The flashing glow-plug light on the Ford is primarily used to signal fuel contamination... but with this engine that is a hit or miss diagnosis.
It can be any of the following, at LEAST:
Defective injector on any or all cylinders.
Bad programming of the fuel delivery computer.
Defective fuel delivery computer.
Cam failure on the low pressure lift pump that brings the fuel from the tank to the high pressure injector pump.
Leaking injector seal(s.)
Injector in need of adjustment.
Injector in need of cleaning.
Electrical system going over-voltage and confusing the the fuel delivery computer.
Contaminated fuel, fouled tank.
Fuel filter getting almost completely clogged from bad fuel.
Failed turbocharger. (Though usually you would know if this happened.)
... among a host of others.
Those listed are some common problems to give you an idea that this is something that needs to be looked at by a factory mechanic withe access to the full array of Ford Diagnostic tools designed specifically for your car.
I am not somebody that usually says you MUST go to a factory service center... but in this case, you must if you have any chance of getting this taken care of.
The usual reported problem goes like this:
First there is a "flat spot" (poor performance) between 1800-2000 RPM.
Then the flashing glow-plug light. Then it becomes nearly impossible to start, and only wants to do about 20 mph like it was running on two cylinders.
This is a known problem experienced be MANY people who own this engine.
The most frequent complaint I have seen is that it drives like someone turned the turbo charger completely off.
Please look here to see if the problems you are having match up with the problems others are having:
[Link](Mouse over link to see full location)
... if so, I would get in touch with Ford right away.
I hope that you are the lucky one, and it is a simple fix. If not, and you have to go through all that the people on that site have you may have a "lemon."
If it is an official lemon you may get a new car out of it, or at least a new engine.
Keep all receipts, record all times you have taken it in, how long it was there each time, etc. That way you will have that info to give to Ford, or an attorney, whichever comes first. ;-)
hitler_the_goat answered Tuesday November 3 2009, 4:34 pm: diesel engine glow plugs are finicky if you haven't been giving them enough time when you start up the car. IE turn key, wait for glow plug light to turn off, then start. if you haven't been doing this, your glowplugs are probably messed up......now when are you getting the power loss? thats needed info. if its when you're starting the bloke, then you need new glowplugs. try force starting the thing, either jump it off another car, or just get a bunch of friends to push it and pop the clutch(if you have a manual). I had the same problem with my Humvee a few years back, we just switched out the glowplugs and she started up fine.
if this is your first diesel, try to baby it a little more than you would a gas engine... they're real problem children if you don't. In addition, if it turns over but won't start, get some friends, a board, and some Ether(labeled as starting fluid, comes in a spray can). have one person cover the tailpipe with the board, another start cranking the engine, while you spray a little bit of the starter fluid into the engine's air filter or intake. don't do this too much, if you do, the car will become an ether junkie, and will be impossible to start without it. Have fun with that thing, I got mine up to 260KPH on the autobahn last year.......that thing has a good god damn engine.
-Gunner [ hitler_the_goat's advice column | Ask hitler_the_goat A Question ]
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