Hi all. Newbie here. Not sure if I’ve posted this in the right place but need help!
I’ve got a mk3 focus 1.6 tdci . Sometimes when driving the car I get engine malfunction service now pop up on the dash and I notice a drop in power. When I restart the car the message has gone and the power is back ( until it happens again) if it comes up three consecutive times then the engine light also comes on and stays on even after restarting the car, but if I drive the car slowly through the gears then after three consecutive times without the message coming up then the engine light turns off? I have changed the fuel filter and oil filter and oil and air filter. Also a couple of times I’ve had “engine too hot stop now” ( or something like that) displayed on the dash in red and the temp gauge is at the top but after a few seconds the temp gauge goes back to halfway and the message disappears. Don’t know if that is all connected to the same problem or different problems? Any help on this is greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance 

Edited March 5, 20224 yr by Steveandcristina

I would check the intercooler pipes are not loose or split.

The 'engine too hot - stop now' needs addressing first, I would say.  May be connected to loss of power if the engine is trying to protect itself from overheating, perhaps, and going into limp home mode. But that warning, which I'm guessing was red not amber, must be investigated ASAP.

3 hours ago, Steveandcristina said:

Also a couple of times I’ve had “engine too hot stop now” ( or something like that) displayed on the dash in red and the temp gauge is at the top but after a few seconds the temp gauge goes back to halfway and the message disappears.

Hello Steve, as @alanfp has already said the first priority is to investigate the temperature problem. It could just be a stuck thermostat or a failing water pump, but it needs fixing.

Get a laptop and load the software 'FORScan' so that you can read all the DTC's that must be stored. That will help identify many of the issues.

A list of fault codes would be very useful 🙂

Any effect if you whack the top of the dash when the engine malfunction message occurs? Not quite as applicable to the MK3 but still worth bearing in mind

4 hours ago, Focus_ said:

A list of fault codes would be very useful 🙂

Any effect if you whack the top of the dash when the engine malfunction message occurs? Not quite as applicable to the MK3 but still worth bearing in mind

Yes I have heard that maybe it might be bad soldering on the dash but think this has only been with 08 to 11 mk2 ? Unless anybody can enlighten me if this problem also happens on the mk3?

4 hours ago, Focus_ said:

A list of fault codes would be very useful 🙂

Any effect if you whack the top of the dash when the engine malfunction message occurs? Not quite as applicable to the MK3 but still worth bearing in mind

When I’ve run a test on the dash LCD I’ve read code DTC #01 C401_64 and also run a test on the radio LCD and had these two codes DTC C19700 and DTC F00616 if anyone knows what these codes mean?

26 minutes ago, Steveandcristina said:

When I’ve run a test on the dash LCD I’ve read code DTC #01 C401_64 and also run a test on the radio LCD and had these two codes DTC C19700 and DTC F00616 if anyone knows what these codes mean?

You need to connect up using FORScan and get the Ford specific DTC's. The inbuilt instrument cluster test only gives a general fault, they are of no useful meaning.

29 minutes ago, Steveandcristina said:

Yes I have heard that maybe it might be bad soldering on the dash but think this has only been with 08 to 11 mk2 ? Unless anybody can enlighten me if this problem also happens on the mk3?

All Focuses between 1998-2015 (MK1-MK3.5) are known to have faulty instrument clusters in their own way, some more common than others and they all had different faults.

Most common are the 2005-2011 (MK2 & MK2.5) to suffer from similar issues as you describe when the cluster fails.

As @unofix mentions above, a list of codes from an OBD scan or even better Forscan would be very helpful to give us an idea of what may be wrong

 

Yes I agree forscan is very specific to what is wrong and you can record live date also to determine what is happening.

On 3/5/2022 at 7:01 PM, Focus_ said:

A list of fault codes would be very useful 🙂

Any effect if you whack the top of the dash when the engine malfunction message occurs? Not quite as applicable to the MK3 but still worth bearing in mind

Hi. Just used a fault code scanner and has come up with the following code P2599

5 minutes ago, Steveandcristina said:

Hi. Just used a fault code scanner and has come up with the following code P2599

That's for the boost sensor on the turbo. Which would explain the drop in power. Could be sticky turbo veins or a faulty sensor.