Advice Ford focus wiring

[Access Denied]

Got a question for the mechanics among you.

I've got an issue with my '05 Focus Ghia 1.6 petrol. She went into limp mode last night with an Engine Systems Fault message. AA guy diagnosed a throttle body problem and towed me to my usual garage. They sorted the throttle body without having to replace it but there's an air flow sensor problem that isn't being fixed by replacing it. The mechanic thinks it's a problem somewhere in the loom so my questions are:

How easy would it be to diagnose that?
Would the whole wiring loom for the car need replacing or can that specific part of the loom be replaceable.
What sort of difficulty would that be?

 

[Raven]

If it's the Mass Air Flow sensor, easy, it's usually near the air filter intake. You will find it on google.

 

[Jupitus]

Got a question for the mechanics among you.

I've got an issue with my '05 Focus Ghia 1.6 petrol. She went into limp mode last night with an Engine Systems Fault message. AA guy diagnosed a throttle body problem and towed me to my usual garage. They sorted the throttle body without having to replace it but there's an air flow sensor problem that isn't being fixed by replacing it. The mechanic thinks it's a problem somewhere in the loom so my questions are:

How easy would it be to diagnose that?
Would the whole wiring loom for the car need replacing or can that specific part of the loom be replaceable.
What sort of difficulty would that be?

Sensors like that do seem to fail quite often, so it does kind of figure. Did he / garage use a diagnostic tool to determine the issue or just best guess? You can get generic diagnosis kits which plug into the car and read fault codes. Sophisticated / Ford ones would probably give a precise fault detail, but it is possible to find lookup tables of fault code numbers online. A ford owner forum would also be a sensible step.

No - you shouldn't need a full loom. If it's the sensor itself then that can be replaced and plugged into the existing loom. If the wiring is damaged, you should be able to just replace the single wire and splice it in. Note - the sensors themselves can often seem very pricey for such a small part, FYI.

 

[Access Denied]

Sensors like that do seem to fail quite often, so it does kind of figure. Did he / garage use a diagnostic tool to determine the issue or just best guess? You can get generic diagnosis kits which plug into the car and read fault codes. Sophisticated / Ford ones would probably give a precise fault detail, but it is possible to find lookup tables of fault code numbers online. A ford owner forum would also be a sensible step.

No - you shouldn't need a full loom. If it's the sensor itself then that can be replaced and plugged into the existing loom. If the wiring is damaged, you should be able to just replace the single wire and splice it in. Note - the sensors themselves can often seem very pricey for such a small part, FYI.

I have posted to the ford owners club fourm as well. So here's what I know. The diagnostic computer the AA guy used shows "P0101 Air Mass sensor outside specified range"
My mechanic said he's fitted a new sensor and swapped one from another ford they have in the garage to no avail.
I've googled the error and none of the results I've seen suggest it could be the wiring but that doesn't necessarily mean anything.

How would I go about testing the wiring to the sensor? A video I watched had a guy using what looks like a hole punch with a screwdriver type handle that has a bulb inside. He was touching it to the connectors in the sensor. Would that tell me?

 

[Gray]

I've got a Focus mk2 and recently had an electrical fault. Cost me £200 to have repaired by a local garage who specialises in electrical work.

Mine was behind the dash. I did have a good base to start using my own OBD2 tool and they did the rest.

Biggest pain in my arse at the moment has been a loss of 50% of the heated windscreen, very much a known problem it seems

 

[Jupitus]

I have posted to the ford owners club fourm as well. So here's what I know. The diagnostic computer the AA guy used shows "P0101 Air Mass sensor outside specified range"
My mechanic said he's fitted a new sensor and swapped one from another ford they have in the garage to no avail.
I've googled the error and none of the results I've seen suggest it could be the wiring but that doesn't necessarily mean anything.

How would I go about testing the wiring to the sensor? A video I watched had a guy using what looks like a hole punch with a screwdriver type handle that has a bulb inside. He was touching it to the connectors in the sensor. Would that tell me?

Well, wiring issues can cause untold weird issues on cars. Are you able to identify the MAF sensor? It should be just next to your air filter box. Have you changed an air filter before? It's quite easy, but apparently you can see the MAF sensor when the filter is being swapped (look down the air pipe).

