Today is the day

[poddack]

My 2.1TD has a rough idle from when the glow plugs go out to when she's nice and hot. I have heard theories of a sticky injector and air bubbles in the fuel line.
I shall find out later what happens after I have swapped pipes and injectors. (New glow plugs for good measure.)

[Gary406]

i wouldnt bother chaging the glowplugs if it starts ok. your waisitng your cash

how do you mean ruff idle ? in what way .

[poddack]

It's more of a jerk, well at least that's what the engine does. Changing the injectors and pipes haven't changed it, but now she's a bit smoother further up the rev range and might be bit pokier. I'm guessing it's the injection pump.

[Doggy]

Suspect you'll not find too many rushing to the Lucas Epic's defence, but it seems they are wrongly accused from time to time. (I imagine you wouldn't have overlooked fuel filter & in-tank strainer).

Might it be worth a spot of dognosis?

[steve_earwig]

Pug condemned the pump on my 2.1, an engine management place diagnosed the lift sensor and changing it cleared the fault. From what you say my first thought is - coolant temp sensor.

[poddack]

could be, when I got the injectors tested, they said they couldn't test the needle sensor, all other sensors have been replaced.

[poddack]

mind' the rough idle is worse since the new injectors are in and the general running when warm is better, so the needle sensor could be it!

[marty1979]

Ah, a fellow Bristolian? I bought my 2.1 with what the previous owner described as an intermittent misfire, he had taken it to a garage who couldn't find any faults but advised that he should look for a replacement Bosch pump as the Epic's are garbage. Anyway, I drove it for a few days without a problem, and then one day it happened, a horrible diesel clatter and smoke accompanied by rough running, felt a lot like an injector had gone down. So, after a lot of fiddling around, checking the resistance of the needle lift sensor, changed temp sensor e.t.c. I just happen to notice that the leak off pipe that leads back to the fuel return line was wet, I didn't notice it before. Anyway, I replaced that pipe and haven't had a problem since. I had a chat with Citrojim over on the French car owner forum and he tells me that the Epic's are so sensitive to air because of the valves attached to the top and side of the pump, they work like hydraulic valves and any air really upsets them and you get all sorts of problems, there has to be nothing but diesel going into the pump and all fuel line have to be in tip top condition. On a Bosch pump you wouldn't get these problem but because of the way that the Epic works a tiny bit of air can cause trouble. Apparentely the Epic's often get binned becauseo fprob's like this when really it was something very simple, like in my case. I hope that you get your prob's sorted soon

[poddack]

Yes, Citrojim is an epic god, I have taken his suggestions on board with the air ingress idea and replaced all leak off pipes on the new injectors I fitted, they are still dry!
I am yet to dive under the back seat again and check the in-tank strainer.
If you search for before and after, you'll see I did this in May 2009, but you never know!

[poddack]

I am open to ridicule for this:

I have sorted this now, it's not a good idea to put your old glow plugs back in, better to use new ones!