Car problems - advice needed

WeegyAVLover

Hey Guys,

Had a few issues with my 9yr old diesel focus and trying to figure out the issue with it so I do not have to buy a new car. It’s done nearly a 150,000 miles in 8 years and is a total work horse with all the work and DIY trips to dumps and various places so trying to keep nursing it.

Probably will take it to the garage tomorrow morning but if I could tell them what bit is wrong that would be helpful.

Had a look tonight and seen this cable thing loose:
                                                                                                                                                               

I am hoping that is not a major issue to reattach but I am wondering if anyone knows what this is called?

I maybe able to look up a video on YT and do it myself.

Any advice greatly received.

Col

nvingo

I take it you're there because it has running issues?

That looks like one of the emmissions sensors on the exhaust; feeds back temperature or gas analysis to the ECU.

freddie5

Looks like an exhuast gas temp sensor, should be simple enough to screw back into the exhaust if accessible.

WeegyAVLover

Yeah it looks like it has screwy but on the end of it problem is I have absolutely no idea where it goes.

Would that coming out cause the engine light to go on?

hippy240980

yes it would, as the engine uses it to make sure the fuel air mixture is correct for optimum economy.

It usually will be screwed into the exhaust pipe

freddie5

It’ll screw in somewhere under the heatshield covering the exhaust manifold (1st picture - at the top in the middle)

Probably put the light on as the temp reading will be out of spec.

nvingo

The bigger concern is how something with so much thread managed to unscrew itself. Hope the hole it came out of, is intact.

WeegyAVLover

Thanks for the help. In the daylight, after being told to check around the heatshield I was able to see and empty hole so was able to screw the sensor back in.

The engine warning light however has remained on. I am not sure if this should turn itself off or if it needs to be reset.

Any ideas?

nvingo

It might reset itself after a few normal trips, or it might need to be hooked up to an OBD code reader to check there are no other issues before using that to reset it manually.

freddie5

The lamp may go out after a few trips, when the normally expected values are “seen” by the ECU.

Failing that may have to be checked and reset by someone with a diagnostic tool.