Ford Focus 1.8TDCI lack of power and juddering

[talksr]

Good evening, I have a 2009 1.8tdci Ford Focus which has just done 61k (out of warranty by 123 miles incidentally).

The car has started loosing power when putting your foot down. Normal driving is not really noticeable, but if you are pulling off fast such as on a mway slip road, the car judders. This appears to be around the 2500-3000 rpm range. This evening, I attempted an overtake in the fast lane, I was overtaking a van doing 60 in the middle lane, my car immediately started juddering like mad and lost some power. As soon as I released the accelerator and re-pressed, it continued like normal and built up enough speed to overtake.

I have been in-touch with the Ford dealer I purchased the car from as I suspected it would be a turbo related issue, but they are suggesting it is the fuel filter at a cost of £135.00 to change.

I am not able to undertake this work myself and I am keen to establish if my problems would suggest the filter is the cause.

Any help would be very much appreciated.

[glassrobot]

The fuel filter is a small job so don't let Ford do it, buy the part separate and get an independent garage to fit it. Does your car have a DPF? If you do then this is the likely cause, again don't let Ford touch it as you will be ripped off, you can have a static regen done for about £50 from most independent garages. Hope this helped

[talksr]

glassrobot said:

The fuel filter is a small job so don't let Ford do it, buy the part separate and get an independent garage to fit it. Does your car have a DPF? If you do then this is the likely cause, again don't let Ford touch it as you will be ripped off, you can have a static regen done for about £50 from most independent garages. Hope this helped

Thanks for your post, no this car does not have a DPF (thank god). Do you think it could be the filter based on this car not having a DPF and having only 60k on the clock? - I thought it would be odd for a car of this mileage to have a turbo fault already. Also, forgot to say, I have had no warning lights on the dash ever.

Edited by talksr on Monday 24th November 20:46

[BigTom85]

Fuel filter is the place I'd start too, quite common all diesel Fords of this vintage.

They are expensive from Ford, I'd let them get on with it.

[talksr]

Thanks for all of your posts.
I thought Ford were quite deer. I went to a local mechanic who quoted me around £60/70.
He had to replace the filter housing as it was cracked and brittle, so the total bill was £80.00.
Far cheaper than Ford, and since this has been done, the car has run like normal.

I am leaving it a few minutes longer in the mornings to run before I set off, hopefully that will help a little.

Thanks for all of your input

Also, @BigTom85, you mention 'a vehicle of this vintage' is that a good or bad thing?! I am told the lynx is a very strong engine, and should last a long, long time.
So far, this is the only spot of bother I have encountered.

[BigTom85]

talksr said:

Thanks for all of your posts.
I thought Ford were quite deer. I went to a local mechanic who quoted me around £60/70.
He had to replace the filter housing as it was cracked and brittle, so the total bill was £80.00.
Far cheaper than Ford, and since this has been done, the car has run like normal.

I am leaving it a few minutes longer in the mornings to run before I set off, hopefully that will help a little.

Thanks for all of your input

Also, @BigTom85, you mention 'a vehicle of this vintage' is that a good or bad thing?! I am told the lynx is a very strong engine, and should last a long, long time.
So far, this is the only spot of bother I have encountered.

The 1.8TDCI is a sturdy engine, worry not. Both of my current steers have it fitted! Keep them serviced on time and to the schedule, and other than probably needing a flywheel at some stage, you can't really go wrong with them.

Fuel filter should be changed at 37,500 miles / 3 year intervals I think. They cannot be changed independent of the housing. A genuine part is quite dear, pattern parts about £20.

[talksr]

Thanks BigTom for your reply. Yes I gather the clutch/flywheel can be an issue for these vehicles in later life.

One final question I have....I have had the car for just over two and a half years and since owning it, I have noticed that in the past 7 or 8 months, it has started to smog from the exhaust under quite hard revs. This was impossible when I first got the car. I know diesels, particularly ones without a DPF like mine do this, but what is it that causes it? It seems to happen with age. Mine is nothing to worry about, but would be keen to understand what causes it and how it can be slowed or prevented.