So I have a mk2 1.6 TDCi zetec. I was driving down the motorway at the weekend and the engine just seemed to die. Idles fine but if the revs get above 15000 it started to splutter and cuts out if I dont lift my foot off.

Called the AA and when the guy plugged in the computer it had 9 errors logged. he did say he thinks most of them have been there awhile but he was worried about 3. P1577 Accelerator pedal position sensor 1/2 no coincidence, P0203 injector cylinder 3 open circuit or disruption (although he thinks this 1 may have been there awhile as well) and P0341 camshaft position sensor synchronization error.

He didnt wipe the codes so the garage could see them however after being payed off from my job a garage is a big bill that I just cant afford :( . Im quite handy with a tool kit and more than happy to work on petrol engines however iv never worked on a diesel.

Any help on what the problem may be and how hard a fix it is would be great.

Forgot to say she is a 2005 and has done 143000 miles but with a full service history.

Thanks in advance.

If you're getting it up to 15,000rpm I'm not surprised it's spluttering! :D

Seriously, though, I believe the throttle pedal position sensor (TPS) has two potentiometers and it appears these are giving different voltage readings. This might be because one has developed an open-circuit somewhere along its track and it's possible this might coincide with the point at which it starts to splutter.

I'm guessing that the ECU has detected a camshaft position sensor (CPS) signal occurring at slightly the wrong time with respect to the signal from the crankshaft sensor. When the CPS started to fail on our 1.8TDCi it caused the engine to cut out completely. Then after a minute or two it could be started again, only to cut out a few miles further on. This doesn't sound like your problem but maybe these failures can take more than one form.

If I was to make a guess I would plump for the TPS but maybe one of the more knowledgeable members on here might have a better idea.

thanks for the reply Mike. Thankfully that was a typo or im sure this problem would be the least of my worries lol

I'll have a look and see what I can find out in regards to the TPS.

Also forgot to say when the engine starts to splutter I get 'engine system fault' flashing up and going away. Also get a knocking noise which the AA guy said was a diesel knock (whatever that means) and not to worry about it.

Did you manage to fix your P1577 issue?

I am getting a similar issue and same code on forscan, but the engine system failure is constantly on and it judders when I accelerate slowly but not everytime. I'm in the process of taking apart the pedal sensor and cleaning it.