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2008 Ford Ka (old shape) got a P0401 code when I plugged in the ford scan tool that I have. This error is " Exhaust EGR Flow Insufficient". The problem is that this car does not have an EGR system so I'm a little stuck as to what to look for!
Anyone had any experience with this or have any ideas as to what I could check that might be causing this?
Cheers
Some errors can be mis-displayed.
My Volvo showed low manifold pressure and EGR issue, that was diagnosed by garage as turbo issue.
Volvo forums disagreed, told me to change intercooler mass air pressure sensor.
Forums were right, garage wrong.
Join a Ford forum?
Sometimes codes have multiple faults. I had an error on my Mazda2 which, according to a couple of websites was either something to do with the automatic gear box or the dpf.
Thing is the car was a manual petrol. Turned out the same code also indicated a faulty brake light micro switch.
Just had some work done on mine, had it on diagnostics for the first time. Loads of standing alarms in there, all historical according to the expert so ignore. He reckons straight off the production line they have alarms.
Jamze is correctly informed; my son is a mechanic and we went through my mondeo's fault codes. "Most of them are meaningless - with CamBus a small fluctuation in voltage or something like that causes unexpected data the system can't handle and it registers a fault. Probably lasts about a millisecond and means nothing" In my experience modern vehicle electronics have a mind of their own and are nowhere near as reliable as we are led to believe. Doesn't fill me with hope for AI and autonomous everything.
Do you have a warning light on, or any actual noticeable problems?
If no, then it's not a problem.
Generic fault code readers are rubbish. They often don't read all codes, and they'll often display codes that manufacturer's mask because they're not actually valid for certain vehicles.
In response to matt_outandabout's post, a key thing that every good tech should understand, is a fault code is just one part of the diagnostic process. It's up to the tech to decide if the specific fault code is the fault, or a symptom. I regularly get vehicles people have played parts darts with, as they take fault codes as gospel, as they just don't have an understanding of the basic systems, and why certain fault codes get triggered.
Take a P0101 mass air flow fault for example. I know techs who'll see that, and fit a new MAF sensor, as the code means it's a MAF fault, doesn't it?
What it actually means is the ECU has recognised the measured MAF doesn't correlate with the measured manifold pressure and calculated EGR flow. But the ECU has no idea if the MAF or MAP sensor is faulty, the EGR valve is allowing more exhaust flow through than it should (which in turn could be a leaking/stuck EGR valve, or even blocked exhaust), there is a split hose somewhere between the MAF and engine cylinder, or even a base engine fault (an inlet valve could be leaking).
The one manufacturer who I think done the right thing with that specific fault, was Vauxhall, who used to list the description as a Critical System Malfunction, and never even mentioned MAF.