Looking online there seems to be different wiring on the sensor circuits - how many connections does your have (once to ID it) I have seen some have 4, some 6... it might even be a simple case of a dirty connection in which case a bloody good squirt of electrical contact cleaner all over the wiring connector and MAF sensor plug may help...?

Amazon.co.uk : electrical contact cleaner spray

If you get some of the above I might be able to also figure out where the other end of those wires emerge - this would allow a continuity test (ie is the wire busted anywhere)... do you have or can you borrow a 'multimeter' ?

 

[Access Denied]

Well, wiring issues can cause untold weird issues on cars. Are you able to identify the MAF sensor? It should be just next to your air filter box. Have you changed an air filter before? It's quite easy, but apparently you can see the MAF sensor when the filter is being swapped (look down the air pipe).

Looking online there seems to be different wiring on the sensor circuits - how many connections does your have (once to ID it) I have seen some have 4, some 6... it might even be a simple case of a dirty connection in which case a bloody good squirt of electrical contact cleaner all over the wiring connector and MAF sensor plug may help...?

Amazon.co.uk : electrical contact cleaner spray

If you get some of the above I might be able to also figure out where the other end of those wires emerge - this would allow a continuity test (ie is the wire busted anywhere)... do you have or can you borrow a 'multimeter' ?

Oh yeah I know where it is. I'm picking the car up from the garage tomorrow since they say it runs good enough to bumble about town so I'll check the number of cables etc tomorrow and get back to you. It's weird that this is only SHOWING as an issue since the throttle body went screwy though. I mean the check engine light wasn't on at all until that happened.

 

[Jupitus]

Oh yeah I know where it is. I'm picking the car up from the garage tomorrow since they say it runs good enough to bumble about town so I'll check the number of cables etc tomorrow and get back to you. It's weird that this is only SHOWING as an issue since the throttle body went screwy though. I mean the check engine light wasn't on at all until that happened.

Ok... while checking the cables look for any easily visible signs of chafing or wear as far as you can trace them

 

[Hawkwind]

How would I go about testing the wiring to the sensor? A video I watched had a guy using what looks like a hole punch with a screwdriver type handle that has a bulb inside. He was touching it to the connectors in the sensor. Would that tell me?

Continuity check if the sensor is two wire or more you can short two wires then Check the other end.

Any cheap DVM will have continuity check.

 

[Syri]

Might be worth checking if there's any bent pins. My dad did a repair on a Corsa a while back (cylinder head gasket) and after putting it back together kept getting a sensor fault. Turned out when he'd disconnected the computer module to get at something, he'd put it back a bit off, and bent a pin.
As for testing the wiring, in most cases there's not a lot that can go wrong with wires unless they get trapped or overloaded. You can use a circuit tester as long as you can get at both ends of the wire, either the type you mentioned with the bulb or a multi-meter. That should tell you if the connection is ok at least.

 

[Access Denied]

SO! I've picked my car up and there are actually 2 error codes.
P0102 Mass Air Flow Circuit Low Input
P0113 Intake Air Temperature Circuit High Input..

Looking around online the most common causes of both of those are a dirty air filter or loose/corroded connections. I'll check the air filter myself and obtain some contact cleaner spray as well.

Also, the connector for the MAF sensor has 6 wires.

 

[Jupitus]

SO! I've picked my car up and there are actually 2 error codes.
P0102 Mass Air Flow Circuit Low Input
P0113 Intake Air Temperature Circuit High Input..

Looking around online the most common causes of both of those are a dirty air filter or loose/corroded connections. I'll check the air filter myself and obtain some contact cleaner spray as well.

Also, the connector for the MAF sensor has 6 wires.

Replace the air filter (should do regularly anyway) and while you are at it clean the area around the sensor in the tube with the contact cleaner (it'll clean most things pretty well, and evaporates off quickly, doesn't conduct leccy either). Also give all 12 (2x6) connections a good spray and wipe ... let us know!

EDIT:


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKyMziwa_TM

 

[Access Denied]

Update time! I rang Ford to see if they could stick it on their machine and give me a quote for repair (Since I'm pretty sure their computer would be able to tell me EXACTLY what's causing the error codes) and they want to charge me £140 just to diagnose. Told them to shove it up their arse.

