Focus 56 engine light on/off...

vstudio3d

Hi everyone,
As the title says, I have a Ford Focus 56 plate, petrol, 1.8.
Recently I have had the engine light coming on (amber, staying on, not flashing)
I've taken the car to a local garage (HiQ) and they have tried the diagnostic tool which gave a code that they didn't know exactly what it means (Circuit Bank1 Malfunction, or something like that) - they re-set the light and it went off, car drove ok for a day and then the light came back on. As it was Sunday, I had to wait until next week to take it back for further inspection, but by Monday the light had switched off.
It keeps doing that, basically if I wanted to book it in for a diagnostic/service, it may be that by the day I have to take it in, the engine light could be off, as it keeps switching itself on, stays like that for a while (can be a day or so) and then turns off and stays off for a day or two.
I'm not sure what it may be, the car doesn't seem to be very much affected, it feels like sometimes there's a very small lack of power, but unnoticeable. It doesn't rattle/shakes, the idle stays perfectly at 800-900 rpm without spikes.

Any thoughts?

Many thanks!

Marktheshark

The Front Oxygen sensor needs replacing.
Find another garage, this is really very basic stuff.

BeenThroughItAll

Did they give you the fault code?

vstudio3d

Wow, super quick reply
Thanks Mark! I will try to sort it out asap.
Do you think I am doing it a lot of harm by driving it until it's fixed? I mean if I find a garage that's ok to do it today, great, but if not, I still may need it to do short trips, to pick up son from nursery and things like that (no motorway trips or anything longer than about 8-10 miles)

Cheers!

vstudio3d

The fault code was something like P2000-E3 which I could not find anywhere, on the web....
And the description was Circuit Bank 1 Malfunction - no status available.

colino

You need the car interrogated properly before throwing parts at it.

Marktheshark

P2000 E3 is a Snap on scanner specific code, you need the "key" to convert it in to a correct OBD-II code.
Hence why the £20 E-bay Scanners are so popular, they just read the damned code.
That code would refer to the Oxygen sensor bank 1 on the Snap on Scanner if he had the "right key"

vstudio3d

I see - thanks Mark! I should and I will take it somewhere else. It's probably why they didn't charge me for the diagnostic

vstudio3d

Also - would it be harmful if I still drive it short distances until I can get it to a service? Looks like I may not be able to take it today, too short notice.

molerat

Why not read the code from the instrument display ? http://www.fordwiki.co.uk/index.php/Instrument_Cluster_Self-Diagnostic_Mode

anotheruser

To be honest, I thought the OBDII scanner I bought was useless as I am rubbish at anything mechanical.

However when the engine management light came on, it's useful to know whether it's something that needs fixing right away or something that can wait until another point.