“Engine Fault Service Now” Ford Focus – What Should You Do?

The Ford Focus has proven to be very popular with buyers because it is engineered to be agile, fuel-efficient, and fit for daily drives. Sadly, it’s not sold now in the American market and we couldn’t even get our hands on the new generation that is available in Europe.

Engine fault, service now message highlights

• Common reasons:fault code in the ECU
• How to fix:hook up the scanner, read the codes, make conclusions
• Possible consequences:there is the chance your engine may fail
• Priority level:Medium
• Can you drive?Carefully
• DIY repair:Impossible
• Repair price range:$150-$1,000

Can you still drive when your Focus says the engine needs service?

It depends on what the problem is, but we don’t recommend driving such a car for a long time. If the engine isn’t stalling or shaking like crazy, you can still drive. But if the problem is with the ignition, for example, you may experience a lot of problems with the exhaust system, catalytic converter, oil dilution, etc.

So, you can drive to the repair shop or you can drive home to put the car in the garage. It’s not recommended to ignore this problem – it clearly says “Service Now” and you should really make sure that it will be serviced now.

Diagnosing the Most Common Causes of the "Engine Fault Service Now" in Ford Focus

Typically, the most practical way to diagnose an issue like the "Engine Fault Service Now" in Ford Focus is through an OBD2 diagnostic tool. With this scanner, you will know right away what is causing the recurring problem in your vehicle, which will save you plenty of time and will help you more effectively communicate to your mechanic what seems to be wrong with it.

According to a significant number of people who have experienced this specific problem though, they claimed that they were unable to detect any fault or stored codes using their devices. Now, this can certainly make it a bit trickier than usual to find the cause of the issue. So, to go around with this predicament, we have referred to reputable automotive vlogs, reports, user reviews, and various forums to determine the most common causes of this warning in the Focus.

Based on our research, these factors are normally the culprits in the case of the Ford Focus:

1. Low 12V battery or faulty alternator

If your car's battery is low on charge, it can disrupt the power supply of the electrical system of the Ford Focus and cause the "Engine Fault Service Now" message to appear. A low battery can cause problems with the ECU because it just won’t supply it with the needed voltage. Eventually, it will not crank the engine and you will be stranded on the roadside.

Use the multimeter to check the battery charge – it should be 12.5 volts when the car is off. But it still doesn’t mean that the battery is OK. If under the load the voltage falls to 10 volts or lower, it means the battery has to be charged or even replaced.

But when the car is started, the battery has nothing to do with the electricity supply. Now, the alternator takes over and it may also be the reason for problems with the ECU and other electronic units.

Here’s how to check it:

·       when the car is started, check the voltage on the battery terminals – it should be over 14 volts;

·       you may also check the voltage on the terminals of the alternator itself – you will get about 14.5 volts normally;

·       open the hood when the engine is working and listen to unusual sounds from the alternator;

·       check the drive belt that drives the alternator – it should be OK and working properly.

Slipping belt may cause problems with the electricity supply because it will completely turn off the alternator and drain the battery from time to time. Such voltage spikes may affect the ECU and it will throw the “Engine Fault Service Now” message on the dash.

2. Ignition system problems

Your ECU in the Focus may count misfiring events in the engine. If the cylinder misfires one time, it’s OK and shouldn’t cause any problems. But if the cylinder misfires multiple times per minute, the engine control unit will have a P0300 code (or P0301-P0304). Also, this code may trigger the “Engine Fault Service Now” message.

Engine misfires are pretty common for the Ford Focus because of the following problems:

·       spark plugs problems;

·       ignition coils issues;

·       old or low-grade fuel;

·       low compression on high-mileage engines;

·       problems with fuel supply.

The majority of these problems are not hard to solve. Replacing the spark plugs or coils will solve the issue in 80% of cases. But if the problem is with the compression, the engine will need proper repair in the shop.

2.0L engines in the Focus are very durable and can live up to 200,000 miles. But sometimes, they can have problems with valve seals, piston rings, or, what’s more possible, valve contamination.

They are direct-injection engines and they will develop carbon buildup on intake valves. If this is not fixed, the buildup will change the compression and the engine will start misfiring. This may also trigger the “Engine Fault Service Now” error message.

3. Oxygen sensor readings

If your Ford Focus is displaying the "Engine Fault Service Now" error message, it is likely that one or more of the sensors have become damaged or disrupted. If you own a Ford Focus, the best way to start your diagnosis is in the oxygen sensor.

The oxygen sensor is mounted into the exhaust system and it measures the amount of oxygen in the exhaust. If a lot of oxygen is there, it means that not all fuel-air mixture is burnt in the process of combustion. If this happens, the engine control unit will certainly throw the “Engine Fault Service Now” error message.

The negative effects are obvious:

·       the catalytic converter gets overheated;

·       engine loses its efficiency;

·       fuel consumption goes up;

·       raw fuel gets to the exhaust system and atmosphere;

·       emissions are much higher than usual.

So, this is a serious issue and it may mean that something is wrong with engine sensors like the MAF sensor, or that there is an issue with ignition or fuel injection.

4. Fuel injection system problems

The "Engine Fault Service Now" in the Ford Focus could indicate a problem with the fuel injection system. The parts where the issues usually occur in this model are the fuel injectors, fuel filter, and fuel pump.

To diagnose the problem, you will need to check for any possible leaks and carbon build-up in the fuel system. You will also need to check the pressure of the fuel pump and the condition of the spark plugs.

Depending on the circumstances, if you find that there is a major problem with the fuel injector, you will need to replace it. If the problem is with the fuel filter, you will need to clean or change it. If the problem is with the fuel pump, you will need to either repair or replace it.

5. Engine sensors

Your engine in the Ford Focus relies on several important sensors such as the crankshaft position sensor, throttle position sensor, mass airflow sensor, etc. All these electronic units work to better time the work of the engine and to make sure that it burns the fuel as efficiently as possible.

But once some of these sensors send wrong readings or get disconnected, you will get the check engine light and the “Engine Fault Service Now” error message. This is one of the easiest issues to check – just use the OBD2 scanner and see if there is a special code in the ECU that shows you the actual problem with these sensors.

Replacing them and checking their connections and wiring are the only ways to deal with the problem.

6. Transmission slipping

The clutch slipping problem is very common for the Ford Focus with the PowerShift transmission. This is the DCT transmission with a dry clutch pack that usually lives about 100,000 miles. After that, it may start slipping. In most cases, the Focus will tell you “Transmission Fault Service Now”, but sometimes, instead of a transmission failure message, the Focus will still show the “Engine Fault Service Now” warning.

If the problem is with the transmission, you will notice that it changed the way of operation. It now punches when shifting from the first to the second gear, also it slips and you can see revolutions going up at every shift.

Conclusion

The "Engine Fault Service Now" in Ford Focus can stem from a variety of factors. The problems tackled in this article are just the ones that the car is most prone to, and at times, these may be coupled with other issues outside of the ones discussed here.

So, if you are having problems with your engine, it is important to take it to a mechanic as soon as possible. They will be able to diagnose the problem better because of their more advanced tools as well as knowledge and get your car running smoothly again in no time.