in understanding that as limp mode activated yesterday afternoon, this will now be readable on any upcoming diagnostic test? 

7 minutes ago, Leeroy78 said:

this will now be readable on any upcoming diagnostic test? 

Usually but not always.

Quite possibly not seen by generic code readers as they can't see Ford specific DTC's. Needs to be read using FORScan or with a Ford dealers equipment.

Am I correct in understanding that when I purchased the vehicle, second hand , when Ford did the inspection those codes should have either been dealt with or removed from the ECU before purchase?

Also, is anyone able to determine the date of the error codes in the attached picture please 

Turned out to be the turbo has gone and an engine sensor. I'm hoping the mechanic checked for any issues causing the turbo to fail though , rather than just replacing that under warranty