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Focus 1.8Tdci 2003 Non Start! Help!


Mrdean86
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Hi there newbie here! I'm not sure if I've posted this in correct section if I haven't I apologise. I have a 2003 ford focus 1.8tdci. The car has developed a starting issue,the car keeps turning over and doesn't fire. Tool to local garage an they said the fuel pump was faulty so they replaced that and surprise surprise the car is still the same! The garage the. Changed the cam and crank sensors and then common rail and pressure switch and also flushed tank and cleaned system along with new fuel filter the glow plugs were tested and changed and the garage now says that they can start the car on easy start and it will run all day long but as soon as the its switched off the car refuses to start! I'm at my wits end with this car and now and am seriously considering matched an a can of petrol. The garage now say the ecu could be at fault!? If any one could shed any light on this it would be much appreciated! Thanks.

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Did the Garage do a full diagnostic code read? Have they attempted to re-programme the injectors back in? A lot of the problems on the TDCI come from the Fuel delivery, this could range from blocked pipes throught to damaged fuel pump! Have you had the electronic injectors removed and checked by a diesel expert, it only costs about £70, albeit if they have issues then you could be looking at a bill of £500 for these to be re-built and then these need to be programmed.

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They said they reprogrammed injectors as they said this is mandatory when carrying out major work on the fuel system. apparently the fault codes coming up were cranking and low fuel pressure although I can't remember the fault code numbers.

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Hmm... it does depend on what diagnostic equipment is used. I have spent years fixing Ford Diesel engines and most problems with TDCI would come from the fuel pump or the injectors.

When the injectors are re-programmed they reset the values and go into a pilot mode, as the engine rev's and drives the ECU counts the pressure to hold back or force more diesel through the curve! I would ask them to revisit the injectors and perhaps watch them re-programme the injectors.....

Also if there was an issue with the fuel pump, this would break down inside and sent swarth or tiny bits of metal through the fuel system to the injectors! thus blocking them, best way to check is to remove the fuel filter and drain into a clean clear tub and shine a very bright light through it to see if there is any metal fragments. if there is then the system will need a complete refurb, i know you stated that this was done! but i do have issues with garages saying that this was done!

Have they completed a leak back test on the injectors????

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They said they had the injectors tested via a diesel specialist and he said they were fine? Would the coding cause the injectors not being codedto not let the car start after its been run for a long period?

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I've run these engines with uncoded injectors. Albeit runs a bit rough. I would suggest having the car codes read again.

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I'll probably get the garage to programme the injectors again and see what happens do you think the ecu could be the problem like they said?

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There may be an issue with the ECU, however i've not had many through the door with this issue! Good luck and let me know how you get on!

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Thanks for your help ill let you know how things go

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When they changed the fuel filter did they reprime it fully? you would expect them to but ive heard of worse lol

it may start with easy start and go because its pulled the fuel through but may loose pressure when turned off.

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It's weird because the garage said you can leave it running for at least an hour and then when switched off and try to start straight away it just turns over Which the guy said couldn't be pressure related as it wouldn't run in first place.? They pulled filter off today and examined it and said they couldn't find any metal particles so they are ordering a second hand ecu and going to fit that when it arrives.

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Had this problem on my 2.0 tdci last year after an engine change swooped the pumps over and it started first time every time have you got the car back if so get hold of a scanner and see what the fuel pressure is on cranking not sure what it should be on the 1.8 tdci maybe someone will chip in . But if its below the required pressure it won't start .some thing sounds Suss to me if they say they have changed all that and it won't start of its own accord did you actually see the new pump and they should be able to read the fuel pressure .if it was a sensor it would I would of thought thrown up a fault code pointing in that direction seems to me they are guessing and just throwing parts on at your expense .

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They showed me the old pump which I still have they fitted a new recon pump purchased from euro car parts I believe the guy said.The garage seem to think the ecu could be telling the injectors to not open fully when cranking? But if it runs with a squirt of easy start surely they should be working?

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After the garage changing the ecu the car still won't start the mechanic told me that a P2291 code keeps coming up any ideas on what could cause this? P2291 code is injector control pressure too low on crank

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Also the cranking on fuel pressure on their machine starts at 83 bar the. Drops to 54 when cranking

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Have they completed a fuel drop off test/leak back test??? also have they replaced the injector harness correctly? i know this from experience. number 1 and 2 injector harness can easily be mistaken. Oh while they are at it, get them to check the cylinder compression.

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Ok a update on where I'm at with this car! Garage put second ham ecu in car today and it is still the !Removed! same! Recoded injectors onto old ecu and the car cranked for a bit the. Fired up on its own accord left running for about 20 mins. Switched off and started about 10 mins later and then the car refused to start even on squirt of easy start. Garage said they put a hand primer pump onto pipe that comes from tank and connects to fuel filter primed up and car started and if you don't keep revs up it cuts out also the hand primer looses pressure and you have to re prime.

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Sounds like u got an air leak in the fuel lines somewhere which is causing it to drop pressure

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I know sometimes the fuel filter cap can cause pressure issues if the seals are broken/blocked. Try getting it to start and run with it off

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  • 8 months later...

Hello Dean,

Did you ever get this repaired? If so what was the fault please?

I just had a problem of my 2002 TDCi Focus cranking but not firing for no apparent reason. After a bit of research I replaced the cam position sensor and now the car starts perfectly.

All the best,

Mark

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Sorry for not updating everyone. Turned out to be the injectors leaking back got another set from a breakers and coding them in and fired up straight away!

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