Ford Galaxy problem

[fixitflav]

One of my sons has a 2012 Ford Galaxy, 2-litre petrol, which has been playing up. To make it harder to diagnose, it’s very intermittent.
Past few weeks it’s been slow to start or taken two attempts to start. Filled up a near empty tank (possible red herring) then it stalled twice when pulling away at junction / roundabout.
Next day driven fine on a long-ish drive (hour each way)
Few days later again slow to start and stalled again at roundabout then stalled when driving after, low revs/weak acceleration. Engine wouldn’t restart. Got it home via breakdown truck - engine either not starting or stalling after 5-10 seconds. Few days later collected by breakdown chap to be taken to garage, car started fine.

Garage scanned it and came up with attached report. The codes were then cleared, car taken for a run, scanned again and the codes didn’t reappear (a bit odd to my mind). So maybe the fault has cleared itself and he just needs to keep using it and see what happens.

I'm not too impressed by the report, and if the codes had come back I would want to know

• Fuel rail pressure - is that a problem with the sensor or something else?
• Fuel supply control - what does improbable mean? If there is a problem with the control unit that might explain the symptoms.

• Engine start malfunction - explain. Is it a fuel or spark problem or what?
• Vehicle speed signal - is there a problem with that? I suppose the computer needs to know the speed so a fault could give the symptoms.

But can anybody on here throw any light on it?

He WFH so not desperately urgent, but it needs sorting. I suggested maybe an “Italian tune-up”, but he’s recently returned from France where he did some brisk autoroute driving, luckily the problem didn’t start over there.

Any suggestions appreciated!

 

[Burnerman]

I think the only thing you can do with this intermittent horror is for the Bosch specialist to use live data - that is, monitoring the engine when the car is misbehaving.
As it’s not a GDI engine the pressure isn’t vast but the fault could be anywhere after the tank filter forwards.
I don’t think it would be a good move just to throw parts at it just now.
John

 

[fixitflav]

I think the only thing you can do with this intermittent horror is for the Bosch specialist to use live data - that is, monitoring the engine when the car is misbehaving.
As it’s not a GDI engine the pressure isn’t vast but the fault could be anywhere after the tank filter forwards.
I don’t think it would be a good move just to throw parts at it just now.
John

Thanks John, I'll pass that on. But out of curiosity, why do you say Bosch? Is some of the kit Bosch?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

• Fuel rail pressure - is that a problem with the sensor or something else?
• Fuel supply control - what does improbable mean? If there is a problem with the control unit that might explain the symptoms.
• Engine start malfunction - explain. Is it a fuel or spark problem or what?

All the system does, is log faults, it doesn't tell you when the faults occurred, so the faults could be years old and no longer current ones. Standard diagnostic practice is to clear all faults, start with a clean sheet and see what ones then show up.


#1 Could be either actual low pressure or a sensor problem. When was the fuel filter replaced?
#2 As above
#3 Could just be that the system has noticed it has been cranked over and it has failed to start, perhaps due to #1

Vehicle speed signal - is there a problem with that? I suppose the computer needs to know the speed so a fault could give the symptoms.

Possible an entirely separate fault.

Thanks John, I'll pass that on. But out of curiosity, why do you say Bosch? Is some of the kit Bosch?

Investigate DIY methods of watching live data, all it usually needs is a simple cheap OBD wifi adaptor and a bit of software on a tablet or smart phone. You would also be able to read any fault codes which show up, without having to go to a garage.

 

[Burnerman]

I just looked at your picture, and presumed you had been to a Bosch diagnostic specialist.....best in the business, they are.
John

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I just looked at your picture, and presumed you had been to a Bosch diagnostic specialist.....best in the business, they are.
John

I would not dispute that, but all they seem to have done it plug in the diagnostics, printed out the codes and left it to the customer to work out what is wrong from the listed codes. The major part of the job, is interpreting and explaining to the customer what the codes actually suggest is at fault.

 

[fixitflav]

All the system does, is log faults, it doesn't tell you when the faults occurred, so the faults could be years old and no longer current ones. Standard diagnostic practice is to clear all faults, start with a clean sheet and see what ones then show up.


#1 Could be either actual low pressure or a sensor problem. When was the fuel filter replaced?
#2 As above
#3 Could just be that the system has noticed it has been cranked over and it has failed to start, perhaps due to #1



Possible an entirely separate fault.



Investigate DIY methods of watching live data, all it usually needs is a simple cheap OBD wifi adaptor and a bit of software on a tablet or smart phone. You would also be able to read any fault codes which show up, without having to go to a garage.

OK thanks, from what you say, maybe the faults that came originally were historic, then after these were cleared no more were found on second scan. Whether that means the problem has gone away time will tell.
He's got an OBD and he's pretty hot on computers so something might show.

I just looked at your picture, and presumed you had been to a Bosch diagnostic specialist.....best in the business, they are.
John

OK, just wondered!

 

[fixitflav]

I just looked at your picture, and presumed you had been to a Bosch diagnostic specialist.....best in the business, they are.
John

I didn't notice the Bosch logo - d'oh

 

[fixitflav]

Could be either actual low pressure or a sensor problem. When was the fuel filter replaced?

Just noticed this! He's not sure if it has been, but it's only done 37000 miles and if it's anything like the Mondeo fuel filter change is at 100000 miles.

 

[Burnerman]

I don’t think the petrol Galaxy has a filter, other than the strainer in the tank pump?
John

 

[fixitflav]

I don’t think the petrol Galaxy has a filter, other than the strainer in the tank pump?
John

Even better!

 

[Mottie]

I would not dispute that, but all they seem to have done it plug in the diagnostics, printed out the codes and left it to the customer to work out what is wrong from the listed codes. The major part of the job, is interpreting and explaining to the customer what the codes actually suggest is at fault.

That’s what I thought. Did he ask for it to be fixed or just for a read-out of the stored faults?

 

[Burnerman]

We've gotta wait until the vehicle fails again with new codes, I guess......the stored codes could be historic.
John

 

[Burnerman]

Please don't take it as gospel that the Galaxy has no fuel filter....in truth I've never delved into a petrol one of these but am familiar to a degree with a similar size S Max and that definitely didn't have one.
John

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

Please don't take it as gospel that the Galaxy has no fuel filter....in truth I've never delved into a petrol one of these but am familiar to a degree with a similar size S Max and that definitely didn't have one.
John

I would be surprised if a modern injection engine didn't have one and a bit of quick research suggest there is a filter available for the petrol version. Definitely the diesel has a filter.