What's wrong with my Ford Focus Estate?

I have a 2006 Ford Focus 1.8 TDCi Estate. When the car goes it struggles up to 2000rpm and it seems as if the turbo is not kicking in. The car does not smoke; it just seems as if it has no turbo. Then when I leave it overnight it will turn over but won't start. I'm wondering whether to spend a lot on the car or part exchange it as it has done 143,000 miles.

Brian Stokes (Swansea)

Apr 2014 Filed under: fault

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Expert answer

Hi Brian,

First up, 143,000 miles isn't much for the 1.8 TDCi engine so don't focus on that. This sounds like the car has gone into 'limp home' mode, which could be for a variety of reasons from a faulty sensor to a blocked diesel particulate filter (DPF). You really need the car hooked up to a diagnostic computer at a garage to get to the bottom of the problem quickly.

Let us know how you get on.

Shane O' Donoghue - Complete Car Adviser
@Shane_O_D