Had the car since new. No problems except the following. Had fuel sender replaced under warranty many years ago as it went from 20+ miles to go to 0 and stopped instantly! All ok since.

A few years ago on - one occasion only -  it started but only idled, the throttle had no effect. Limped home at 5mph but the following day and thereafter, no problems.

Once in 2016 and now more recently the engine has turned but it refused to start. A few minutes, or some cases overnight, try again and even after 11 failed goes eventually all's fine. Thought it might be fuel pump but it sounds fine for the few seconds you hear it after turning on ignition. I think, but am not 100% sure, that on occasions when it doesn't fire, I haven't heard the pump run. Called AA and even after whacking the underside of the tank, it wouldn't start, although it did some time later. It was suggested it may be the crankshaft rotation sensor.

Today it started fine but part way along the road on came the orange engine warning light and the info panel indicated engine malfunction. The revs then stuck at 1,500 rpm. Limped along at 10mph until safe to stop. Re-started and all is fine again.

Have tried 2 OBD readers but no fault codes are stored.

If I am right and the fuel pump isn't running as the crankshaft sensor is intermittent, how can I check this. Also if the sensor failed mid-journey would the result be idle at 1,500rpm only. Or is it a fuel pump/cable issue? Or?

Any ideas how problem solve this appreciated.

4 hours ago, MervynG said:

If I am right and the fuel pump isn't running as the crankshaft sensor is intermittent, how can I check this. Also if the sensor failed mid-journey would the result be idle at 1,500rpm only. Or is it a fuel pump/cable issue? Or?

Normally the Rev Counter takes its signal from the Crankshaft Sensor, so if there was no signal then the Rev Counter would show zero. In some cars the PCM may be able to take a signal from somewhere else such as the Camshaft Sensor or even the Fuel Pump in some older Diesels. I don't know if your Engine has the ability to do that or not.

There may also be more than one fault with your car.

If you want to do the diagnosis yourself then FORScan is the next best thing to Ford Dealer equipment, not only for Fault Codes but also for Live Data. 

FORScan (free for windows): https://forscan.org/download.html

ELM327(modified) cable: https://tunnelrat-electronics.fwscart.com/details/p4541936_17045457.aspx

Thanks for the thoughts so far.

Tizer, The rev counter was showing 1,500 revs throughout the idle issue so i presume this suggests that the crankshaft sensor is ok? To be clear once I engaged first gear the revs would drop to about 800rpm as I crawled forward as I couldn't increase them using the accelerator. So this further suggests the crankshaft sensor is ok. BTW mine is the 1.6 petrol engine.

Unofix What are you suggesting (PS I am not a windows user)? Do some OBD readers not display everything that is captured? When the non-start fault was present a couple of weeks ago, the AA's device saw nothing either and I presume that's more professional than the two I've tried.

Has anyone any idea what failure would allow engine to run at 1,500 rpm but the throttle is ineffective? Also what is the list of faults that can trigger an orange engine warning light and the associated info panel message?

1 hour ago, MervynG said:

Unofix What are you suggesting (PS I am not a windows user)? Do some OBD readers not display everything that is captured?

Most OBD code readers, even the very expensive professional units do not in many cases read all of the Ford specific DTC's. Ford use two different canbus systems on the vehicles, a HS and a MS.

They also use a DTC's which are Ford only.

If you don't have access to a windows laptop you can use a phone version of FORScan available for android and also iPhone. The FORScan Lite, will read all the DTC's just like the windows version and it will reset codes but it can't programme.

There isn't a list of faults, you need to read the codes preferably when they are still active and use that as your starting point for diagnosing the problem. That may be difficult though if you can't get the car started and sometimes the Fault Codes are just the symptoms, not the cause.

Here is a link to the FORScan download page. The phone apps are just the same as the Laptop version for what you need it for and better in a lot of ways because you can carry it with you if the fault is Intermittent. 

