Connect that thinks it’s a Focus!

[BigSi76]

Had an engine management light on the connect come on this morning. Took it to a local garage who plugged in a ‘snap-on’ fault code reader. After a few tries with different connect options, he said that the ECU wasn’t talking to the diagnostic reader (also checked the VIN number for year etc). As a last attempt he tried different models, as soon as he selected ‘2006 Ford Focus (2005) 2.0L Duratorq TDCi’, it started reading the fault codes?

The reader came up with the following fault;

“P0490: Exhaust Gas Recirculation Control Circuit. Above Maximum Threshold. DTC Present At Time Of Request. MIL On For This DTC. Test Complete.”

Apparently this is a common fault?

[taz666]

yes it is for certain connects although depending on what year it is there is a pcm update for them to rectify the concern, if this doesnt work its probably going to need a new valve. although its a bit strange that it only recoqnised a 2.0 focus as this engine was never fitted to a connect, the only way to tell for definate it to have it plugged into ford ids, and its going to have to be to have the pcm updated

[BigSi76]

My first call was to a local Ford dealer. They wanted to book me in for a day in a week’s time! I tried to tell them that I only wanted the code read, just in case I was doing more damage by driving around, but they still couldn’t see me till next week.

How do they do a PCM update, and whats involved?

[taz666]

the van is connected to the ford ids computer and the pcm calibration is checked and if there is a later calibration it is downloaded into the pcm

[Guy88]

where in the country are you??

[BigSi76]

where in the country are you??

Down in Cornwall.

[BigSi76]

Just collected the van from the garage. Apparently the ECR valve is clean, so they suspect that perhaps the injectors need re-coding. So it’s booked into the local Ford dealer for a complete diagnostic check, PCM update, and injector re-coding.

[van mann]

MAIN DEALER...Make sure you take your cheque book££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££££

[BigSi76]

Yeh, I’d rather not use the main dealer, but unfortunately they are the only ones with the right equipment. I think for the check they quoted £70 +VAT. Not sure if the PCM update is included, and I haven’t a clue about the injector re-coding!

[Graham Taylor]

Yeh, I’d rather not use the main dealer, but unfortunately they are the only ones with the right equipment.

Sent my van in local Ford dealer when it started to cut out. They had it for week and charged me (in the end) £135 to tell me they thought it was something it wasnt and will cost £1400 to replace including cam belt (while stripped down) which didnt need replacing as it already had but wouldnt accept it!. After a quick phone around found an independant garage who had better equipment and diagnosed injector problem in a few hours. Replaced two immediately for total cost of £525! Other two just been replaced for £250. Would I go to my local Ford dealer again? No F*@~$#G WAY!

[taz666]

Yeh, I’d rather not use the main dealer, but unfortunately they are the only ones with the right equipment.

Sent my van in local Ford dealer when it started to cut out. They had it for week and charged me (in the end) £135 to tell me they thought it was something it wasnt and will cost £1400 to replace including cam belt (while stripped down) which didnt need replacing as it already had but wouldnt accept it!. After a quick phone around found an independant garage who had better equipment and diagnosed injector problem in a few hours. Replaced two immediately for total cost of £525! Other two just been replaced for £250. Would I go to my local Ford dealer again? No F*@~$#G WAY!

nobody has better equipment than a ford dealer, its probably you got a tech who didnt know the system and didnt go about the job the correct way, were not all that bad graham

[Graham Taylor]

I even had the servioce manager on the job. Think it was just my bad luck as my dealer doesnt have a good rep in the Town. Good news is we also have a commercial dealership open so now competition between them. Any garage/dealer is only as good as its mechanicsand equipment but this one didnt have the equipment to check a fuel pump but thought it may be the problem and wanted to change it. Had some good advice from the guys on here and you ford guys here are pretty good and it was the advice off here that made me take the van elsewhere.

[BigSi76]

Well, I’ve had my van back from the dealers for a few days now, and I can’t believe how much of a difference a few computer upgrades can make! It almost feels like a different van! They had it for just over three hours, and did a pretty comprehensive job (diagnostic reading, PCM update, & injector re-coding).

There were quite a few ‘old’ fault codes on the system, which they had to physically check before removing the code, so now it has a clean slate. Only think now is.........it thinks is a Ferrari!!!!!!!

Oh, and I didn’t think the bill was that bad either (less than I was expecting).

[andy2001]

i had a couple of key transponders coded to my connect last year by one of our regular call in techies (he was making a key to fit the lock and recoding the chip for a stolen recovered ka ) he could't do mine as a connect but had no problem logging it as a focus, and i use one of the chips on mine every day in a focus 3 button all in one key