I have a 65 reg Ford C Max. It passed an MOT in October 2024 with no advisories. It then had a service in November 2024. 
 

Recently I’m finding that if I’m in 3rd gear accelerating to go into 4th it feels like there isn’t any power. The rev’ counter is working fine and plenty of diesel in the car. It then comes up with “engine service now” within an orange box. It then seems to go into limp mode. 
If I turn the car off and back on, this light goes off. 
 

I’ve been back to my local garage where I had the MOT and service. It is booked in for next week. I’ve had the car plugged in and nothing was coming up. Earlier today, two mechanics in the garage did question if the service and oil was reset on the car when the service was done and I was told they reset it again. 
 

I did purchase DPF cleaner 3 days ago and put it in the car and it felt okay, so I was shocked and confused why today this started to happen again. 
 

Looked on a different post on ford forum and something similar happened to someone else but in 5th gear and their car needed a new clutch. 
 

 

if anyone has any ideas please let me know! 
thanks

21 minutes ago, Carys said:

Earlier today, two mechanics in the garage did question if the service and oil was reset on the car when the service was done and I was told they reset it again. 

First thing that needs to be made clear is the warning message "Engine Service Now" does not mean the car wants or needs a service. It is Ford's rather stupid way of saying "the engine is bu99ered get it fixed now"

It is a little concerning that the garage mechanics are even talking about whether the service and oil were reset when the car was serviced. It tells me that they have no understanding of the warning message.

General generic code readers will not read or show Ford specific DTC's. The fact that the 'Engine Service Now' message has been displayed a number of times means there will be a stored Ford specific code. It needs to be read using FORScan or the vehicle needs to go to a Ford dealer.

I don’t know what to do for the best. I’m a female in my late 20’s with no one in my family or friends that have an understanding of cars to sign post me, so I am putting my trust into my local garage. It is still booked in for next week so if this issue keeps happening or even happens one time again, I can take it into the garage. 
 

Have you got any ideas or is anything standing out that you may think could be the issue or anything to help me at all?

10 minutes ago, Carys said:

Have you got any ideas or is anything standing out that you may think could be the issue or anything to help me at all?

The only serious advice I can give you is you need to take the car to a Ford main dealer to get them to read the Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC's). While it is tempting to use your 'trusted local garage' because you have used them routine work, it seems to me they: (a) don't understand the warning message. (b) they don't have Ford specific diagnostic equipment to read the codes.

I suspect your local garage will resort to guess work and start changing parts, of course you will be paying for both their time and parts. Taking the car to a Ford dealer for diagnostics will most probably cost you around £120 which does seem a lot (because it is) but at least you should get a much clearer answer as to what's wrong. You don't have to let them do the repair once you know what the problem is, you can always go back to your local garage to get the work done.

I agree with the absolute need to get an accurate code reading.
The only other option I know of would be to look for a specialist (it looks like DPF if your comment on buying a cleaner and it is based on what reason?) diagnostic tech in your area (may be mobile)
As said, the Ford dealer should be able to get the codes but after that I'd still be wary as they may say "new DPF" or just start fitting genuine parts (not always necessary - at staggering cost!)
Depending on the codes it may be something else and codes do NOT tell the full story!!!

DPF is almost always a victim rather than a cause!

I'll post a couple of You Tube channels that may help you to understand the skills and methods that should be used (which are in very short supply) It may allow you to understand the basis of any advice you are given:
DPF specialist:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ud-x7BqKU-g

 

Auto electrician:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ewoVcQOgYsg

Diagnose Dan:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8oOBpIq2IU

Only by trying to understand a decent diagnostic process can you converse with techs on a reasonable basis?

Mobile guy I trust (but not near you, sorry):
https://www.a1-terraclean.co.uk/dpf-cleaning/
Do come back if necessary.

Thank you so much! I’ll have a look at them now. 
 

Little update: I’ve just come home from taking the car for a drive now it’s night time and the roads are quieter. I got less than a mile from my house and again going into 4th I could feel the car wasn’t right. No lights or messages on the dashboard at this time. I went down 3 dual carriageways and then the dreaded “engine service now” in orange came on. I did go into Tesco and buy a bottle that said it gives the car a clean essentially and you put this in like DPF cleaner but only half a bottle at a time. It said to put diesel in the car and then this fluid. So I did that. Didn’t notice a difference coming home. Again the jolting back and forth but no message or light came on. 
 

I’ve checked my service book. It doesn’t say what was changed on the service in 2023 and I know my last service was only a minor one. So I am wondering if it is just a major service needed?? There isn’t any error codes on the car being picked up on the plug in machines (2 different machines have been used). 
 

I'm going to keep my booking with my local garage for Monday am and see what they say. If I’m still not getting anywhere then my next stop will be my local Ford. 

1 hour ago, Carys said:

I am wondering if it is just a major service needed?? 

NO. 

You're still in the mind set of thinking "service" It was a sad day when Ford changed the warning from "Engine Malfunction, garage now" just because they didn't want to alarm people.

You're car has a real fault, changing the oil and filter is not going to fix it. 

