Diesel engine problems

[DavidHale]

As you can tell from the title of this thread, this isn't GS related.

I've got a Ford Galaxy 1.9TDi that I've had for three years or so. It has recently started losing power, ie it won't pull up hill on motorways. Yesterday it got a lot worse, no power or oomph anywhere, struggling (to get home) at 30-40 mph. There's no smoke, noises or rattles or any other signs or symptoms - any ideas as to what the trouble could be?

I sort of know my way around a petrol engine, but I've never worked on diesels so it's got to go to the dealers to be fixed, but I'd like to have some clue as to what is wrong before I go there.

Cheers,

David

 

[Phil Reynolds]

My Merc did the same thing a while back. I had to take to a main dealer for them to hook it up to their computer system- turned out to be a sensor had failed, cost about seventy five quid if I remember rightly.

HTH.

Phil

 

[Nostromo]

If you are lucky it will be one of the sensors (the air sensor on my VW is knackered at the moment causing the low power up hill on the motorway - awaiting parts £120!).
If you are less lucky it could be the ECU which went on my last car an was uneconomic to fix - £500 Saab / £650 part plus fitting

 

[Muppet]

Before you do anything else, try removing the air filter. It's unlikely, but if it's blocked it could be producing the symptons you describe, although I'd normally expect to see a fair bit of black smoke. Worth a go before you spend a lot of dosh.

 

[Straypuss]

Tried draining the fuel filter/water trap? usually a plastic drain with a pipe on filter bottom.

 

[ianboydsnr]

is the fuel filter clean, has the vehicle run out of fuel recently, fuel restriction can cause a lack of power, but if ok, then its probably a sensor

 

[cookie]

very possibly the MFA unit packing up. can sometimes be diagnosed by pulling the electrical lead off & running the vehicle, if it runs better, it's likely knackered.
it's a box just downstream of the air filter with makers name "Pierburg" on it. unplug it & ECU should go to limp mode.

can be diagnosed exactly by VW computer or independant with VAG-COM program on a laptop.

replacements available from german & swedish parts places (it's a VAG TDI engine) for about £85 IIRC.

if you want to be clever, there's a mercedes one that fits, made by the same people, that will never fail again. can't remember the part number though

 

[Gonzo]

My Espace dci displayed identical symptoms and was (eventually) diagnosed as a combination of ECU and shagged injectors. The injectors eventually started leaking fuel (Eurotunnel travel declined due to fuel splattered on bottom of car) and it was this leak that gave the halfwit Renault dealer a bit of a clue.

Having said that, the Renault engines of that era were apparently inclined to such leaks, VW tdi engines are not - I've had 4 cars with various 1.9 derivatives and they've not missed a beat.

 

[Bob1150GS]

Air Mass Meter

Air Mass Meter had them all go on VW Audi and Merc deisel and petrol. 5 Min job to replace. Look on Flea Bay.

 

[cookie]

automotive dyslexia

my post should have referred to the MAF (Mass Air Flow meter) not the MFA (Multi Function Analyser) as was fitted to old VAG cars

i think the location i gave should have pointed the way though

 

[DavidHale]

Thanks for all the replys so far!

When daylight returns tommorow I'll have a poke under the bonnet. From what you've all said I suspect it IS an electrical fault, but I'll look at the filters anyway. At least then I can tell the dealers what it isn't!

Thanks again

 

[Mzokk]

This topic might help you.

http://www.fordgalaxy.org.uk/ford/index.php?showtopic=7764

 

[Trevor Phillips]

Afraid there's an even worse possibility- turbo problems. If you've just had a new exhaust fitted, suspect the idiots hammering away at it to fit/remove. The pipe from the turbo to the injection system may be cracked (mine was!) but to get the £20 bit installed costs more like £400. If the turbo itself has failed, start looking at 4 figure repairs.
Sorry, I hope it's something simpler & cheaper
Trevor

 

[DavidHale]

Thanks for that, Mzokk. The things you learn here!

And Trevor - I have thought of the turbo and I hope it's not that as well . I haven't had a new exhaust fitted, so hopefully it's not that...

 

[Ming]

A friend had the same symtoms and tried an air mass sensor.

it turned out to be a vacum pipe on the turbo in the end .


good luck there twats to work on

 

[Deak]

I had a Focus diesel with the same symptoms recently. After much head scratching I spoke to a Ford technician who suggested unbolting the exhaust system between the down pipe and catalytic converter and see if there was an improvement.

The performance returned immediately. It turns out that diesels fitted with cat's soot up the ceramic honeycomb over a period of time and stop the airflow. (I've never understood why a diesel needs a catalytic converter in the first place )

If your galaxy has a cat, it would be reasonably easy to check for a blockage so might be worth a try.

 

[fatnfast]

Come accross this on my old focus diesel and mondeo diesel. Does it seem as if the turbo is not kicking in as well as a total loss of power? In both cases it was an air hose feeding the turbo system. Once was a hole in the pipe and the other time a stone (well small rock) had wacked a hose off. Once reattached, all was well. Check your hoses first.

 

[DavidHale]

Just an update:

It was the Power Control Unit that had failed, and for seven hundred and five notes the Stealers kindly fixed it for me. Feck.

 

[cookie]

wossa Power Control Unit?

is that the ECU?