Ford Ka problem

G J · 13 Apr 2009 at 17:21

After reading these forums a while now, and hearing how people have solved problems with their cars i wonder if anyone could help me with a problem my mothers ford ka is experiencing.

Car is completely fine when @ idle, under any type of accelaration in the lower gears and there's a distint lack of power.

Friend had a look and can't find out whats wrong, he checked the idle control valve and there's no build up or anything.

Fluid levels are all fine also, any help much apprieated

Janesy B · 13 Apr 2009 at 17:25

Sounds like an air or fuelling issue. Has the car been serviced recently? Could be the spark plugs, MAF (if the ka has one, can't remember now, ignition leads, a vacuum leak on the inlet from the air filter or a clogged air filter. I'd give the car a good service and work from there.

G J · 13 Apr 2009 at 17:34

Janesy B said:
Sounds like an air or fuelling issue. Has the car been serviced recently? Could be the spark plugs, MAF (if the ka has one, can't remember now, ignition leads, a vacuum leak on the inlet from the air filter or a clogged air filter. I'd give the car a good service and work from there.

Thanks for the reply, to also add the car last had a full service in aug 08, is four years old and only done around 12.5k.

Freind says he couldn't find any type of air leak

Janesy B · 13 Apr 2009 at 17:38

Has he taken a look at the plugs to see what they look like? A set of plugs will only set you back a tenner so there's no harm in trying.

Mul · 13 Apr 2009 at 17:47

I had my 1999 Ka taken in to the local garage about a month ago with similar symptoms. New spark plugs and coil pack remedied the issue. As Janesy has said, it might be worth having a look at the spark plugs.

G J · 13 Apr 2009 at 18:10

Mul said:
I had my 1999 Ka taken in to the local garage about a month ago with similar symptoms. New spark plugs and coil pack remedied the issue. As Janesy has said, it might be worth having a look at the spark plugs.

I'll get my friend to take a look at the spark plugs tomorrow but im sure it was something that would've been changed at the full service.

It seems this thread and reading up on other fourms that they there's no real way of knowing, might be better and/or cheeper in the end taking it to a ford garage for a diagnostic.

Anyway we'll see, thanks for the replies

iaind · 13 Apr 2009 at 18:19

Last time I drove a fully functional, nearly new Ka, there was a distinct lack of power - I'm sure its meant to be like that

Sorry, someone had to say it

Thebug · 13 Apr 2009 at 18:29

Found this for a focus - supposed to show you diagnostic codes.

Try it and see if it will work with the KA, might save you a few quid

The Self Diagnostics Mode gives you in-depth information about your
engine and the actual numbers in digital. To use it, follow the steps:

* Insert Key but do not turn it on
* Press and hold the Trip Meter Reset Button
* While holding the reset button, Turn ignition until dash lights come on and
continue holding the button
* Within 10 seconds, the display should change to "test" in LCD font
and the needles will do a full sweeping. Release the Button

Pressing the button will now cycle through some 17 different modes

* 1. Shows a Gauge Sweep
* 2. Shows all 8's on the LCD (LCD TEST)
* 3. Illuminates all the bulbs on the dash
* 4. Displays hexadecimal value for ROM level
* 5. Displays the hexadecimal value for EE level
* 6. Shows DTC (Diagnostic Trouble Code)
* 7. Digital Speedometer - mph
* 8. Digital Speedometer - kph
* 9. N/A
* 10. Digital tachometer
* 11. Fuel volume
* 12. Engine coolant temperature
* 13. Battery voltage
* 14. ABS fail
* 15. Electronic brake distribution (EBD) failure
* 16. Illumination
* 17. Crank Sense

iaind · 13 Apr 2009 at 18:32

Dont think Kas have a trip computer....

G J · 13 Apr 2009 at 19:22

iaind said:
Last time I drove a fully functional, nearly new Ka, there was a distinct lack of power - I'm sure its meant to be like that

Sorry, someone had to say it

hahaha there's always one

Thebug said:
Found this for a focus - supposed to show you diagnostic codes.

Try it and see if it will work with the KA, might save you a few quid

Oh thank you, yes the KA has a digital dash i did what it said on the instructions and it worked

Under number 6 DTC it says: dt 412 got any idea what that means?

Im guessing thats the fault code im after?

Clown · 13 Apr 2009 at 19:49

I have the same problem, so I'm going to try this DTC thing.

P0412 - Secondary Air Injection System (AIR) circuit malfunction The PCM attempts to control when air is injected in the exhaust. The DTC indicates a Secondary Air injection system AIR circuit fault. AIR circuit open
AIR bypass solenoid fault
Damaged PCM
AIR circuit short to power
Solid state relay fault
Damaged AIR pump
The AIR circuit is normally held high through the AIR bypass solenoid and SSR when the output driver is off. Therefore, a low AIR circuit indicates a driver is always on and a high circuit indicates an open in the PCM.

http://forums.focaljet.com/team-tech/426113-all-dtc-ford.html

G J · 13 Apr 2009 at 21:07

Clown said:
I have the same problem, so I'm going to try this DTC thing.http://forums.focaljet.com/team-tech/426113-all-dtc-ford.html

Thank you for this though its abit vague really, im looking around for any info to try and narrow it down.

I found that a faulty throttle position sensor can also cause problems that the car's experiencing.

Any other info i find, i'll keep the thread updated, sorry you have a simillar problem