my st170 engine warning light has come on. i have recently had had a new cat fitted and have been told i need a new flexible joint, dont know if this could be anything to do with it. i have done the check on the dash and it says DTC codes none? anybody got any ideas what to check or what it could be? cheers

 

these are notorious for eating lambda sensors

 

If the car is driving normally, it's probably lambda sensors. 1 pre-cat and 1 post-cat from memory. Cheap off Ebay but can't vouch for the quality.

 

yes the car seems to be driving the same
would the lambda sensor not bring up a fault code?

 

yeh the lambda would throw up a code. i had to do the rear sensor on my 170 a few weeks back. reset the light and its stayed off. cost me 21 quid for the sensor off ebay

 

also that check you do on the dash is not a dtc check like you think hence why it showed no code

 

need the fault codes read. if the engine management light has come on then there are definately fault codes but the dash check does not bring them up.

 

Agreed with others - it is the lambda sensors. Cheap on ebay, expensve from Ford!

 

where you from mate, i can read codes for free for ya

 

im from skipton north yorkshire, U?
would any local independant garages do fault code checks for cheap?

 

I'm in Bradford.

Try this link first. The rest of the site very good for the st170.

If you're still having trouble let me know.

Simon

 

Not that dear from ford, I got a pre-cat lambda for my old st170 just over a year ago, think it was about 45 ish quid, I was expecting to pay (and the parts guy thought it would be too) the best part of double that!

 

if it is a lambda would it do damage to drive till i get it sorted?

 

cheers for that but i know this site and check this for most things, common problems part number etc.
might try taking it to my local garage and see if they can just tell me what code it flags up

 

No idea what it costs elsewhere, but I know a man with a laptop who works mobile and charges Ł40/50 ish to come to your car and diagnose problems. Charges per hour thereafter.

 

buy a code reader off ebay. my st170 did the same thing so i bought a code reader off ebay 22 quid. found the problem to be rear lambda so then got that off ebay 21 quid. problem sorted and now have a code reader for future problems on any car. 43 quid in total to sort my focus out and been ok since, its your best option and to do the same rather than pay a garage say 30 quid to tell you the lambda is fooked

 

ok cheers bud

 

What year ST170? Dependant on that, I can read codes and I'm in Huddersfield

 

its 2003 03

 

Should be able to do it then

 

will it be ok to drive till i get chance to get it sorted, i dont want to fook owt up

 

i drove mine for 2 weeks till i sorted it should be fine, might use a bit more fuel thats all

 

The light has gone off.....strange

 

Thanks for the link mention.

shunn - it could be a loose cable that re-sat itself or the dirt on the sensor has blown off.

Keep your eye on the fuel, if it's worse then you're better off with replacing them.

 

ok i'l keep my eye on it.
i also have used your website before and found it useful

 

the light came back on for a day or so after i fit the flexible joint.
could it be because i have been bashing and moving around the exhaust system whilst replacing the part??

 

Moving the cable could have trigged it off, or the sensor has been knocked off. have you replaced it yet? if not, might be worth it.

 

i havnt replaced it yet, it has only come one twice after working on the exhaust then gone off after a day or so.
i think i'l leave it for now and replace it if it comes on again