Breakdown...again!

[tiggerblue10]

My Ford Fiesta broke down last night and the AA chap said that it was a flat battery. After I told him that this seems to happen once a year during the winter he ran a diagnostic and it appear my car has faulty codes which are not communicating with each other.

Not sure whether to take it to a Ford garage or just a regular repair garage. Any advice on which is best?

Cheers

[Prudie]

Well Ford are the ones most likely to charge you top whack. I'd take advice, if you don't already have one, on a good local garage that has diagnostic computers (which most do these days).

[sapelesam]

Depends on the age of the car, always best to have work done at the main dealer if the car is still under warranty.

[Flonska]

Perhaps, get a quote to fix the faults from both to help you decide?

[1581960]

If the AA chap can diagnose the problem on the roadside surely any garage should be able to do the same. Probably best to go for the most cost effective option in your area.

[tiggerblue10]

Good idea, I'll check with both and see how much they'll charge. Its a 2004 model so 13 yrs.

[Hopkirk]

Perhaps just buy a battery charger, and stick it on regularly (if you live somewhere where you can do that)

[sapelesam]

With flat batteries the first thing I look for is an interior or boot light that isnt switching off, worth a try.

[mikey4444]

I don't know what "faulty codes" means, but cars are complicated beasts these days, so I would call in to your local Ford Dealer if I were you.

[Hopkirk]

I think he means fault codes - information stored about faults detected. The trouble is you get a mechanic anywhere near a car, and the bills are horrendous.

[Hopkirk]

Tigger, are there any petrolheads who 'know a bit about cars' where you work? A bit of free advice might solve it for you. I agree with Sapelsam, it might be something simple. The fault code reference might be a red herring.
I suspect a car of that age might always have some fault codes stored.

[tiggerblue10]

I don't know anyone Hopkirk but my dad knows they guys that do my MOTs. Here is what the report said -

Patrol found the following fault code/s:System : Transmission control 1 - 96Y / EGS 30.01.3 Status :U0155 - CAN communication to instrument cluster. Error Message : Malfunction. Error sporadic. Status :U0121 - CAN communication to ABS/ASR/ESP. Error Message : Malfunction. Error sporadic. Status :P1799 - CAN communication to ABS/ASR/ESP. Error Message : Malfunction. Error sporadic. Status :U0401 - Engine management CAN signal. Error Message : Signal improbable. Error sporadic. Status :U0404 - CAN signal from electronic selector lever. Error Message : Signal improbable. Error sporadic. Status :U0100 - CAN communication with engine control unit. Error Message : Malfunction. Error sporadic.Member advised ABS light came on, unable to select gears and engine cut out. Battery flat upon arrival. Started vehicle. Normal operation resumed. Read fault codes. CAN communication faults between all ECU's stored. Followed member home. Advised take to garage for further investigation.

[tiggerblue10]

He also said that car computers are similar to PCs and may need software updates.

[Flonska]

With the data you say you were given @ 20:05 . . . .

see: 17:09, 17:12 and 17:13, why not take it and the car in and get a quote?

[DTCwordfan]

bet it's your alternator, tigger.....just been through the cycle and it was the original battery.

[tonyav]

Make sure all battery to body and engine to bodywork earth points
( connections) are clean and rust free.

[tiggerblue10]

That's what I'm going to do Flonska. Just wanted to know where best to take it but as mentioned maybe I need quotes from both.

Would general repair garages have the means to do software updates?

[tonyav]

Some would be able to, tigger.
Speak to them first about it.

[tiggerblue10]

He mentioned the earth points and he sprayed something presumably to clean it Tony.

[Hymie]

When you say that it broke down – do you mean that you were driving it when it stopped working, or were you unable to start the car?

I would guess that the print out of stored fault codes might be those encountered over some considerable time – I might also expect the engine warning light to be illuminated as a result.

For some time I have been advising anyone who owns a vehicle manufactured this century to buy something like this:-

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/D900-2017-Universal-OBD2-EOBD-CAN-Car-Fault-Code-Reader-Diagnostic-Scanner-Tool/262955779685?epid=1467449705&hash=item3d3962c665:g:akIAAOSw7GRZCYw6

After one use, it will have paid for itself and should allow you to clear the stored fault codes.

If the car would not start – sapelesam’s advice is most pertinent, it could also be the glove box light. To check whether the boot or glove box light is on, Honest John recommends placing your phone within the boot/glove box and have it take a photograph in timing mode (with the flash off).

Given the value of the car – a garage could spend more than it is worth investigating the issue.

[tiggerblue10]

He said the alternator was fine.