Focus ST 190 eco blue DPF problems

[KingGary]

Hi, my wife’s diesel ST mk4 (190hp) has developed a P2002 fault. Took it to a local dpf “specialist” and they are telling us the DPF is toast and needs replacing, which is a very expensive job and not one they want to touch. Up to £4K including parts and labour apparently and a known problem for Euro 6 emissions cars. Anyone else come across this? I can turn the light off but it comes back on every 100 miles or so.

[Smurfsarepeopletoo]

Have you tried taking it on a run keeping the revs above 2/2.5K, alternatively, if that doesnt work, could always have it mapped out £400 vs 4k.

[KingGary]

Smurfsarepeopletoo said:

Have you tried taking it on a run keeping the revs above 2/2.5K, alternatively, if that doesnt work, could always have it mapped out £400 vs 4k.

It’s one of the things the technician suggested to map it out, but feels like a bodge. It does go out occasionally after a long journey, but comes back again after domestic use. Guy said he’s seen loads of problems with Euro 6 cars. Just seems like a design fault as we’ve never had a problem with earlier diesels.

[ConnectionError]

Take it to Ford?

Is he really a specialist, or someone who thinks he is?

[Gtom]

Run it right down on fuel, stick £15 worth of v power diesel or similar and a full bottle of this.

https://eurocats.co.uk/products/diesel-6-in-1/

Then run it up and down a bypass/motorway at 3500rpm or higher for 30 minutes.

It sorted my transit custom out when that had dpf problems and it’s helped other people I have recommended it to.

Some people will cry snake oil but if I was looking down the barrel at a £4K bill I would certainly be will to try something.

[Dynion Araf Uchaf]

It would help you a lot if you watch o’rileys autos on YouTube. He’s a dpf /diesel specialist and may have some knowledge that would be useful to you.

[KingGary]

Dynion Araf Uchaf said:

It would help you a lot if you watch o’rileys autos on YouTube. He’s a dpf /diesel specialist and may have some knowledge that would be useful to you.

Thanks, this is who we took it to, he’s local to us.

[KingGary]

Gtom said:

Run it right down on fuel, stick £15 worth of v power diesel or similar and a full bottle of this.

https://eurocats.co.uk/products/diesel-6-in-1/

Then run it up and down a bypass/motorway at 3500rpm or higher for 30 minutes.

It sorted my transit custom out when that had dpf problems and it’s helped other people I have recommended it to.

Some people will cry snake oil but if I was looking down the barrel at a £4K bill I would certainly be will to try something.

Thanks, will give this a go. Car’s only done 35k miles and does do reasonable runs and mixed driving. Disappointing as it’s otherwise a great car.

[Dynion Araf Uchaf]

Ok he knows his onions. So if he says its furked it probably is.

[E-bmw]

KingGary said:

Smurfsarepeopletoo said:

Have you tried taking it on a run keeping the revs above 2/2.5K, alternatively, if that doesnt work, could always have it mapped out £400 vs 4k.

It’s one of the things the technician suggested to map it out, but feels like a bodge.

Not only is it a bodge, it is illegal & if seen, an instant MOT fail.

Get it to someone who removes & cleans them properly, Google will tell you where there are many near you.

[u6dw4]

try replacing the pressure diff sensor first, might not work but is really common.

not a mechanic but it was 60 repair instead of 600 (dpf was clear and didn't need replacement).

sensor was just broken.

Edited by u6dw4 on Wednesday 22 May 20:09

[KingGary]

Thought I’d follow up on this. Don’t want to fall foul of the name and shame rules so will just say we went to see one of the experts suggested above. I left my wife to make the appointment and she was told to meet the chap in what turned out to be a disused car park instead of what we thought was a garage. He didn’t know what engine the car had in it “is it a 1.6?” or how to fix it. Concluded he couldn’t do anything and that it needed a £4K replacement DPF and that we should probably get rid of it (it’s a 4 year old car with 30k miles). Charged her £60 cash only which luckily she had on her, so not terribly impressed and will not be recommending.

