mercer

Hi guys,

I've recently been having problems with my car occasionally cutting out or starting with the above error mrsage, it also says power steering failure.

After restarting the car several times and revving a bit it comes back on.

When I get the error the car goes into limp mode and is about as fast as a tortoise.

I have recently replaced the battery and I had no problems for two whole days (Battery test said old battery was unstable), Then it just popped again randomly.

Any ideas? I've read about cluster failure which causes this, but I'm thinking loose connection as problem is intermittent and stopped for two days after a replacement battery.

Any help would be great as this is stressing me out big time.

oldford

I would start by having the fault codes read.

RichieST

iTrader: (2)

Is it the right battery? Must be a silver calcium, not your usual lead acid.

mercer

I've been told the fault codes can only be read when the light is on.

I'll check about silver calcium. I don't think it is tbh.

Thanks guys

oldford

You've been told wrong.
The fault codes will be saved for a period of time. They will not be removed until 40 engine starts without the problem.

mercer

Thanks for the info.

Car is in garage today. I checked the battery and it's a lead battery not silver calcium, so I've asked that to be changed.

I've also asked for fault code reader to be put on it and the power steering to be checked just for my peace of mind. I did check the steering fluid and it looked low.

RichieST

iTrader: (2)

They will throw a wobbly with the wrong battery as the smart charge system will not be able to charge the battery properly so definitely get the right one on there first and see what happens.

mercer

Could be that then as it starts fine just sometimes the error comes up randomly, probably once every 10 starts maybe? I can get the error off if I can rev the engine a bit before the warning chime comes on.

RichieST

iTrader: (2)

http://www.petercoopercarrepairs.co....t_charging.htm

Cold be worth a read of this, I bet it is your problem.

mercer

New battery is on. Code reader been on and picks up error code in cluster. Something about cad communication error or something, so looks like it's the cluster!

mercer

Had new battery and been fine for three weeks. Today the car went into limp mode as I was driving it. This car is stressing me out!

STeve

iTrader: (11)

thats the thing with electrical issues the come and go as they please, a replacement cluster is cheap enough and worth a punt as they do cause lots of issues like this, I have a few here if you decide to go that route with various mileages and I dont charge the earth

Stuart Lee

Did you get this issue resolved in the end and if so was it the cluster?

dickemo

I’ve read loads of things about this and it’s causing me pain.

2005 focus st keeps playing daft buggers. Sometimes the immobiliser won’t go off so I have to keep turning the ignition off, other times I get the engine warning, acceleration reduced lights. I also seem to have 2 different limp modes. I’ve had a fault reader on it and the only thing that came up was the lambs sensor fault to which I’ve ordered a new one.

i had a new battery on back in April and have heard that I need a silver calcium battery. The battery I’ve got is silver technology so I don’t even know if it’s the right one.

https://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/F...f742cd6&000020

I’m saving for a wedding at the minute so don’t want to be going to an auto electrician to tell me he can’t define the fault along with a huge bill.

please help.

oldford

Yes, you need a silver-calcium battery. See: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silver_calcium_battery

Which fault code did you get? Exact fault text and.or number.

dickemo

I’ll get it back on the reader at the weekend and get all the fault codes.

RichieST

iTrader: (2)

Immobiliser faults can usually be traced back to a faulty instrument cluster. Next time it plays up give the top of the dash a bang!

dickemo

I put the fault finder on over the weekend and it came up with no faults. The car was running fine. I took it round the block and took it off and tried the ignition again and all the faults came on this time so switched it back off and once again the fault finder found nothing. Driving me up the wall.

one thing to mention though, I was driving about and the car went into full limp mode, 5mph all lights on, so I gave the binnacle a slap and it went into the reduced acceleration limp mode so it did make it a little better.

any clues out there?

RichieST

iTrader: (2)

Send the dash cluster off to ecutesting or another similar company to have it checked. I'm not saying it is definitely your issue, but it certainly sounds like it.

https://www.ecutesting.com/categorie...caAryxEALw_wcB