Hi all,

Recently purchased a Mk3 1.6tdci econetic. I have been having a few niggles with 1st gear being quite pathetic and also getting lower MPG than expected (42MPG on a 500 mile motorway run?).

In addition to this the engine feels rather lumpy when cold and doesn't seem to deliver much power in first and second gear (really noticeable if going up hill where changing from first into second seems to bog the gear box down awfully). it appears that there is  flat spot around 1500RPM when cold but improve as the engine warms up.

I have been into my local Ford dealership who have suggested that they can hook it up to the diagnostics and update the PCM which they believe may not have been done previously. What are your thoughts on this? The car has done 64,000 miles and has a full service history (no services provided by Ford which could back up the lack of PCM update). Fuel filter was replaced 20,000 miles ago.

DPF, I assume has had a decent regenerate owing to motorway miles and the fact that the car has done 64,000 in less than 4 years.

Any pointers welcome as this is ruining what should be a great car 

First gear is rubbish it was the same on mine until my remap, don't change too early into 2nd for better performance, PCM update will be worth having done anyway, as for the lumpy running change your fuel filter 20k is a bit long to keep in my opinion they get clogged very easily, once changed the lumpy running should go away and restored power throughout I changed mine and I had a lovely running car again.

Don't worry about the DPF it will keep going for a lot more miles assuming you do a steady mix of town and motorway driving.

*update*

Taken into Ford who visually checked the car over, confirmed that there were no logged DTC's and updated the PCM software from version BV61-12A650-NN to BV61-12A650-NP.

It's early days however the car seems much improved on the drive home which is around 10 miles or so (unless its the placebo effect!). Fingers crossed this has solved the issue but its really surprised me what a software update can do!

Cost was £58.33

 

 

Update 2

PCM update improvement was short lived

car has been taken back to the dealers and they are saying that the injectors are faulty.

asked for a refund