Hi all, you've been great in the past and I'm looking for a bit of advice.

My 2008 Focus 1.6tdci is suffering from a lack of power/acceleration in the low ranges (below 2000rpm). Feels very sluggish. Once the turbo kicks in around this point, it's much better - so definitely not a faulty turbo.

To give a bit of background, I had it remapped around 18 months ago, which made it much more responsive in the low ranges - that's mainly why this is so noticeable.

Just before the new year, my EGR valve blew out on the M25, which I had replaced. I've noticed the loss of power since then, although it could be purely coincidental.

I've had 2 further parts replaced - air filter flow hose was split, and the turbo intake pipe and MAF as this was also split. Sadly this has not resolved the issue.

The garage also mentioned a fuel pressure fault code, and was meant to replace the fuel filter but didn't on the day - I thought I'd take it for a spin first and see.

Question is - is the fault most likely to lie with the fuel filter? It has been a while since it was replaced, and no further leaks have been identified on the boost system.

Has anyone else experienced a similar issue, and how did you resolve it?

Thanks in advance.

get the fuel filter changed see if that makes a difference, i would also put some additives in the tank, i use 'forte'

i had a problem with the fuel filter on my 2007 fiesta 1.6tdci but the engine management light would come on and it would go into limp home mode. sometimes it would just cut out totally. fault code showed low fuel pressure. It never made the power feel different except when it was actually in limp home mode with the warnings on the dashboard. my fuel filter had been on there for about 115k miles without being changed

Cheers for the replies. Funnily enough the engine management light did come on for a week or so before Christmas, but then disappeared.

I'm planning on getting the fuel filter changed next week. What do the additives do?

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helps to clean the fuel system 

Hi all,

Looking to provide an update and seek some further advice.

Following on from above, I have had some further work done, but the car still doesn't feel right.

I took the car to my regular garage, initially to get the fuel filter replaced as suggested above. They ran some further diagnostics and narrowed it down to the fuel pressure regulating valve, which was replaced. They also carried out a visual inspection of the boost system and no further splits/leaks were identified.

This saw an improvement on how it was driving before, but still not back to how it was originally.

I have also had a major service carried out, which included replacing the fuel filter - this was due anyway.

I'm still noticing a lack of power in the low ranges, noticeable in all gears but as you would expect particularly in the higher gears.

Been doing some reading up online and I'm now suspecting there may still be some kind of boost leak. Previously, I had a turbo whistle which you could hear clearly pretty much as soon as you hit the accelerator.

This is now much quieter and only audible when you reach around 2000rpm.

From your experiences, would this match what I am suspecting, and what should be my next move? I've got a diesel specialist (Diplock Diesel in Hailsham if any of you are local) who I'm considering taking it to for a leak test - would this be a logical next move.

Any other suggestions would be gratefully appreciated if you think I am missing anything else obvious.

Thanks again in advance.

Sam

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Is anyone able to help with this one please?

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I had a similar issue on my 1.6tdci and would say if you can hear a whistle it definitely sounds like you have a leak.

 

I replaced most of my turbo pipes to get rid of the whistle, goes much better.

Thanks Liam. I was always under the impression that some turbo whistle was normal but that's food for thought.

That being said, prior to this lack of power issue when the car was running normally there was also turbo whistle - possibly more so than now.

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Hmm very strange I'm no expert but I was under the impression that turbo whistle was a sign of a leaking pipe.

 

My focus has no whistle but I can hear the turbo spool up if it's quiet enough

Just to mention the problem with low power/low pressure is from the high pressure pump fault.
Looks like there is a problem with the fuel pump low/high pressure.

I have a similar issue on my 2010 TDCI Focus, all of a sudden my torque goes but if I pull over and stop the engine and re start it right away the problem goes away for a few miles. No engine management lights come on.  I've had the EGR and fuel filter changed but the problem persists.  Does anyone have any ideas what it might be please?