Only other thing I'd say at present is that it is far better (important, critical?) to have the codes read when the engine management/service (agree with the poor title) light actually on as reading when it is off, may mean the fault is cleared...for the moment.
Therefore if you can get the warning on, before you go to the appointment and don't turn the engine off, the true codes may be revealed, giving everyone something to work on?

Edit: You still haven't said on what basis you are buying DPF cleaners which won't (I think) have much effect. The root cause of any DPF issue needs to be found and solved first plus don't let anyone just clean it without fixing the problem that has caused it to block - if that's what the codes finally say? 

Added::  The only reason I bought DPF cleaner on Monday was because that’s what my issue was pointing at - a blocked DPF. 
I haven’t got any guidance around me, so when I go into a Halford’s store asking for help and explaining, naturally I’m only going to think that they’re trying to help me with their product recommendations. 
This morning I’ve spoken to my local Ford’s and they’ve booked it in for 20/2/25 as that’s the closest date they have available. They recommended having a new fuel filter which has been ordered with my local garage and will be done on Monday morning. Hopefully this will be the issue solved. 
 

 

 

 

 

Thank you so much! I’ll have a look at them now. 
 

Little update: I’ve just come home from taking the car for a drive now it’s night time and the roads are quieter. I got less than a mile from my house and again going into 4th I could feel the car wasn’t right. No lights or messages on the dashboard at this time. I went down 3 dual carriageways and then the dreaded “engine service now” in orange came on. I did go into Tesco and buy a bottle that said it gives the car a clean essentially and you put this in like DPF cleaner but only half a bottle at a time. It said to put diesel in the car and then this fluid. So I did that. Didn’t notice a difference coming home. Again the jolting back and forth but no message or light came on. 
 

I’ve checked my service book. It doesn’t say what was changed on the service in 2023 and I know my last service was only a minor one. So I am wondering if it is just a major service needed?? There isn’t any error codes on the car being picked up on the plug in machines (2 different machines have been used). 
 

I'm going to keep my booking with my local garage for Monday am and see what they say. If I’m still not getting anywhere then my next stop will be my local

On 2/7/2025 at 11:28 AM, Carys said:

Added::  The only reason I bought DPF cleaner on Monday was because that’s what my issue was pointing at - a blocked DPF. 
I haven’t got any guidance around me, so when I go into a Halford’s store asking for help and explaining, naturally I’m only going to think that they’re trying to help me with their product recommendations. 
This morning I’ve spoken to my local Ford’s and they’ve booked it in for 20/2/25 as that’s the closest date they have available. They recommended having a new fuel filter which has been ordered with my local garage and will be done on Monday morning. Hopefully this will be the issue solved. 
 

 

 

 

 

Thank you so much! I’ll have a look at them now. 
 

Little update: I’ve just come home from taking the car for a drive now it’s night time and the roads are quieter. I got less than a mile from my house and again going into 4th I could feel the car wasn’t right. No lights or messages on the dashboard at this time. I went down 3 dual carriageways and then the dreaded “engine service now” in orange came on. I did go into Tesco and buy a bottle that said it gives the car a clean essentially and you put this in like DPF cleaner but only half a bottle at a time. It said to put diesel in the car and then this fluid. So I did that. Didn’t notice a difference coming home. Again the jolting back and forth but no message or light came on. 
 

I’ve checked my service book. It doesn’t say what was changed on the service in 2023 and I know my last service was only a minor one. So I am wondering if it is just a major service needed?? There isn’t any error codes on the car being picked up on the plug in machines (2 different machines have been used). 
 

I'm going to keep my booking with my local garage for Monday am and see what they say. If I’m still not getting anywhere then my next stop will be my local

update: it was the fuel filter which has now been replaced!
 

 

 

 

Added::  The only reason I bought DPF cleaner on Monday was because that’s what my issue was pointing at - a blocked DPF. 
I haven’t got any guidance around me, so when I go into a Halford’s store asking for help and explaining, naturally I’m only going to think that they’re trying to help me with their product recommendations. 
This morning I’ve spoken to my local Ford’s and they’ve booked it in for 20/2/25 as that’s the closest date they have available. They recommended having a new fuel filter which has been ordered with my local garage and will be done on Monday morning. Hopefully this will be the issue solved. 
 

 

 

 

 

Thank you so much! I’ll have a look at them now. 
 

Little update: I’ve just come home from taking the car for a drive now it’s night time and the roads are quieter. I got less than a mile from my house and again going into 4th I could feel the car wasn’t right. No lights or messages on the dashboard at this time. I went down 3 dual carriageways and then the dreaded “engine service now” in orange came on. I did go into Tesco and buy a bottle that said it gives the car a clean essentially and you put this in like DPF cleaner but only half a bottle at a time. It said to put diesel in the car and then this fluid. So I did that. Didn’t notice a difference coming home. Again the jolting back and forth but no message or light came on. 
 

I’ve checked my service book. It doesn’t say what was changed on the service in 2023 and I know my last service was only a minor one. So I am wondering if it is just a major service needed?? There isn’t any error codes on the car being picked up on the plug in machines (2 different machines have been used). 
 

I'm going to keep my booking with my local garage for Monday am and see what they say. If I’m still not getting anywhere then my next stop will be my local