Went to Kwik Fit and they plugged in their computer. No more detail then my normal garage but interestingly, the code for the air flow sensor had disappeared and I was only left with the one for the IAT. That's where I'm stuck. I checked the filter and that's fine, doesn't need replacing and from what I can tell, on my car the IAT is integrated into the MAF. That being the case I have no idea why the MAF code vanished and the IAT remains.

 

[Jupitus]

Update time! I rang Ford to see if they could stick it on their machine and give me a quote for repair (Since I'm pretty sure their computer would be able to tell me EXACTLY what's causing the error codes) and they want to charge me £140 just to diagnose. Told them to shove it up their arse.

Went to Kwik Fit and they plugged in their computer. No more detail then my normal garage but interestingly, the code for the air flow sensor had disappeared and I was only left with the one for the IAT. That's where I'm stuck. I checked the filter and that's fine, doesn't need replacing and from what I can tell, on my car the IAT is integrated into the MAF. That being the case I have no idea why the MAF code vanished and the IAT remains.

Ummm... IAT ?

 

[Access Denied]

Ummm... IAT ?

Apologies. Intake Air Temperature sensor.

 

[brooky]

you need to buy a new MAF sensor, as the intake sensors part of that iirc, either that or the wires that attach to it are fucked (either maf side or connector side)

 

[Deebs]

you need to buy a new MAF sensor, as the intake sensors part of that iirc, either that or the wires that attach to it are fucked (either maf side or connector side)

Fuck me, it's crawled back out of the woodwork.

 

[Access Denied]

you need to buy a new MAF sensor, as the intake sensors part of that iirc, either that or the wires that attach to it are fucked (either maf side or connector side)

I doubt it's the sensor itself as my garage swapped it out to test. Likely the connectors.

 

[brooky]

Fuck me, it's crawled back out of the woodwork.

I don't know if that's a dig or not..... either way.... hello there and happy belated birthday.....

 

[Scouse]

How you doing @brooky? What you been up tae?

 

[brooky]

I doubt it's the sensor itself as my garage swapped it out to test. Likely the connectors.

Does if run like a cunt if you disco the MAF ?

 

[brooky]

How you doing @brooky? What you been up tae?

Nothing much.... ssdd mate..... still not dead......

Just on my usual Xmas visit to the forums

 

[Deebs]

Absolutely not a dig. Hope you are well.

 

[Access Denied]

Does if run like a cunt if you disco the MAF ?

Can't say I've tried! I know she runs just fine as is. Only symptom that I can point to is that she's using slightly more fuel than usual. Doesn't idle rough, acceleration isn't affected etc.

 

[brooky]

Can't say I've tried! I know she runs just fine as is. Only symptom that I can point to is that she's using slightly more fuel than usual. Doesn't idle rough, acceleration isn't affected etc.

I'd say its the connectors then.... if it was a diesel I'd say egr..... clean the pins.... you'd need needle nosed plyers to remove them properly....

 

[Access Denied]

I'd say its the connectors then.... if it was a diesel I'd say egr..... clean the pins.... you'd need needle nosed plyers to remove them properly....

Just had a look and the outside two wires (Which research tells me are the wires for the IAT) have small holes in the flex where someone has evidently poked a probe into them. Might be the issue! I wonder how hard it would be to re-wire that connector...

Edit: Orrrrrr buy a new plug, splice the wires and heat wrap them.

 

[Jupitus]

Try a great spray with this...

WD-40 Specialist Fast Drying Contact Cleaner 250ml | Halfords UK

Shop the latest WD-40 Specialist Fast Drying Contact Cleaner is a fast acting, non-conductive cleaner. at Halfords UK

www.halfords.com

 

[Access Denied]

Anyone know where I can get a new pigtail? Aside from a dodgy looking ebay page I'm struggling to find what I need.

Ta.

 

[brooky]

I heard Lecter is selling his... his boyfriend likes skinheads now so he's got to get rid....

 

[Jupitus]

Anyone know where I can get a new pigtail? Aside from a dodgy looking ebay page I'm struggling to find what I need.

Ta.

Pls explain? I have made an entire loom for a car yet never of a 'pigtail'....