Thanks to the poster above, I put som DPF cleaner in it and took it for a 45 minute thrash down the A1. 80mph in 4th gear, 3500rpm. 3 weeks on and the light has stayed off and it seems to be running better. I think the next one will be petrol or even electric.

[Tony1963]

So pretty much what the first reply suggested!

Obviously make sure it has a good 25 mile+ drive each week, if it is used for silly short runs during the week.

[KingGary]

Tony1963 said:

So pretty much what the first reply suggested!

Obviously make sure it has a good 25 mile+ drive each week, if it is used for silly short runs during the week.

Well yes, hence asking for advice. I didn’t like the £4K new DPF answer. To be fair, we’ve owned loads of diesels and never had a problem except with the Euro 6 emissions system. They do seem to create more problems than the older ones. Still fingers crossed.

[stevieturbo]

KingGary said:

Thought I’d follow up on this. Don’t want to fall foul of the name and shame rules so will just say we went to see one of the experts suggested above. I left my wife to make the appointment and she was told to meet the chap in what turned out to be a disused car park instead of what we thought was a garage. He didn’t know what engine the car had in it “is it a 1.6?” or how to fix it. Concluded he couldn’t do anything and that it needed a £4K replacement DPF and that we should probably get rid of it (it’s a 4 year old car with 30k miles). Charged her £60 cash only which luckily she had on her, so not terribly impressed and will not be recommending.

Thanks to the poster above, I put som DPF cleaner in it and took it for a 45 minute thrash down the A1. 80mph in 4th gear, 3500rpm. 3 weeks on and the light has stayed off and it seems to be running better. I think the next one will be petrol or even electric.

I see no experts listed above ?

And sounds very dodgy all round

[Gtom]

KingGary said:

Thought I’d follow up on this. Don’t want to fall foul of the name and shame rules so will just say we went to see one of the experts suggested above. I left my wife to make the appointment and she was told to meet the chap in what turned out to be a disused car park instead of what we thought was a garage. He didn’t know what engine the car had in it “is it a 1.6?” or how to fix it. Concluded he couldn’t do anything and that it needed a £4K replacement DPF and that we should probably get rid of it (it’s a 4 year old car with 30k miles). Charged her £60 cash only which luckily she had on her, so not terribly impressed and will not be recommending.

Thanks to the poster above, I put som DPF cleaner in it and took it for a 45 minute thrash down the A1. 80mph in 4th gear, 3500rpm. 3 weeks on and the light has stayed off and it seems to be running better. I think the next one will be petrol or even electric.

Glad it’s worked out for you, it worked for me that’s why I recommended it.

The stuff I recommended is designed to have a shot in every tank full. If you aren’t doing high miles it would make sense to use premium diesel too.

[KingGary]

Gtom said:

Glad it’s worked out for you, it worked for me that’s why I recommended it.

The stuff I recommended is designed to have a shot in every tank full. If you aren’t doing high miles it would make sense to use premium diesel too.

[Gtom]

How are you getting on with this?

KingGary said:

Thought I’d follow up on this. Don’t want to fall foul of the name and shame rules so will just say we went to see one of the experts suggested above. I left my wife to make the appointment and she was told to meet the chap in what turned out to be a disused car park instead of what we thought was a garage. He didn’t know what engine the car had in it “is it a 1.6?” or how to fix it. Concluded he couldn’t do anything and that it needed a £4K replacement DPF and that we should probably get rid of it (it’s a 4 year old car with 30k miles). Charged her £60 cash only which luckily she had on her, so not terribly impressed and will not be recommending.

Thanks to the poster above, I put som DPF cleaner in it and took it for a 45 minute thrash down the A1. 80mph in 4th gear, 3500rpm. 3 weeks on and the light has stayed off and it seems to be running better. I think the next one will be petrol or even electric.

[KingGary]

It’s fine, we put a bottle of DPF cleaner in every other tank and it’s been behaving itself.

Irish car park “expert” didn’t know what he was talking about. Don’t trust anyone who doesn’t have an office and only takes cash.

[Belle427]

Surely a so called expert would have suggested a dpf clean first even if it needed removing to do?
Its what most do with good success and you seemed to have proved that.
Good to know a particular product worked though so others can maybe benefit from it.