Hi there,
Can anyone help diagnose a problem with our Diesel Rover. It has covered 92K trouble free miles it serviced and MOT'd in December and is not abused.
Today whilst happily driving on the motorway at a steady 60mph, in top gear, the engine started to feel like it was missing. It then started to make more violent misses and lose power and revs. We managed to get to an exit by dropping into third but then it would not go over 3,000 rpm (and missed the beat quite severely at times).
When we pulled over and stopped, the engine did a restart, still missing and then the engine cut out and would not re start.
Called recovery who checked fuel flow into and out of filter, said this was o.k. They suggested it could be an injector problem or fuel pump.
Has anyone any ideas for a practical sort of chap like me? Is it possible to fit new injectors? (although I doubt that one failed injector would stop a re start) Could it be the fuel pump? Or maybe an electrical failure?
My dilemma is - would it be cheaper to take my car to a garage or try DIY repairs in the hope of saving some cash?
Thanks for taking the time to look at this, any advice or suggestions will be appreciated
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Hi pocar
Bad luck with the problems in your Rover. First question...when did it have it's timing belt replaced? If you were able to drive it even a short distance, it suggests the belt has not broken, however, you could have lost teeth, or a worn tensioner caused it to jump a tooth or two.
Alternatively, the fuel pump mounting bolts could be slack and it has rotated a little, knocking your injection timing out.
And please understand me with this next point. I'm not wanting to sound condescending, but the fact that you ask "is it possible to fit new injectors" (which, incidentally, it is) suggests you don't have any experience of working on modern diesel engines. If that's the case, then I can't recommend DIY repairs. There is too much to go wrong, with very expensive consequences.
Do you have a local independent garage with a good reputation? What about the one where you had the car serviced and MoT'd?
Edited by drivewell on 02/02/2008 at 18:09
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Hi drivewell
Thank you for the prompt response, the timing belt was last changed at the 48k service and it is due another at 96k.
Yes, you are correct, I do not have any experience of working on diesel engines. So I guess it's off to the garage to have the timing belt replaced as first port of call
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pocar
There may be fuel flowing in and out of the filter, but does it contain air? Leak in the fuel line? Has this been run on "bio-diesel?"
Recovery men do recoverys - diagnosing diesels is a diesel specialist's job. If you want to try something yourself, bleed the system until there's no air returning to the tank and check to see if you're getting diesel at the injector pipes.
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Thank you for your reply, Screwloose
No, the car has not been run on bio diesel.
I'm hoping to get a Haynes Manual tomorrow (won't start work till I do). I guess I will be loosening the fuel pipes at the injector and using the hand pump adjacent to the filter to get fuel through?
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pocar
The hand primer will only bleed the low-pressure side; after doing that you crank it to check the high. Observe the safety precautions in the manual.
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Thanks again. Screewloose
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Many Thanks to All who answered, the car is now fixed! this was garage diagnosis:
Fuel filter blocked and some wires on the approach to a terminal block near the fuel pump had 'worn through' causing a short circuit that when it earthed was limiting revs.
The cam and auxillary drive belts were tired and also replaced as part of the repair.
I must say that when I got it back it did feel a much improved car!
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