You do need a proper Adaptor though and anything other than the recommended ones may not work properly or at all. You don't need to buy them via the Link though. 

https://forscan.org/download.html

Thanks guys

 

Does ForscanLite read eveything that Ford can?

Which is a 'proper' adaptor?

Any idea what could trigger a constant 1,500 rpm?

1 hour ago, MervynG said:

Any idea what could trigger a constant 1,500 rpm?

TPS or MAP would be my guess.  As others have said though, really need codes to confirm.

1 hour ago, MervynG said:

Does ForscanLite read eveything that Ford can?

On 4/5/2023 at 1:19 PM, unofix said:

The FORScan Lite, will read all the DTC's just like the windows version and it will reset codes but it can't programme.

 

1 hour ago, MervynG said:

Which is a 'proper' adaptor?

Android phone (bluetooth) vLinker FD

iOS phone (bluetooth) vLinker FD+

1 hour ago, MervynG said:

Any idea what could trigger a constant 1,500 rpm?

Read the DTC's it works a lot better than guessing.

Thanks again for the advice.

 

The Forscan website suggested looking at which pins are being used in the SCART socket. I attach an image. I can see pins 1, 3, 6, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 16 are in use. Apparently 3 & 11 are auxiliary use for Ford MS-CAN and 6 & 14 are for primary use CAN/Ford HS CAN. I've no idea what 1, 9, 12, 13 and 16 are for though?

I can see both a Vgate and JUTA vLinker FD+ Bluetooth OBD2 Diagnostic Tool for £48. The JUTA comes tomorrow but the Vgate takes a couple of weeks. Are they the same item? They look the same?

Pins in use: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 11, 14, 16

Thanks unofix

 

Are all the green vLinker FD+ BLE+bluetooth the same if they look the same? I can see a JUTE and a Vgate on Amazon but delivery times are significantly different.

 

With a 2007 model, you should get away with the Tunnel Rat version.  Not sure how long delivery is on those now.  Although the cables all look the same, and obviously have the same shape OBD connector, the chips in them are different, and the build quality varies massively.

I've just used a cheap ELM327 cable with Forscan for years but admittedly not used it recently or on anything newer than a 2017 model.

Just spotted the JUTA has vGate on the box. Have ordered one.

Thanks Tom, Only just seen your reply. Will let you know what I find.

If you're planning on using FORScan then the only approved/supported options are:

          For use with a windows laptop using the full version of FORScan:-

• (a) ELM327(modified) lead. Suitable for all Ford vehicles with an OBDII port up to 2013  --  £18.49
• https://tunnelrat-electronics.fwscart.com/USB_Modified_ELM327/p4541936_17045457.aspx
• (b) vLinker FS lead. Suitable for all Ford vehicles with an OBDII port, any age  --  £29.99
• https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vgate-vLinker-Adapter-FORScan-MS-CAN/dp/B0952P4MLP

             For use with Android phone using FORScan Lite:-

• vLinker FD (Bluetooth) android. Suitable for all Ford vehicles with an OBDII port, any age  --  £39.99
• https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vgate-vLinker-Diagnostic-Scanner-Android/dp/B08H82WC8L?th=1

             For use with Apple iPhone using FORScan Lite iOS:-

• vLinker FD+ (Bluetooth) iPhone. Suitable for all Ford vehicles with an OBDII port, any age  --  £47.99
• https://www.amazon.co.uk/JUTA-vLinker-Bluetooth-Diagnostic-Adapter/dp/B0BFR3KXXM/ref=sr_1_5?crid=11OSF4CV83ZIP&keywords=vLinker+FD%2B&qid=1681402532&s=automotive&sprefix=vlinker+fd%2B%2Cautomotive%2C164&sr=1-5

 

Other makes or types of cable and dongles may or may not work with FORScan, and can not be recommended. The links to Amazon are only examples of where the products can be found. Other suppliers may be cheaper, but always check deliver times.