I was over taking the other day doing about 70mph when suddenly the engine cutout and the dashboard lit up with the glow plug light flashing,I managed to get to the hard shoulder switched off and restarted the engine and it ran again, it did it twice more before I got home. I had already cleaned the EGR valve in May time because this happened before any idea's please ???

3 hours ago, Shootingsurfer said:

doing about 70mph when suddenly the engine cutout and the dashboard lit up with the glow plug light flashing

Sudden total loss of power is usually fuel related. Clogged fuel filter, or a leak allowing air into the fuel lines, are top of the list.

Note: The supply lines on these diesels operate under suction, so fuel will not usually come out, but air will go in.

There should be an error code linked to the light. A garage will charge £50 to £100 just to look, but a basic OBD2 scanner (like the U480) costs from just £10, and is dead easy to use. (A system like Forscan is not much more expensive (from £15), but it is much more powerful, though it does take quite a lot more effort to get it set up initially.)

Note: Simply reading the codes can do no harm, and does not change anything. Just do not reset the codes (and you would have to ask the scanner to do this) if you are going to take the car to a garage.

Hi Thanks for that info I will do some more checks and see where this goes.

I purchased a U480 scanner and plugged in and it shows no faults I know the car has cut out several times and I know the cruise control has stopped working so why are no faults showing up ???

3 hours ago, Shootingsurfer said:

the car has cut out several times and I know the cruise control has stopped working so why are no faults showing up

As far as I know, there will always be a fault code to back up the malfunction light (which seems to be the glowplug light on these cars). It does not come on without a software command, with a DTC stored. If no DTC shows up, I can think of two reasons:

1) Too many start cycles have elapsed since the fault happened. Some DTCs seem to self-clear rather quickly, while others hang around for ages.

2) The DTC is Ford specific, and / or in a module that a generic OBD scanner like the U480 can not access.

I use the U480 because it is quick & easy, and reads most standard engine errors. I also use Forscan, for a much deeper diagnosis of all modules, and the ability to read live data from the engine.

The cruise control usually involves several modules, pcm, BCM & IC (engine computer, Body Control Module & Instrument Cluster). The U480 can probably only read pcm DTCs.

Are you sure the engine is cutting out completely, and not just going into a reduced power (limp) mode? Many DTCs will initiate a reduced power mode. No DTC type errors whatsoever will intentionally cause total power loss, as that would be considered a dangerous state. Only hardware (mechanical or fuel) failures can cause total power loss. So total power loss will narrow down the possibilities a lot. It has to be either no air getting to the engine (throttle valve closing?), or no fuel (including failure of the pcm). Not much else will stop a diesel.

If the U480 shows no codes on the same ignition cycle as the fault, or on the following ignition cycle, then the choice is either Ford IDS (at a garage), or Forscan. Or do the more basic things like change the fuel filter & check the fuel lines.

You could check the U480 by unplugging the MAF or the EGR valve, forcing the error light on, and seeing if it gave a corresponding code.

------------------ My standard Intro to Forscan :

Forscan is a powerful Ford specific system, Cost £15.00 for the interface. Needs a computer of some sort. (COM port, USB, Bluetooth or WiFi interfaces available). You will find a lot about ELM327 & Forscan on this site, which together provide a very comprehensive diagnosis & maintenance tool. James (jeebowhite) has done a nice guide: http://www.fordownersclub.com/forums/applications/core/interface/file/attachment.php?id=21196

Forscan works best on a Windows laptop, with a USB ELM. The Tunnelrat one (below) has been reported to work well by several people. Forscan is also available for iOS & Android for some tablets & phones.

For a USB ELM327 adapter, see
http://www.spanglefish.com/TunnelratElectronics/index.asp?pageid=516992

Wireless ELMs are also available (bluetooth & WiFi), but are often not as reliable as the wired ones. Also they are rare in the "modified" form which is needed to access the 2nd Ford bus system. This 2nd bus is the MS-CAN bus, and links all the car interior electronics like door modules, and the BCM (aka GEM). But a standard ELM will still work with all the Underbonnet Modules (PCM, ABS etc) and with the IC (Instrument Cluster).

For an bluetooth wireless ELM, which one user at least says works with Forscan, see the KW902: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ELM327-KW902-Bluetooth-Scaner-OBD-Link-OBD2-Diagnose-Interface-Tester-white-UK-/281631334205

The Forscan programme is free (in Windows format) and you can get it from:
http://forscan.org/download.html

Thanks for the reply TDCI- Peter when the engine has cut out its normally when I have been overtaking or doing about 70 mph and when I come to a stop it starts straight away on the key,when it first happened I cleaned out the EGR valve but it then did it again on a return trip from Norfolk to Cornwall  first time at Bristol and a further couple of times after that.Since I have put a new fuel filter on and a new EGR valve. The cruise control has not been working for a while now,but I have checked the pedal switches and they all make and break circuits using my volt tester so not sure on that one.Thanks for the info on the scanners I was just trying to avoid the garage charging me £100 and still not being able to tell me what the problems are !

Any help welcome, I have just come from Cornwall to Norfolk and after fitting new fuel filter and New EGR Valve the cutting out at 70mph still happens I have got to putting into neutral and restating the engine only the glow plug lights up on the dashboard when it cuts out,I did buy a U480 scanner but it showed no codes after the trip even though it cut out at least 4 times ? I'm getting good mpg but its getting to me having to keep an eye on the speedo all help would be gratefully accepted 

16 minutes ago, Shootingsurfer said:

its getting to me having to keep an eye on the speedo

How critical is the 70mph speed? Just an idea, probably daft, but could it be a software fault, perhaps linked to the non-functioning cruise control, that is cutting out the engine at a certain road speed?

It sounds from what you say, like every time it goes over a certain speed, it cuts out, and has to have an ignition off-on cycle to reset it.

To test this, try to monitor the speed of cut-out under varying conditions. Accelerating or uphill, downhill with small throttle opening, and even in 4th gear rather than 5th. If the speed stays virtually the same under all these conditions, then it has to be road speed related, and not engine or fuel related.

If it not this, then specifying your engine type might help. With some engines, a DPF regen closes an air valve, and opens a by-pass. If the by-pass did not open, it could stall the engine.