Powerless!

cavmad · Post by **cavmad** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 8:28 pm

Thanks to the superb skills of local ace repair man Vanny my estate is now fitted with new accelerator cable.
Job`s a good `un, the young scally once again excelled himself and I owe him big time.
Unfortunately a previous problem has reared it`s ugly head which I`d hoped would disappear with new cable and that is when giving it some welt it feels really flat.
Rev counter has packed up but I reckon that when it gets to about 2500rpm it does pull away but it`s as flat as a flat thing on national flat day.
Revs up to that perfectly and it`s certainly seeming to be running on all four, it also ticks over as it should.
Possible things that may have some bearing on it are: rear exhaust box resonating and also put 3 litres of vege oil in it within about 300 miles and I think it`s the kind of pump which doesn`t usually take vege oil.
Giving it a welting to see if it would clear it (i.e holding out in rev range in 2nd, 3rd and 4th until ran out of range) didn`t make any difference. Runs fine aside from this if treated gently.
Any ideas please?

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 8:39 pm

Sounds to me like the common 'Has my turbo fallen off' problem - which is usually simply damage to the thin pipe coming off the middle of the intercooler.

The purpose of the pipe is to communicate boost pressure to the extra fuel device on the the injection pump - so turbo starts to turn, boost starts to build, more fuel is injected, more air, more fuel = more power.

This pipe has a 'Y' or 'T' connector with a branch running to the excess boost warning light sensor under the battery and the pipe can drop off here as well.

cavmad · Post by **cavmad** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 8:50 pm

Apologies Jeremy, should have pointed out it`s the 1.9 n/a diesel engine

Baldbazza · Post by **Baldbazza** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 8:54 pm

There you go then. No turbo. Sorted

cavmad · Post by **cavmad** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 9:14 pm

Baldbazza wrote:There you go then. No turbo. Sorted

I wish it were that simple Baz, but thank`s for making me laugh anyhow

AndersDK · Post by **AndersDK** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 3:08 pm

Any other pointers - like smoky exhaust or bad mileage ?

My SIL had problems for long with his ('89 250Kkm) 19n/a.
He started out with new injectors. Bit less smoke but no help really.
Then decied to have a diesel specialist go over the engine. They did'nt find anything at first. But after a testdrive they thought either valve timing or injection timing would be slightly out.

They opted the pump timing - that cured everything

cavmad · Post by **cavmad** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 3:42 pm

Thanks Anders, will have it `investigated`. It`s done 160,000 miles but it`s been running like a dream since I`ve owned it and is very quiet mechanically and very smooth too.
I have started to wonder if it`s possibly the fuel filter and/or maybe needs a bloody good thrashing to clear the car out a bit?

Stewart (oily!) · Post by **Stewart (oily!)** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 5:03 pm

It might help to replace the fuel filter, lack of power will result from a clogged up one.
Stewart

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » Sat Sep 16, 2006 6:30 pm

Are you sure the throttle is opening properly and FULLY? Be careful adjusting the cable - too tight and the little plastic retaining clips will fall off the pedal end.

The lever on the pump should just be fully open when the pedal hits the carpet. Remember on a N/A diesel a mat underneath the pedal makes a load of difference.

Adjustment is by pulling the outer cable back at the pump end and re-positioning the hairpin clip in another slot.

Vanny · Post by **Vanny** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 10:57 pm

The cable is on perfect adjustment, the advantage of having a new one just fitted! If anything its probably a little bit tight (was a little over eager with the cutters

).

Sounds to me like a fuel filter issue, look in the fuel filter (without breaking it this time) and i will put money on there being sludge in the bottom (it will look like mucus)!

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » Sun Sep 17, 2006 11:56 pm

Vanny - I wasn't doubting your skills but its Just I always feel foolish if I dive in and dismantle something only to find nothing wrong with it and that I've overlooked something very simple!

Classic is the hidden power problem on the ZX - was getting strange sensations from other pedals - like the accelerator when the clutch was operated - and to be honest thought the pedal box was breaking up as this was the only reason I could think of. Went out to the car to get the RP no to order a new clutch cable thinking thats cheap and may be the problem - and found the mat caught in the clutch pedal! It was catching then thumping the back of the accelerator - which was what I was feeling.

cavmad · Post by **cavmad** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 8:48 am

OK, dimbo question alert: where is the fuel filter on the 1.9 n/a diesel engine, please?
I`ve tried clearing the fuel system out by means of thrashing it mercilessly which has sort of worked. Acceleration slightly better (though still flat in places) but on motorway yesterday it would only pull 68mph flat out.
Chucked a tenner`s worth of juice in this morning (I`d deliberately let it run low since this problem occurred) and given it a pasting again. This time it pulled to about 65 in fourth and got to just over 70mph but ran out of road to see if it would go faster, didn`t feel like it would though.
I`ll get a new fuel filter, and maybe an air filter too, and see what happens.
Meanwhile if someone would be kind enough to tell me where the fuel filter is please!

Vanny, last fuel filter change cock up noted and remembered. Can I be so stupid as to cause lightning to strike twice in the same place? Actually, don`t answer that because we both know I could be

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 9:28 am

Fuel filter depends on age - old ones have fuel filter by LHM tank - either Purflux or Roto-diesel according to the handbook (I thought it was Bosch) Purflux has a vertical priming bulb and Roto-diesel has an angled one. The elements are different - and I found the washers round the bolt at the bottom had deteriorated and had to replace them - which were not with the new filter.

Later ones have black plastic bowl over the thermostat on the engine. Top unscrews.

cavmad · Post by **cavmad** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 11:09 am

Thanks, Jeremy. Will check when I get home, it`s not by the LHM reservoir and mine`s a `92 registered by the way.
Will the filter casing require filling with some fuel before refitting?
Thanks, Jeremey.

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » Thu Sep 21, 2006 4:54 pm

I don't think anything is required for priming other than the operation of the priming bulb in the fuel supply pipe.

The BX has no separate fuel lift pump and the instructions after running out of fuel are simply to prime with the bulb and start. Vehicles with a separate lift pump (which tend to be older or larger) require a more complicated priming procedure - which basically is bleed the primary circuit via screws on the pump, then bleed the secondary by loosening the pipes to some or all the injectors, crank and shut.

Your injection pump will remain full of fuel - so will not need priming. Incidentally the lift pump is incorporated in the injection pump on these engines.