Engine Cut Out....again!

[FamilyWagon]

As per my previous post Click Here! the engine is cutting out again.

 

The Ford dealer had updated the ECU which has improved the mpg but the fault still remains.

 

The only difference now is that when the engine cuts out, if I put the gear in to neutral while the Galaxy is still moving, the engine fires back up again all on it's own.

 

Does anyone have any idea what the problem is please??? The car is booked in for Thursday but the Ford dealer don't know what the problem is and don't seem to know what else to do if the ECU does not provide them with a fault code...which it wont as it is an intermittent fault.

 

In my mind this fault is very dangerous as it has mainly happened (happened once at about 30 mph in 3rd) whilst on the motorway and I have my 18 month daughters safety to consider.

 

The Ford dealer have been very obstructive and rude on the phone, any advice on how to handle them would also be appreciated as I dont want to blow my head gasket until they have found and fixed the problem.

[Andrew T]

How about an intermittant fuel pump relay - did they check that ? I don't suppose it would throw up a fault code.

 

Do you really mean the Engine fires up when when you put it in Neutral (does the starter operate itself ?) or when you go from Neutral back into Gear i.e. you're bump starting it ?

[FamilyWagon]

Thanks for your reply.

 

When the engine cuts out, the rev counter shows 0 revs and the Engine warning light comes on (yellow engine light)

 

When I put the gear into neutral, the rev counter shows 1000 RPM (or there abouts) idle speed and the Engine warning light goes off. As far a I know the starter does not initialise the re-ignition of the engine....it just starts again. Maybe the car needs a priest not a mechanic...well a grumpy bloke with a laptop!!!

 

I do not bump start it as all I do is put the gear in to neutral, while putting on the hazard warning lights and trying to get around the truck I was overtaking in the rain and get on to the hard shoulder.

[Andrew T]

Is there any consistancy about when it cuts out ? full throttle for instance or as you lift off ?

Also have you checked if the LED on the drivers door is flashing as it cuts out ?

[FamilyWagon]

I cannot find any common conditions that trigger this fault.

 

The first time it happened is was a nice sunny day with the climate control on and the sat nav plugged in the front cigar lighter and the cruise control set at 70 and in 5th gear.

 

Yesterday I had the headlights on, climate control, sat nav, windscreen wipers and rear screen/mirror heater on doing about 70 - 75 in 5th gear.

 

The fault has also occurred whilst doing 30 mph in 3rd gear.

[Andrew T]

I'm afraid I've reached the limit of my mechanical knowledge, I'm inclined to think it might be a fueling problem, but when it originally happened you lost the starter as well.

 

Can anyone with access to TIS tell if on a MK11 2.3 the immobiliser disconnects both the starter and fuel pump ?

[FamilyWagon]

:huh: RESULT!!! :D

 

I am well chuffed, the local fraud dealer have fixed it...as far as I know.

 

This is what the service manager told me.

 

1. They connected to the ECU and discovered a "U" code (whatever that means as he did not explain).

2. They then phoned Ford Technical Support with the U code, who suggested that it was a communication problem between the ECU and the main power boot relay.

3. Ford Tech Support recommended changing the faulty relay which they have done.

 

And so far so good.

 

I dont know if this relay is covered in the handbook but it is worth having a look if you experience similar problems as described in my previous posts. On the mkII Galaxy 2.3 DOHC Ghia the relay (amongst others) can be found behind the main fuse panel, bottom right of the steering column. You need to remove the fuse panel to gain access.

 

According to a reply to one of my previous posts, if you find you have a stuck relay, drop it 12" on to a hard surface to un-stick it. This might not be good for the relay but it is worth a shot if it means the difference between you getting home or having to call out the RAC etc.

 

Thank you to all who have replied to my posts.

[Andrew T]

Can you say if it was Relay 27 that was replaced ? that would confirm that this equates to relay 30 (K108 power relay) failure on the MK1, a common fault.

[Andrew T]

Note to Moderators - it might be an idea to pin this thread on FAQs as it seems crop up fairly regularly.

 

Suggest title;

 

Intermittant starting and cutting out MK11 2.3 ?

[mumof4]

Rather than pinning, what about it going in the faq section??.Nikpv does a lovely job in there!!.

[NikpV]

Ok - put on the requested list for Faq - Ok MM ??

[Masked Marauder]

Sorry, did someone say something?

[NikpV]

Sorry, did someone say something?

Don't bother - all sorted out now :huh:

[FamilyWagon]

Can you say if it was Relay 27 that was replaced ? that would confirm that this equates to relay 30 (K108 power relay) failure on the MK1, a common fault.

All the service manager would say is that they were advised by Ford Technical Support to change the main power boot relay. He did not identify the relay at fault by any number or code (relay 27/30 or K108) but he did say that it was part of the ignition circuit and that he was aware of instances on TDI engined Galaxy's where this relay had failed and that he was unaware of this failure in the petrol engined Galaxy's.

 

I had mentioned this common fault when the Galaxy first went in to be looked at, which he instantly dismissed. I think I will give them the link to this forum for future reference ;)

 

Maybe someone with TIS could find the relay in question and post more details about it.

[Andrew T]

N.B. On the MK2 Relay 27 is "Fuel Supply (DOHC)".

[NikpV]

Done - in the faq

[jkspoff]

My old Mondeo used to do exactly that, it turned out to be a blocked fuel filter, new one fitted, all was ok.