Hello all.... recently had an issue with my focus where the engine systems fault  light came on and limp mode  engaged  with dpf code .... noticed the little fluid tank near fuel tank was empty so refilled it... added regen additive  (snake oil?) To fuel  tank  cleared the code  and took for an italian tune up .... all was well for about  four weeks or so ... just leaving work today   filled up at the local shell and as soon as im above 50 the light is back.... no limp mode this time turbo pulls like a train  fault code reader is showing no codes at all and light wont clear , car drives about 50 miles a day  in the week  all A roads and motorways and about 360 miles each weekend  so  it should be regen fine... mileage  is at 157k .... dont want to pay to change dpf if need be but have noticed  can get them online for 300 or so and looking  at mine they dont look difficult  to fit... /rambling 

4 hours ago, Harwood1988 said:

as soon as im above 50 the light is back.... no limp mode this time turbo pulls like a train  fault code reader is showing no codes at all and light wont clear

The systems light comes on for lots of other causes than the DPF, and many will not show up on a generic OBD2 reader. You probably need to try a Ford specific system like FORScan.

On my car the P0299 Turbo underboost error very occasionally appears, puts the systems light on, but has no effect on the car. My generic reader won't see it, but Forscan can, and clears it.

Forscan will also show up a lot of info about the DPF, like distance to nominal "ashfull", distance from last regen, etc.

 

I shall get a forscan  ordered then  and see if it throws  anything up... thanks

forscan is free, but you will need https://tunnelrat-electronics.fwscart.com/

 

6 hours ago, Harwood1988 said:

I shall get a forscan  ordered then

The software is free download for Windows, or a nominal amount for IOS & Android Apps. As Darren says, you just need an adapter to connect to the car.

My usual Intro to the system is:

Forscan is a powerful Ford specific system, Cost is about £15.00 for the interface. It 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

The Tunnelrat ELM237s have been reported to work well by several people, and are stated to be compatible with Forscan and ELMConfig.

http://www.spanglefish.com/TunnelratElectronics/index.asp?pageid=516992

Forscan works best on a Windows laptop, with a USB ELM.  Forscan is also available for iOS & Android for some tablets & phones, using USB if available, or Bluetooth or WiFi ELMs.

Wireless ELMs are often not as reliable as the wired ones. Also they are rarer 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).

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

 

 

Back  items arrived after  easter break .. ordered the bluetooth adapter  as my laptop is broken  and the forscan  lite app for android allowed me to clear  engine systems light which  promptly came back on again 

2 hours ago, Harwood1988 said:

forscan  lite app for android allowed me to clear  engine systems light which  promptly came back on again

I thought the additive level is done by counting the doses delivered (but see below). When the tank is re-filled, a procedure must be used to reset the counter. From your 1st post, this may not have been done, just clearing the code would not do it.

Forscan should have a service procedure to reset the FACM counter. Although ideally the tank should be full when this is done, or it will eventually run out of fluid without indication, which will lead to the DPF getting clogged with unburnable soot.

Unfortunately, it looks like the Lite Apps do not have the service procedures. Only the laptop version. See:

http://forscan.org/comparsion.html

So it may mean borrowing a laptop (with bluetooth so you can use your adapter), to try the procedure.

Edit:

I have looked a bit more, and seen a couple of references to a piezo level sensor. Whether fitted to all 1.6s, I do not know, but it looks like at some have it. It complicates the picture a bit, but the first things to do are still to manually check the level (which is not easy!), and try the reset service procedure. The best description of the system is:

http://workshop-manuals.com/ford/focus_2004.75_07.2004/mechanical_repairs/3_powertrain/303_engine/303-04f_fuel_charging_and_controls_1.6l_duratorq-tdci_(dv)_diesel/description_and_operation/fuel_charging_and_controls_vehicles_with_diesel_particulate_filter_(dpf)/

A manual reset procedure using the fuel flller flap is described in Haynes, but it is rather complex, I am not sure I trust it! There is also a version of it here:

http://www.talkford.com/community/topic/150061-dpf-additive-eolys/

Edited April 20, 20179 yr by Tdci-Peter
Add note

Thanks alot im seeing the mrs at the weekend so will borrow hers to give it a try  all the help is appreciated  =) 

Updates  downloaded  forscan to the mrs laptop  threw up a few other dpf related  codes that didn't  show on the app however when i performed  thw service function for the additive  tank .... i rescanned and no codes at all  light as of yet not back on so thanks for all the help ive recieved