Greetings all, first post. I hope someone can offer some wisdom please!

I've had a 2011 1.6 Petrol C-Max for a couple of months and this issue has occurred twice out of nowhere whilst driving on clear road. The traction control warning light comes on and I get a system warning about the hill start assist not being available. Then the engine starts chugging like an old steam engine, and cuts out completely if I slow down and leave it idling. By keeping the revs up I just about manage to limp home with the engine feeling really jerky, and like it's going to stall while idling at junctions. No engine warning light, only the traction control light and the warning about hill start assist! Next day all fine. Did a 160 mile round motorway trip last weekend - fine, 3 times a week motorway commute about half hour each way - fine. But then this has happened just twice at random doing similar sort of drive. An eBay special code reader is showing "P0174 System Too Lean Bank 2", "P0171 System Too Lean Bank 1", "P2193 System Too Lean at Higher Load Bank 2" "P2191 System Too Lean at Higher Load Bank 1".

Took it to Ford dealer who say there doesn't appear to be anything wrong with it and I'd have to visit while it's actually doing it, which is easier said than done!

It's in lovely condition, 68k, but really worried I've bought a banger. Any bright ideas?

Thanks for reading!

System too lean is a fuelling issue.

Shouldn't be a bank 2 though on a 4 cylinder

Check for water ingress in the BCM (fusebox under glovebox)

Check battery voltage good and terminals tight

Check earth to body condition

Check engine bay and engine harness for any loose damaged connections

Check condition of engine bay earth points

Check spark plugs and leads

After that, you've got to go through the fuel system until you find the fault

Thanks.

Can anyone recommend a really good fault finding garage in Daventry / Rugby area?

I don't feel like the dealer has done much investigating of potential causes here. In my simple brain it's surely possible to check the possible causes, like DaveT70 has listed above, without the intermittent fault actually presenting at the time.