Intermittent Power Loss

[ChrisM]

When my oct 01 Zetec TDi is asked to put out max power it tends to suddenly lose power - the effect is almost like having suddenly something on the towbar pulling me back. It tends to happen when I am pulling my caravan, but happened once when not, and then it came on after dropping the engine revs very low when I tried to pull from too low a speed in 6th gear. The most recent occurance was on the A1 at Easter when I suddenly lost it passing a truck and had to pull back - very embarassing and dangerous as the road was very busy. The problem just carries on after it has started and no amount of reving or changing down does any good until I have stopped, stopped the engine and restarted, after which all is well again. My local Ford dealer couldn't find any problem at a recent service. Anybody got any ideas?

[Guest Barrye]

This sounds like a intermittant sensor or MAF problem. My guess is that the ECU is going into limp mode. When you restart the fault is not detected and all is ok. Finding which sensor it is will unfortunately be a real problem.

 

 

 

Barry

[Guest Pete C]

Doesn't the Ford ECU store a list of recent "errors" so that you can read them off with a diagnostic unit? I think my old vauxhall used to do this. If they are not stored then really there's no point in being able to read them as it would mean having to go straight to a garage whilst the problem was manifesting itself

[ChrisM]

The Ford dealer I took it to said there were no error codes showing on the system unfortunately.

Chris

[Guest Rimfire]

Most interested to read of your experience as similar symptoms have occurred with my 2002 - TDi 1.9 (90bhp). It happens when I press down on the accelerator hard to demand more power when going to overtake going up a hill. Even more likely when towing the caravan and again going up a hill. Can happen at various speeds and changing down a gear does not respove the problem. The engine will simply keep turning at a rev sufficient to keep the car moving at a crawl. Power is only restored by switching off the ignition and restarting the engine again. Due to other pressures I have yet to arrange for a diagnostic check but somehow feel that unless the problem is present at the time a no fault will be indicated.

 

If you have any success do keep me posted on the result.

[andymet]

Hi there Check the vacume pipe on the left side of the engine. The one on the ducting that leads from the inlet to the intercooler. There is a pipe which should be next to the pressure sensor. Sometimes this comes off and gives the power loss that you describe. I put mine back on after suffering this problem for months and it cured it, which was fortunate as i was going to buy a new MAS.

[Guest Ceskahawker]

My Galaxy 1.9 diesel does exactly the same, posted this earlier its so intermittant I have not got around to do anything about it, someone suggested it was the throttle potentiometer these are on fly by wire type systems and when you accellerate it hits a dogy part of the pot and sends info to the central unit, Also if you are in a dangerous situation you dont have to physically stop just leave it in gear with your foot on the throttle and flick the ignition off and on quickly and away you go again

Hope this helps