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Limp mode issues flashing Coil light

17K views 51 replies 15 participants last post by  mondeotdci130 
#1 ·
Hello every one.

I have a problem with my 2002 mondeo tdci 130bhp. Today it went into limp mode with the coil light flashing on the dash board. I have just bought a code reader so waiting on that but in the mean time is there anything I can try to rectify the problem? The car has done 85k with full history been in the family for 4 years with no issues. Its just had a full service last week. The engine revs freely on tick over , no smoke and starts ok and the car has been running really well up to this point. Tonight I disconnected the battery and left for 30 mins but the light was still flashing even before the car was started. What's my next move?

Ben
 
#3 ·
It is very hard to say any thing without reading the error code. There could be few issues but lets wait for the error code. On the first i might say it is about injector(s) or fuel pump but there can be another causes.
 
#4 ·
Ok then I'll sit tight I have another car so it can site and wait.. I will be back with my fault codes. The car was running and sounded mint even in limp mode ,would it be running rough if it was injectors? Egr valve possibilities? I guess from looking on the forums it could be a host of things

Thanks

Ben
 
#5 · (Edited by Moderator)
HI Ben . the first thing that springs to mind is .the motor has just been serviced. this may point to something that was done in the service that did not go well with the engine . so the most common cause for this may be fitting a wrong fuel filter . . if a bosch .delphi or motorcraft .ie ford filter is not used then fuelling problems can arise from using spurious makes of filter .. soo . check the fuel filter is one of these makes then also check if the fuel filter is actually filling up with fuel and to do this simply take off the return pipes an look down int ot the bigger opening you shule see fuel . if you dont then try refilling the filter manually though the inlet to the filter , right up to the brim.. then check all the three connections on top of the filter for tighness and for being clipped home properly . .. as for clearing the fault code light this you can do when you get f super .. some flashiing code light dont clear by simply disconnecting the battery for half and hour some have cleared then by disconnecting over night . but radio codes will be lost so make sure you havve you r radio code if you do this . s
 
#6 ·
What code reader did you purchase? Cheap handheld readers wont work on early cars.

You need something like the F-Super off ebay for £24 ish. But it needs a laptop (USB port and software)

Cheapest handheld unit that will work is about £150.

Without a fault code or live data your chasing your tail looking for the fault. Unless you stumble across it
by accident.
 
#8 ·
#10 ·
Yeah bit of a crap listing, If you check other ELM interfaces they usually say diesels from 2004 onwards.

The F-Super will work on a 2002 car, MIne works on my sisters. Cant read or code the injectors though.

But does read/clear codes and shows live data.
 
#11 · (Edited by Moderator)
Well I'm still waiting for the correct lead to come which is a pain should have been here Wednesday. In the mean time my mate popped round with his snapon gadget from work and recons its a cam sensor. I could see on his machine something like above threshhold knock or something. Just wondred if a cam sensor would prevent starting? it's a grey one which I'm told is ok. Can I swap it with my 07 plate transit 2.4 to check looks the same sensor.

Ben
 
#13 · (Edited by Moderator)
Latest up date after today. Car started eventually and ran a little lumpy around 1500rpm loads of blueish smoke i think it was un burnt fuel after struggling to start. Tick over fine and revs out fine. Coil light still flashing. Took it for a spin well under powered still but keeps going up to 70mph and would easy go faster. Once car is warm it starts fine and ticks over fine and sounds lovely oh and zero smoke, it also starts on the button once warm. Just while I'm waiting on this lead I thought I would update on the latest. Doe's it narrow it down at all?

Ben
 
#17 ·
That's exactly how my car behaved when the injectors were playing up and had "lost" their codes. Starting was very difficult with clouds of smoke when it did begin to fire.
Once warmed up it ran quite well.

Injector recoding was the cure in my case.
 
#15 ·
Well not sure if its in limp mode or not well under powered so it could be limp mode! no engine management light when booting it. Glow plugs would explain a bad start but this is really hard to start so i'm not sure its them.

Would faulty heater plugs cause the light to flash?

Would they put it into Limp mode?

Ben
 
#16 · (Edited by Moderator)
Faulty glowplugs don't give any warning lights. Flashing glowplug light usually a fuelling or turbo
pressure issue.

Yours sounds like fuelling.
 
#18 ·
PURPLE_2L_LX said:
Faulty glowplugs don't give any warning lights. Flashing glowplug light usually a fuelling or turbo
pressure issue.

Yours sounds like fuelling.
So when I start up in the morning and the car is lump and goes in limp mode and I get could light, that's not the glow plugs? What do you think it could be
 
#19 ·
PURPLE_2L_LX said:
Faulty glowplugs don't give any warning lights. Flashing glowplug light usually a fuelling or turbo
pressure issue.

Yours sounds like fuelling.
So when I start up in the morning and the car is lump and goes in limp mode and I get could light, that's not the glow plugs? What do you think it could be
I'm no expert but I think £25 on a diagnostic lead seams the way to go , get some codes up then the experts can give you some advise like Mr Purple says Glow Plugs don't send it into limp mode. I would grad a cable off flebay and start from there. Maybe start your own thread


Ben
 
#22 ·
Get a leakoff test done on the injectors, One or more maybe past its best.

Trying to save money on reconditioned injectors is risky though. Will they work or wont they?
 
#24 ·
defo sounds like injector problem now but remember that a proper bosch .ford filter is important with these motors . and if you decide to change out the spuioue one for a proper ford bosch fule filter alway open the old filter and chekc the paper element for filings which if you find get rid of the motor asap. to the motor trade...s
 
#25 ·
Right , I'm after some more info. Could someone briefly describe a leak off test please or a link that describes the process. Also best place for injector/injectors and the tool required to remove them? Here are my fault codes.





I did have another code the other night saying something like injector pressure to high !!

Ben
 
#26 ·
Small flexi pipes on the injectors take leaked off fuel and feeds it back to the filter/tank.

Remove the pipes connected to all 4 injectors and replace with 4 separate pipes and 4 identical sized
containers to catch the fuel.

Plenty of posts on this, Homemae DIY kits and off the shelf or ebay ready to use kits. Only the 4 clips to
undo no need to remove injectors.

The injector codes you have there are not real codes. You cannot read the real codes on your car.

Only buy injectors from delphi specialists and make sure they supply new calibration codes, And make sure
the people coding them for you can actually do early cars with a separate ICU.
 
#27 ·
Thanks for the info Purple I have been talking to a diesel specialist local to me who has done a few (which tells you something about mondeos) early 01/02 tdci , he recons the rocker cover has to come off to read the codes on the injectors and recommended changing the four and re code for best results. He said much the same that injectors don't just out the blue uncode them selves. If I do a leak off test tonight and one is really leaking compared to the others is it safe to say that's the bad boy??

Thanks again

Ben
 
#28 ·
No the rocker cover doesnt need to come off, So some specialist...

Unclip the leakoff pipes to get a good view of the code with a mirror, Or a camera with macro mode.

or a camera and a mirror and reverse the picture.

If ones leaking more than the others that ones worse, But it depends how much the others are leaking.
 
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