Engine Malfunction Warning on Intermittent (NOT Engine Management)

[proberts69]

Hi guys and gals,

I have had this Engine MALFUNCTION warning (see photo) come on intermittently on my FORD KUGA 20 TDCI 2011, and it is now coming on more frequent (still intermittent though) but engine performance does not change and runs great as it always has done. When I search for possible causes, all the threads seem to end up talking about the engine management light and I think people automatically assume it is the engine management light, but it is not, that is a completely different light altogether. 

I'm not really sure why there are 2 independent warning indicators, Engine Management light and Engine Malfunction warning, is one more serious than the other?

I know that the dreaded DPF causes a lot of issues, but I know that this warning is not being caused by that, as I have just had all the DPF cleaned and tested by the DPF specialists,. The engine Management light was giving DPF error codes before. All codes now clear but this warning has been coming on intermittently before any of the DPF issues started anyway.

Any ideas what can cause this to just randomly come on every now and again, any common issues i should look out for? As it is intermittent, it not easy to find a fault as it's not on when I get it looked at. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[unofix]

We had this fault last year on my daughters 2010 Kuga.

Using FORScan I could get a DTC which was the DPF pressure sensor.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/273888236003

[Jimkugst]

Hello,

Both lights indicate engine warning,  what I can see in my owners manual, "The on board diagnostics system has detected a malfunction of the vehicle emission control system"  

Please don't think I am a smart *rse but have. you thought of:

Do you travel to work in your car with a lot of slow driving and idling? do know how to clear the DPF

Have you thought of going back to where you had the DPF serviced and asked them?

Kind regards

Jim

[vcoman]

On 8/21/2022 at 11:01 PM, proberts69 said:

Hi guys and gals,

I have had this Engine MALFUNCTION warning (see photo) come on intermittently on my FORD KUGA 20 TDCI 2011, and it is now coming on more frequent (still intermittent though) but engine performance does not change and runs great as it always has done. When I search for possible causes, all the threads seem to end up talking about the engine management light and I think people automatically assume it is the engine management light, but it is not, that is a completely different light altogether. 

I'm not really sure why there are 2 independent warning indicators, Engine Management light and Engine Malfunction warning, is one more serious than the other?

I know that the dreaded DPF causes a lot of issues, but I know that this warning is not being caused by that, as I have just had all the DPF cleaned and tested by the DPF specialists,. The engine Management light was giving DPF error codes before. All codes now clear but this warning has been coming on intermittently before any of the DPF issues started anyway.

Any ideas what can cause this to just randomly come on every now and again, any common issues i should look out for? As it is intermittent, it not easy to find a fault as it's not on when I get it looked at. Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Did you find the cause? I am dealing with exactly the same thing.

[unofix]

The best way that you are going to find the DTC that is triggering this warning is to use the mobile phone version of FORScan together with the appropriate vLinker dongle. You can leave the dongle permanently plugged in to the OBDII port, then when the warning appears you will be able to look on the FORScan app while it is still on screen. ****Remember don't use your phone while driving****

There are two versions of the mobile phone app of FORScan (each is £7) one for android and the other for iPhone.

FORScan: https://forscan.org/download.html

vLinker FD (android use): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vgate-Bluetooth-vLinker-Scanner-Diagnostic/dp/B08H82WC8L

vLinker FD+ (iPhone use): https://www.amazon.co.uk/Vgate-Bluetooth-vLinker-Scanner-Diagnostic/dp/B08H8JHWP2

 

[Frembrit]

As above, you need to read the error codes to help identify the problem. 

On my friends 2010 Kuga it gave messages about DPF failing to regen (and associated messages about condition and temperatures), DPF pressure sensor, and Haldex unit not working. I just happened to have a spare used pressure sensor from my Mondeo and in this instance cured all the errors.

[Panos]

I have the same engine and problem in Ford Galaxy and incidentally living in the same county! I haven't got any solution to the problem yet. Only happens when hard accelerating, then the msg comes up (information screen), allows me to complete the manoeuvre(!), then following the msg the system prevents me from accelerating past 2000 revs. After turning off the engine and on again, all is back to normal. No message what so ever. Ford mechanics say that it maybe caused by the turbo system, but that is not convincing as the car / engine operates perfectly any other time. To my humble opinion it is electronic program related, emissions related or sensor related (or probably all of them together).  I will keep on pursuing....