Sluggish HDI and more...

[ShadowStripes]

Cheers, and good luck finding time to breathe!

Yea, one less thing to check is good

In the meantime, managed to squeeze a 'little' time to breathe, so I did manage to check a few things.

I located the electro-valves on the bulkhead, and (I think) I found the one connected to the wastegate actuator. With the engine running, I blipped the throttle a few times and the rubber tubing felt really stiff, so I'm 'guessing' that wouldn't be the issue... (?)

Also, new "Behaviour Patterns" !!
It seems to be a 'little' (special emphasis on 'little') bit quicker going through the revs, while in 1st and 2nd gear, and there's definitely a bit of a boost reaching 2200rpm and again at around 2800...

SO, on my way to work today I took it to a local motorway and tried the old "3rd gear pull".

Up to 2000rpm, it feels like something's pushing the front backwards, but it keeps going
From 2000 to 3000 I can definitely feel those two boost peaks, the one at 2800 being the most noticeable one

I can pull it all the way to 4500rpm and around 110kph, but the dragging feeling is a lot more noticeable.

As soon as I shift into 4th, it 'really' starts dragging as if it was going down a hill and engine braking! Then settles at around 3000, even with the foot to the floor. And after that, even if I put it on neutral and floor it, it get's 'reeeally' sluggish going through the revs, and it cuts just before 3000.

I really dunno what to think, other than it might be an electronic gremiln with the injection...? I still haven't replaced the MAF sensor, but somehow I'm not sure it would help... or would it?

Opinions, suggestions...?

...help?

[Captain Jack]

Almost sounds like it's in limp mode. Do you have PP2000?

[ShadowStripes]

Almost sounds like it's in limp mode. Do you have PP2000?

Not unfortunately, no...

[dirtydirtydiesel]

Happy birthday mate, did you get this resolved, if not where are you based, see if someone can help with pp2000
You seem to have similar problem's to me

[ShadowStripes]

Happy birthday mate, did you get this resolved, if not where are you based, see if someone can help with pp2000
You seem to have similar problem's to me

Heyy, thanks for the birthday wishes =)

As for the problem, no clue either... and I'm in Portugal, so it's difficult to find someone around locally to help with PP2000. Worst case scenario, I'll need to get one myself...

However, I've narrowed it down to either a faulty Turbo Pressure sensor, or a faulty turbo actuator electrovalve. a lot of trial and error, a lot of reading around in forums and Youtube, and a bit of the good ole' Logical Thinking

I've yet to have a full free day to get under the bonnet and get working with replacing stuffs... But as soon as I do, I'll definitely share the results here.

Cheers =)

[GingerMagic]

Do you have access to a vacuum pump or vacuum gauge?

This will help, as when I had an issue with my turbo, it was because the turbo do was not getting enough vacuum to open the vanes - I had a blockage in the plastic 3 way clip on the vacuum pump.

[ShadowStripes]

Do you have access to a vacuum pump or vacuum gauge?

This will help, as when I had an issue with my turbo, it was because the turbo do was not getting enough vacuum to open the vanes - I had a blockage in the plastic 3 way clip on the vacuum pump.

I thought of getting one to test the vacuum lines... just so much to consider, I can't even grasp

[GingerMagic]

Not hard.
Just make sure vacuum is supplying the turbo solenoid - no vacuum means no turbo.
If you can get a vacuum gauge then I can help you find a possible problem.

[ShadowStripes]

Ok, I am now officially stuck...

Still having trouble with the turbo not giving any boost, and with the turbo/wastegate solenoid error in the ECU, I decided to replace both electrovalves on the firewall.

Felt optimistic cuz it seemed to bring the turbo back to life, with a hint of a 'whistling' sound now evident as I turned the throttle.

But it 'still' drives sluggish, the turbo 'still' doesn't produce any noticeable boost, it smokes like Hell, and I can't seem to clear the errors from the ECU... which means whatever caused these is still there.

I'm about to go look for a PP2000 kit to see if I can get anymore info, or 'test' the servos, or 'activate' some function the ECU may have deactivated or clear the errors for good or reset the ECU or SOMETHING...


I am literally lost here...

So, any advice or assistance will be greatly appreciated. (=_=)

[PeterN]

Assuming the turbo is actually working, black smoke would suggest a restricted air supply, try disconnecting the the air feed pipe from the inlet manifold and see if it still does it, you won't have any turbo boost though. If that improves it try disconnecting the air inlet to the turbo and note the effect.

Peter

[ShadowStripes]

Ok, so the air inlet is 'before' the air filter.... so, if I open the air filter it should have the same effect, right?

Is it possible at all that the inlet is somehow clogged or closed or obstructed... or crushed due to some inexplicable and undocumented frontal collision... ?

[Doggy]

Could also be a boost leak - a loose or perished hose for example.
That will result in too much fuel, lack of boost and black smoke.
Check for leaks, also the air hose onto the inlet manifold should 'inflate' if you increase the revs.

[PeterN]

No it won't because between the filter and the engine intake comes the intercooler and a lot of pipe work. Certainly check the air filter though.

Peter

[GingerMagic]

Ok, so the air inlet is 'before' the air filter.... so, if I open the air filter it should have the same effect, right?

There is a pipe that runs from the passenger inner wing to the air filter housing, of which the outer half is plastic with holes in the bottom ( do NOT go through deep water..!! ) and the inner half is a sort of fabric affair.
You can simply* lift the air filter housing up an inch or two to clear the feed pipe and rest it on the lip - take a drive like this and see if it improves - although I've not heard of an Hdi inlet blocking up or collapsing - only the petrol models.

No it won't because between the filter and the engine intake comes the intercooler and a lot of pipe work. Certainly check the air filter though.

Sorry Peter but there should be a noticeable swelling/hardening on the pipe from the intercooler to the inlet fanimold, the intercooler doesn't restrict any air flow.

[frog]

Hold on ShadowStripes, you're nearly there!

I think Doggy is right, that it is a boost leak. Seems that the turbo is working fine now: the air flow sensor is measuring lots of air intake, so the engine computer is ordering a lot of fuel to be delivered. But a lot of air is leaked so it doesn't arrive at the engine intake, this results in overfueling hence black smoke.

Check the fat black rubber air duct pipes. There is one below, from the turbo to the intercooler (number 3 in the attachment), and one above, from the intercooler to the air doser (number 4). Check also for a leaking intercooler.


I had exactly the same experience about 1,5 year ago. Turned out pipe number 4 was leaking.