Hi all,

I have a 2005/55 Focus Titanium Diesel. Loving the car so far, only had it a couple of months. It's my first diesel.

I was driving the other day and my red light came on with a bleep and the warning read something along the lines of 'Engine Fault' (forgotten the exact message now).

RAC ran some diagnostics and tell me my my DPF regeneration failed. He says that they can get the garage to clean out the soot etc from the existing filter and run the regeneration again, at a cost of £200-odd. Failing that, a new filter would cost me £600-700. He also said that Ford are the only people who can reset the error message (or something like that).

The garage has now cleaned it out and passed it to Ford to regenerate it (or something like that). Basically, they tell me that it hasn't worked and we'll have to go for plan B, a new filter, at a cost of ....wait for it....£1400!

This is a complete rip off right? I've seen the part on websites for £370-odd and the mechanic admitted the labour would only be about an hour.

When I get the car back, is there any way I can sort this without having to pay for a new filter? I've read elsewhere that if you drive it consistently at 2500+ revs for 30-40 mins that should do the trick. Is that wishful thinking?

As i said, this is my first diesel and the DPF regeneration proccess is all new to me so if anyone can educate me a bit and offer any advice, I would be most appreciative!!

A DPF regenerates with heat...when your exhaust gases gets hot the DPF can burn up the soot it has collected, (which would clog and block if not cleaned out). To help this happen you need to get your engine upto operating temp. Then drive it for at least 20 min or more maintaining over 2000 revs, I have read somewhere at over 3000 revs. My manual doesnt say how much revs, just time, but does state using a lower gear if required...read into that what you will. Once knackered I have found on tinternet that yes a new replacement would be required.

the dreaded DPF failure. the RAC man is correct in saying ford are the only ones to reset the car...or if you can find anyone with ford ids (dealership tool) but this is only to reset the additive levels.

you could go cheaper if thats the lowest you been quoted and to be fair £1400 for a new filter is a absolute joke, they must of seen you coming miles off.

im going to upset a few people here by suggesting this but get your DPF and additive removed and get the car remapped to suit...if done properly you wont have to worry about it again.