big car

[sldmodels]

Help! The orange engine light came on in my ford focus on Saturday (in London, which meant a drive back home of 140miles) for the third time in about 3-4 months. Ford say to drive as little as possible and get it in for a service asap. The local ford is garage is busy at the mo'. I have to pick Sam up from London within the next week. Some have said not to worry, other's are saying worry. Anyone got a clue what I can do?

[mark christopher]

what model focus?
what engine?
any running concerns?
which engine light? a cog with exlamation mark? a engine symbol in it?
going to need above before i can give any help or advice

[sldmodels]

04 Ford Focus 1.8 TDCi

the light is in the top left corner of my hud, it's orange, and looks like it's been drawn on an etch-a-sketch, no exclamation mark.

[sldmodels]

according to a manual i just found online here http://www.focusplanet.com/downloads/focusmanuals/2004/2004_focus_owner_guidemanual.pdf it's the emissions system.

the manual says this

On board diagnostics (OBD-II)
Your vehicle is equipped with a computer that monitors the engine’s
emission control system. This system is commonly known as the On
Board Diagnostics System (OBD-II). This OBD-II system protects the
environment by ensuring that your vehicle continues to meet
government emission standards. The OBD-II system also assists the
service technician in properly servicing your vehicle. When the Check
Engine/Service Engine Soon light illuminates, the OBD-II system has
detected a malfunction. Temporary malfunctions may cause your Check
Engine/Service Engine Soon light to illuminate. Examples are:
1. The vehicle has run out of fuel. (The engine may misfire or run
poorly.)
2. Poor fuel quality or water in the fuel.
3. The fuel cap may not have been securely tightened.
These temporary malfunctions can be corrected by filling the fuel tank
with good quality fuel and/or properly tightening the fuel cap. After three
driving cycles without these or any other temporary malfunctions
present, the Check Engine/Service Engine Soon light should turn off.
(A driving cycle consists of a cold engine startup followed by mixed
city/highway driving.) No additional vehicle service is required.
If the Check Engine/Service Engine Soon light remains on, have your
vehicle serviced at the first available opportunity.

so maybe i just haven't tightened the fuel cap enough?

[mark christopher]

the manual your refering to is for the american cars, we dont have a fuel cap warning in the uk
usa dont take the diesel focus either?

so any running concerns?

[sldmodels]

no, not really, the turbo isn't kicking in as much as it used to, but I'm driving better than I did when I first bought the car (this is my first car essentially). Understand what you're saying about the fuel cap, but it say's the same thing in my physical handbook for the car, and it is the same light.

[mark christopher]

it could be
egr wires broken, turbo boost fault, you have not said what power rating the engine is so it could be the variable vane actuator on the turbo sticking ( power level dependant), map sensor, bad conection on the fuel pump,fuel injector, ill garantee its not the fuel cap!!
the only way you will know for sure is to plug the car into a diagnostic machine, some good independants will be able to, a dealer should be able to say what is is as the IDS machine uses ford written software, specific for the car. dont rely soley on a cheap code reader, we got loads from independants saying our machine says "blah blah" and in fact its incorrect
im a ford master tech and have been with ford for 15 plus years, even if you find the fault, dependant what it is the light will only go out with the aid of a diag tool
petrols run a sealed fuel tank system which vents to a charcol cansiter, the yanks are big on fuel vapour as emmissions, your manual is generic for petrol and diesels!

[sldmodels]

thanks Mark, one of the garages (in fact the first one when I had the problem) had been reported as getting the diesal and petrol tanks mixed up, causing a lot of damage to people cars in Stafford.

[mark christopher]

if you had petrol in it you would know as you would be walking;)