Ford Focus ECU Light has come on

fatblokexl

my 2001 ford focus 1.6 zetec has given me years of trouble free motoring, but today the ECU light has come on.

i went out this morning and the car ran a bit lumpy, just like a vehicle does when you have a dodgy spark due to damp.

i thought it would wear off but as i got home the ECU light came on.

trying the car out for revs revealed it was ok to about 2000rpm then ran as above until around 24-2500rpm then sounded fine.

i sprayed all connections spark leads etc with WD40 and still the same problem.

don't want to take it to a garage just yet as i know ECU's a re expensive.

i think a sensor might be gubbed but i don't know where to start.

any ideas?

anewman

If you take it to someone who can read the ECU fault codes it will detail the problem. The problem will not be with the ECU itself but probably a sensor as you say. I think it's gone into a "limp home mode" and is not using all cylinders in an attempt to save the engine from any damage.

fatblokexl

the car runs fine until that rev range.
it doesn't appear to be limp home mode as i suspect that would be just as it seems.
the car still runs fine apart from that.

Jvic28

I could be mistaken but I think EGR Valves were a common fault on these and I'm sure the symptons would have matched. Initially they were seizing and as a temporary fix could be released but they did require replacing and a new valve was released by Ford to cure the fault.

fatblokexl

what's an EGR valve?

Jvic28

Exhaust Gas Recirculation Valve. If you google it you might find some more information. Not an expert at all but just an idea.

x

hewhoisnotintheknow

undo the battery

take all the sensors off clean them with something, leave it an hours but the battery back and then take for a drive

check sparks etc

fatblokexl

thanks,
i had a check on some other websites and found that by using a simple technique i was able to check the fault codes on the car (free) and found none.
i then disconnected the battery for a while and this got rid of the engine light.

BTW did any of you ford owners know of a secret digital display hidden in your "trip" window?

if not, i can tell you how to find it.

hewhoisnotintheknow

fatblokexl wrote: »

thanks,
i had a check on some other websites and found that by using a simple technique i was able to check the fault codes on the car (free) and found none.
i then disconnected the battery for a while and this got rid of the engine light.

BTW did any of you ford owners know of a secret digital display hidden in your "trip" window?

if not, i can tell you how to find it.

cool! my undo the battery jobbie never fails!

Whats this about the trip window

goldspanners

fatblokexl wrote: »

thanks,
i had a check on some other websites and found that by using a simple technique i was able to check the fault codes on the car (free) and found none.
i then disconnected the battery for a while and this got rid of the engine light.

BTW did any of you ford owners know of a secret digital display hidden in your "trip" window?

if not, i can tell you how to find it.

ive heard about it but ive never bothered to find it,what do you do to show the hidden display? is this the one that shows you mph and stuff on the display?

fatblokexl

with the car engine turned off press and hold the trip reset stalk in, turn ignition to setting II or turn engine on.

keep holding the stalk in until the word test displays.
dials should sweep to max and reset, another press puts all the dash lights on (revealing some you dont know about) another press turns these off.
keep pressing for more stuff and you can get KPH,MPH, ENGINE TEMP, VOLTAGE ETC .

after engine is turned off then on again you will have normal trip function.

works on other cars to i believe.