Ciano35

Hi there I hope someone can help me,

My 2003 focus 1.8 tdci 115 is going into limp mode at high revs when using the turbo. Sometimes it would feel like there is no power at all throughout the rev range, especially in low down gears, and other times it would have good enough power and go into limp mode at around 3400 revs.

Now the veins and actuator seem to be fine, I just got the turbo cartridge reconditioned and cleaned out all the crap out of the veins. We checked that the actuator and veins were working by having one person start the car while the other looks at the actuator, and the arm goes down as normal, although it looks like it gets a little bit stuck on the way down but only for half a second.

Tried disconnecting the maf, no difference.

Hoses have no splits and have all new jubilee clips and are connected properly.

There are never any warning lights, except for an abs light that comes on sometimes but obviously that must not be related?

I have no idea what's wrong

What else should I check?

TL;DR car going into limp mode, what else should I check when turbo actuator and maf sensor seem to be fine?

GVK.

Any fault codes relevant to over boost?

Any codes at all?

If it's going into limp mode there must be!

Has a boost pressure test been done on live data?

Ciano35

Hi thanks for replying, don't know that yet but I just bought an obd2 code reader and gear for testing vacuum.

On the dashboard mileage screen I did the secret test mode thing, that gave me a d262 code but from research that doesn't really mean anything important.

oldford

Be prepared for a disappointment.
The code reader probably doesn't work at all on this model-year.
Doesn't have to, because it's not mandatory until 2004 for diesels.
If it works, you will only get (linited) access to the engine and automatic gearbox, but not to the Abs, Airbag and all other ecu's.

Ciano35

Well that sucks! Damn it. At least we have a few other things it will work on anyway.

uruk hai

I had a problem that wasn't a million miles from yours, have a look at post 20 in this thread. I detail the problem I had and what eventually cured it, it caused no engine management light, caused no fault codes to be logged. Once I changed the part the difference was like night and day, I don't know if it'll help you at all but good luck.

https://passionford.com/forum/ford-f...i-problem.html

Ciano35

Another update. The code reader didn't work, damn! I haven't driven the car much since, but I noticed that I don't think it actually goes into full on limp mode, because the revs do climb, but slowly. I also noticed that the problems mostly happens when I slow down at a junction, and then when I pull away the power will be very low. However, if I take it easy for about 10 seconds, the power will return. Also, there is never full power above ~3400 rpm.

It actually sounds a lot like your problem uruk hai, thanks for replying. I'm going to have a look at that solenoid. Is there any way to test it?

geordiegooner

I had a similar problem that I ignored for 8 months turned out to be just the glow plugs which I thought were only used to start the car that's why I ignored it.