Sticky Tappet??

[milesey]

Hi, I found you all after a google search. I wonder if anyone could help me with my problem.
I have a 1996 406 2.1 turbo diesel,145 000 miles, the problem I am having is that every so often I get a loud tappety noise. This is accompanied by a loss of power and smoke from the exhaust. Usually if I lift off the accelerator for a few seconds it cures itself.
I have monitored it for a while and it doesn't seem to follow any pattern, i.e. it does it sometimes when the engine still hasn't warmed up and sometimes after an hours driving, sometimes when the revs are above 2300 sometimes when below 1800.
Could it be one of the tappets playing up(failing) or is it something worse (turbo).
Any help would be appreciated.

[steve_earwig]

Sounds a bit like what mine was doing; occasionally doing knackered FX4 taxi impressions. It also wouldn't hold constant revs and got hard to drive in traffic, I reasoned it was the injectors but when brought ones along I bought elsewhere for the garage to change their diagnostic box of tricks said the needle lift sensor was up the swannie. I had the lot changed (no ebay here), so I'm not sure what caused what. Captain Jack had a lift sensor go on his 2,1 and his lacked power and was hesitant over 3k I've no idea if your injectors already got changed but I think 145k is way past their bedtime, probably best to get a proper diagnosis tho.

[milesey]

Thanks for that steve_earwig, I'll get on to the garage and book it in for a dignostic. Don't think it has ever had the injectors done.