Ford P244A

DPF differential pressure too low on Ford TDCi — usually a blocked pressure pipe or a cracked / missing DPF substrate, not 'no DPF needed'.

Ford P244A — DPF differential pressure too low on Ford TDCi — usually a blocked pressure pipe or a cracked / missing DPF substrate, not 'no DPF needed'. Typical UK independent garage cost: £140–£1800.

What actually causes P244A on a Ford

P244A on a Ford TDCi means the ECU expected a measurable pressure drop across the DPF and didn't see one. Three real causes: (1) the small pressure-tap pipes between the DPF and the sensor are blocked with soot or cracked, (2) the DPF substrate has cracked/melted internally so exhaust flows past instead of through it, or (3) the DPF has been cored out by a previous owner. The last is illegal and an MOT fail.

Ford engines that log P244A

• 1.5 TDCi (Focus, C-Max)
• 1.6 TDCi (Focus, Mondeo, C-Max, Galaxy)
• 2.0 TDCi (Mondeo, S-Max, Galaxy, Transit Custom)
• 2.2 TDCi Transit

How we diagnose P244A on a Ford

1. Read live data — DPF differential pressure should be ~5–15 mbar at idle, rising under load; near zero = problem
2. Remove and clean the small DPF pressure-tap pipes with carb cleaner — restore patency
3. Inspect DPF visually for cracks, melted substrate or evidence of being cored out
4. Compare with similar-mileage Ford if possible — known good pressure trace helps diagnosis
5. Replace DPF only if pipes are clear and the substrate is confirmed compromised

The common misdiagnosis to avoid

Some indie diesel specialists try to modify or bypass the DPF software for P244A — that's a Major MOT defect and a £2,500 fine if pulled over. The legal fix is pressure-pipe clean or DPF replacement.

Ford P244A repair cost in the UK

Expect £140–£1800 including parts and labour at an independent garage. Main-dealer quotes on Ford are usually higher for the same job, and the spread exists because the cheap cause and the expensive cause throw the same code — pay for the diagnosis before you pay for parts.

Bob's workshop tip

On Mondeo/Galaxy 2.0 TDCi, the pressure pipes routinely block at 80k+ miles — a £0 clean often clears P244A and restores normal regen behaviour. Always try the clean before quoting a £1,200+ DPF.

Codes usually seen alongside P244A on Ford

• P2002
• P2463
• P244B
• P246A

Symptoms drivers report with P244A

• Engine Management Light (EML) on, often shortly after a motorway run.
• Car drops into 'limp mode' with reduced power, making overtakes dodgy.
• Start-Stop system stops working (standard safety lockout for emissions codes).
• Noticeable whistling or hissing noise from under the car when accelerating.
• DPF warning light might flash, but the car doesn't feel like it's actually blocked.

Repairs that clear P244A

• Replace DPF pressure sensor (cheap first fix)
• Replace rubber sense pipes
• Backpressure test before DPF replacement

For the generic, all-makes explanation of this code — meaning, every known cause and UK cost bands — see our P244A guide.

Reading P244A on a Ford properly

A generic reader will show P244A and nothing else. What matters is the freeze-frame data stored with it — engine speed, load, coolant temperature and fuel trims at the moment the fault was logged — plus whether any other module on the Ford has logged something at the same time. Codes rarely arrive alone, and the order they were stored in usually points at which one is the cause and which are the consequences.

Clearing P244A without fixing it

Erasing the code resets the Ford's readiness monitors as well as the light. The fault returns on the next drive cycle if the cause is still there, and in the meantime the incomplete monitors can stop the car passing an emissions check. After a genuine repair, the car is driven until the relevant monitor completes before it is handed back.

Bob's Mechanical Repairs is an independent garage in Birnam, Dunkeld, Perthshire, with 32 years of Bob's experience on the tools. If P244A is showing on your Ford, bring any scan results with you — we will read the live data ourselves, confirm which cause it actually is, and price the repair before any work starts.