First Line has been raising awareness in the aftermarket that the diesel particulate filter (DPF) pressure hoses fitted on the Ford Mondeo IV and its derivatives are prone to premature failure.
The company has urged technicians to check their condition whenever they undertake work on these applications.
The vehicles are fitted with a pair of rubber hoses, which run to and from the exhaust system either side of the DPF and allow the pressure sensor to monitor the differential either side of the DPF, and consequently calculate how ‘full’ the DPF is and when it needs to carry out a regeneration.
Due to the arduous conditions these hoses operate in, such as very high temperature fluctuations – up to 600 degrees during regeneration – it is not uncommon for the rubber to become fatigued, hardened, brittle or scorched, which ultimately leads to their failure, causing incorrect readings to the differential pressure sensor.
In addition to their regular inspection, First Line has strongly recommended that if the vehicle is reporting engine fault codes relating to the DPF or differential pressure sensor, for example: P2002, which means the DPF efficiency is below limit (cylinder bank 1), P2452, DPF pressure sensor ‘A’ circuit or P2453, DPF pressure sensor ‘A’ circuit range/performance, then there is a possibility that the differential pressure sensor hoses are the cause and require replacement.
By first evaluating the condition of the hoses, technicians can save the vehicle owner timely and costly repairs, as this is a simple 45 minute job. However, in order to gain access, the vehicle will need to be on a ramp and the sub-frame cross brace, which is located just behind the engine, has to be removed.
First Line has introduced part number FEH1000 into its hose range to accommodate industry demand.
