MAMMYBUS

We drove our S-max to Croatia last summer and the key suddenly decided to stop working, luckily we had a spare which worked although the original key worked after the 'good' key was used first. Several trips to the Ford dealer they failed to resolve it so I had a look online. After a brief google of the issue I found a procedure whereby you turn the ignition on and off and press buttons on the key at the same time, foolishly I forgot to note the website or the procedure to follow but I am sure it can be done. Whether this just sorts the remote locking or the immobiliser as well I don't know.

Get back to basics, check the tyre pressures are correct, under-inflated tyres will have a big impact on your consumption, ensure that you aren't carrying round things you don't need in the car. Give it a good service, a blocked air-filter will impact fuel consumption, use a good quality oil of the correct viscosity a good synthetic oil will aid fuel usage. Is the tracking correct? You should get the high 30's in town and at least the high 40's on a run, our 1.9 tdi PD does 50+ on a run and 37-39 round town, it is better than our S-max 2.0 tdci on fuel by a long shot.

I have experienced exactly the same thing, I deliberately induced it after the wife complained of it, I use shell synthetic oils and change the air filter regularly but it does manifest itself from time to time, the best way to prevent it is to give the vehicle the occasional blast once warm to 'exercise' those vanes. Wifey does a lot of town driving resultant in inevitable carbon build up.

The man is right all it is is a placebo go faster box resistor, I purchased one of the said items for a Passat 2.0 tdi PD 140 2006 model I had, all it did was make it smoke like buggery and made little or no difference. I did try some academic tests to prove to myself that I hadn't wasted my coin but I'm not convinced.

I borrowed the kit from a friend, it took less than a minute to wind in the pistons, an excellent bit of kit, there is a winder available from GSF about