Engine Malfunction message?

[El_Dude]

ok, got a 2012 Galaxy Titanium X bought it about 7 months ago and it has been fantastic.

had my MOT last week and as i drove away from garage the Engine Malfunction message popped up.

went back to garage and they hooked it up to their computer and it resolved - the mechanic said something to the effect that the car system got confused

a week later on a 100 mile motorway trip the Engine Malfunction light came on again.

car seems to be running fine. accelerates strongly...

possible acceleration has lost some power at higher speeds for example doing 60mph and wanting to jump to 70 isn't as fast as usual


so far from reading internet stuff here are possible reasons:

1. just a weird glitch - reset it and move on with my life

2. turbo issue - sometimes something loosens and leaks

3. diesel solution filter thingy? this is really expensive?

I'm american so we are not really diesel users so I am lost here.

i have keyless ignition so how can i reset the warning message thingy? All the instructions I've seen online show how to do this using a normal key for ignition and I just press a button so i can't follow those examples

another question - what diagnostic code reader thingy should i get that will work with an iPad or macbook pro? I have read that the bluetooth devices don't work for iPads so need a wifi reader?

[El_Dude]

Ok, I finally got my wifi odb2 thingy and I'm getting the error code for the deisel particulate filter and it says it's in low power mode now.

Any idea how much this will cost to fix and more importantly how quickly?

Is it best to buy the filter myself and then take it to mechanic to fix?

Can I replace it myself?

Or should I go to Halfords and have them clean it?
http://www.halfordsautocentres.com/advice/car-care-advice/dpf-cleaning-at-halfords-autocentres?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=DPF%20Clean&utm_term=diesel%20particulate&utm_content=DPF%20Filter%20-%20Generic

[mike wilson]

It's not like an air or oil filter.  It's part of the exhaust system.

Do it yourself.

https://youtu.be/uWVW_Q4wyWU

[El_Dude]

I've realized that as I drive in Automatic mode the revs never really go up past 2,000 rpm so it would have been difficult for car to regenerate on it's own.

now I know I can put it in manual mode and rev engine to 3 or 4,000rpm on motorway for 15 or 20 minutes.

i guess the issue now is that I might need to reset the error code before I can rev engine in manual mode or can I go ahead and do that whilst it still has the error light showing?

I couldn't get a straight answer from a garage on the costs and time involved, they just want me to bring the car in and leave it with them, ha aha haha ha

[El_Dude]

These are the codes I got:

Trouble Code Report


Code   Type   Status   Description
P24A4   PowerTrain   Stored   Manufacturer Defined
P246C   PowerTrain   Stored   Manufacturer Defined
P2463   PowerTrain   Stored   Manufacturer Defined
P24A4   PowerTrain   Pending   Manufacturer Defined
P246C   PowerTrain   Pending   Manufacturer Defined
P2463   PowerTrain   Pending   Manufacturer Defined

[Chrispb]

If you google these codes they all link to blocked DPF

[mike wilson]

You have nothing to lose by trying to regenerate it by driving and see what happens afterwards.  Be prepared for your fuel consumption to increase dramatically during regeneration.  Once the regen starts, it should continue after shutoff - there is a warning about not parking on flammable material (dry grass, etc) if you are in the middle of one.  How that works with the awareness most people show about their vehicles - or, to be fair, if you are on your way to a summer outdoor event and park on some farmer's field - is beyond me.

There is another issue with the DPF on other Ford models.  The fuel tubes leading to them can become charred from the heat generated.  Ford will sell you their spare set for <HOWMUCH!!!> or you can go to any decent factor and buy simple 8mm (I think - will be worth checking that) fuel tubing for about 1/100th of the cost.

[Blackcabby]

I have almost the same issue and have spent nearly 2 months trying to get this sorted, I did the manual re-gen and it has made no difference

[El_Dude]

i read that once it goes into "limp mode" and it cuts your power that the DPF can't be cleaned by "regeneration" anymore as there is too much gunk in it.

so options are:

1. take DPF out and have it cleaned by an expert and put back in

2. get a new or lightly used DPF to replace it. (keep the old one to have cleaned and kept on hand for when the replacement DPF goes.

for me, it is more important to not lose time with car in garage for a week as I've got kids to drive around and commute to work etc.

so i reckon getting a new DPF is the route i am taking with of course keeping the old one to try and have it cleaned by a specialist.

[El_Dude]

I'm getting conflicting info on the inter webs...

My Galaxy was built in late 2011 and first sold in 2012 so it shows up as a 2011 or 2012 car on various databases but really it must be a 2011 model for parts?

Some DPF filters for 2011 and earlier cars are really cheap and 2012 and onwards or more than double the price... 

which one will fit my car?

[mike wilson]

You're probably going to have to supply your VIN to whoever is selling, to have the best chance of getting the right part.  I was going to write "...to be sure of..." but we all know what a jinx that would be.

If you don't know, you can go here: http://www.etis.ford.com/vehicleRegSelector.do and click on the Vehicle tab on the grey bar.  You can then enter your  registration number or VIN if it is not the original number and the specifics of your vehicle will appear, courtesy of the magic of the interwebs.  In the top panel on the right will be a link that gives you a drop down list of the exact specifications of much of the build.  Sadly, it probably won't tell you what you need to know on this occasion.

I find it very useful when looking at cars that I might be interested in buying.  It's put me right off a number, so far.  8 -)

[johnnyroper]

Find a company to clean it out, my old mans Lexus was done last week they removed it and cleaned with a special chemical and put back on. All done in a day and cost about Ã,£200 far cheaper than dpf change. His Lexus has a fifth injector for regeneration but it failed to Regan due to being too blocked so ecu would not allow it. No other option but to clean or change it.

[El_Dude]

I've got two garages so far with the following options:

been ringing various garages to see what can be done for my Galaxy

Kwik Fit will hook it up and run diagnostics and regeneration for 100 quid and about 1,000 quid if i need a new DPF - no guarantee the regeneration works of course


another local garage charges 50 quid for diagnostics and 300 quid to clean my DPF filter in 4 hours - they inject a solution into the DPF to clean in - guy says most times this fixes filter. he doesn't know how much a new filter would cost.

which option would you go with first?

[mike wilson]

I would find a back street garage that would be willing to drop the DPF, pressure wash it and put it back for Ã,£100, while you watch.  If that brings back some functionality, you could try some manual regens. to see if that improves matters.

Now you have a wifi ODB thingy, download one of the live parameter readers like ForDTC and watch the DPF pressure differential.  I'm sure some kind person will give you viable parameters for that.

[El_Dude]

ok guys,

good news! my galaxy is driving fine now... error messages and lights are gone...  power is back...  acceleration is fantastic...

basically I've been filling it with Shell diesel for last couple weeks and on my long motorway drive I've cleared error codes and drove in manual at high revs...

error code would pop back up after a minute each time but i guess gradually it regenerated?

if it is driving great and errors are gone am i good to go?

[gregers]

 
well thats good news.

[mike wilson]

Excellent indeed.  How many fills did it take, approximately?  I'm waiting for my wife's Focus to play this trick and wasn't looking forward to grovelling underneath to take it off.

[mike wilson]

This thread looks like it might have some useful information.

http://forscan.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=247