power train light on and limp mode

[The Big ‘O’ H]

hi guys,
i have a 2012 mk7 transit, it was my work van for a good few years but now i have a firms van I'm currently converting it into a camper van...
a few weeks ago i took it to the new forest with my little girl but on the way there the power train warning light came on and it went into limp mode. we stayed overnight and drove back in the morning, the light had gone out and it was out of power mode. for about 1/2 mile.. then the same issue occurred.
i had a mobile auto engineer look at it as I'm an ex chippy with not much experience in car electrics, he put one of those new fangled code reading thingies on it and it came up with an error that they said required a new air mass sensor. i made the fatal mistake of buying a generic one for £30 and put it on myself as I'm not totally inept. i very excitedly took it up the road for spin to have my hopes and dreams smashed upon the rocks of mechanical depression, it went strait into limp mode again with accompanying power train light.. so.. after talking the guys who looked at it before, i walked nervously into the Ford parts department..
it was horrible... three men jumped me at knifepoint and then set about me with a card reader... i woke up in tears and £303 pounds lighter...
i went home, removed the generic sensor and installed the new ford solid platinum one.. i didn't even bother to get excited.. and, yes, you guessed it... it still goes into limp mode!!!! WTAF!!!!!!
can anyone shed any light on my dilemma? I'm so hacked off spending £300 at Ford for nothing... help, please!!!

[Frag]

Take it back to the person who diagnosed it (Wrongly) in the first place.....

[straydog]

Can't help with the prob I'm afraid, but if ya get it sorted let me know.
I've been struggling with the same issue for over a year, and still can't cure it.
I've found turning the engine off then restarting it the fault goes away.
So it can be driven normally.......Till the next time

I've also replaced the MAf, cleaned the EGR valve to within an inch of its life.
The only thing I haven't replaced is the Garret, Putting that off coz of the price.
But may be my only next option

CVD

[Frag]

Can't help with the prob I'm afraid, but if ya get it sorted let me know.
I've been struggling with the same issue for over a year, and still can't cure it.
I've found turning the engine off then restarting it the fault goes away.
So it can be driven normally.......Till the next time

I've also replaced the MAf, cleaned the EGR valve to within an inch of its life.
The only thing I haven't replaced is the Garret, Putting that off coz of the price.
But may be my only next option

CVD

Is yours a stage 4 or 5 ?

[straydog]

Is yours a stage 4 or 5 ?

? sorry don't understand

[Frag]

Emissions level,

What year is your van ? Does it have a DPF ?
If it’s a mk7 transit,stage 5 have daytime running lights,and the mesh part of front grille is silver coloured

[straydog]

Hi mate, yea sorry.
It's 2008, so guessing its a stage 4
No running lights or mesh grill

[davyjcb]

On the plug beneath the engine bay fuse box you will most likely find the wire feeding the maf sensor it's reference voltage has broken where it crosses to the engine inside the flexible trunking

[Frag]

Hi mate, yea sorry.
It's 2008, so guessing its a stage 4
No running lights or mesh grill

Ok,stage 4 then,front or rear wheel drive,what power / bhp engine ?

[Noctule]

If indeed it is a MAF fault, check the wiring back to where it joins the main section of loom.

I went through a similar time, going around scrap yards and declaring all their secondhand MAF sensors to be duff, I even went as far as to buy a replacement socket for it, when all I had to do was pull away the plastic conduit just that bit further back to reveal where a wire had rubbed and worn through.

Wasted cost - lots for new MAF and socket plus drving around breakers.

Actual cost - next to nowt for a very short length of wire, some solder and a bit of heat shrink.

Mat

[straydog]

Hi The Big ‘O’ H
I didn't mean to take over your post, sorry mate.
I'm still trying to get "Forscan" to work on my computer to see whats going on.
I just put a post up wanting help, because i am having the same issues as you.

Frag,
My van is a 2008 Mk7 140hp rwd jumbo (Ex council minibus)
I got a "turbo boost sensor position" fault on my OBD2 reader
That's why I'm trying to get Forscan to work, hoping for more detailed info.

[Frag]

Possible,VGT part of turbo sticking,or the actuator itself.....
(It was a service item to lubricate the link rod between actuator and turbo mech on a 140rwd)

Carefully remove the clip that holds link rod to actuator,see if the rod moves freely with no sticking or notchiness,If it’s free when cold,ideally you also check with engine hot as this is more likely when it will stick....
If it’s all ok,then it’s possible the actuator or it’s gears inside are faulty,it’s not available separate from Ford,but there are plenty of them (varying quality) available on eBay etc...

[straydog]

Thanks for the advice, Unfortunatly I have checked all that. (I know I didn't mention that)
The vains all move fine, and I've had the actuator apart and it all looks fine,
no damage to the gearing or obvous electrical faults.
That's why it's been so frustrating, and my reluctancy to replace it.
The only thing I can think is the circuit board faulty.
i have also checked all the pipes for damage or leaks.

[The Big ‘O’ H]

I'm sadly ignorant of the stage 4-5 question, can you enlighten us Frag?

[straydog]

Hi
I think he was asking about stage 4 or 5 to check if it had a DPF (Diesel particulate filter) these can get blocked with soot.
Mine dosn't, so for me not the prob, but yours being later it could be.