ford focus 2006 1.8tdci hatchback.

went out this afternoon and about 500 yards from home the car just died.

no warning lights before this and have done over 700 miles in the last 5 days and it didn't miss a beat

got a neighbour to tow it back home and looked for anything obvious.

when you turn the key everything lights up as it should but the starter motor doesn't engage. readout on the speedo just says ---------

its like the battery is flat but been on charge for hours and still nothing.

I have 2 diagnostics tools. a draper universal code reader and a ford s-code reader. when I connect these it gets power to run the reader but cannot connect to the ecu to check codes. just says to turn on ignition but the ignition is already on.

have checked all engine and passenger fuses. could it be a relay?

really need to get the car back on the road asap so any help would be great.

cheers

 

 

 

I would bet your immobiliser light id flashing a code out, usually code 16.

This means there is no communication between the PCM and HEC (Instrument cluster) so the PCM does not receive a valid key signal and the car won't start.

Anything been done to the car recently?

Check the footwell passenger side at the GEM and remove and reconnect all the multiplugs, failing that possibly a bad cluster and that is causing the fault.

The immobiliser light will flash rapidly when turnign the ignition on to show the car is immobilised, then it will count out two numbers one after the other, the light will flash a certain amount of times for the first digit then pause then count out the second digit in a series of flashes, and I put a pound to a dollar you get 1 and 6 flashes indicating code 16 no communication.

Remove the cluster and fiddle with the connector and cable on the back for the multiplug and see if the car will start again, if it does then I suspect a faulty cluster.

Yes, Immobiliser light on, or doing odd flashes & --- in mileometer, 2006 TDCI, I had identical problem in Feb.

I bet it is the same fault, on the Instrument Cluster.

See:

http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/applications/core/interface/file/attachment.php?id=38633

Peter.

Cheers.

 

Massive thank you to TDCI-peter and who ever made the guide. Followed it and car is fixed.

only different being I removed the solder (using a solder sucker) and re-soldered all the pins just to be on the safe side.

 

Great news!

(I wrote the pdf)

Peter.

Hi Tdci-Peter, 

I encountered the same issue, engine immobilisation light flashing (haven't done the counts yet, just reading through 'how to' topics, and was wondering whether I could ask you to give me a hint on how to fix that too. 

 

 

 Have a look at the link in the third post. I think that's the guide referred to later.

my dad had a similar issue on his c-max. only difference being, he could attempt to start the car and eventually it would start. it turned out the his gauges needed replacing. somehow they stopped the car from starting? hope this helps

Yeah that's the same fault as described by Peter and Simcor. Apparently a common fault but as said, the immobiliser (amongst other things) communicated with the rest of the car via the dash cluster. 

There is a bad solder connection (I understand, I don't know which ones) that likely crack and simply need reflowing but most garages just replace the cluster.