1.7d power loss please advise

Post by **wahvan** » 10 Jul 2006, 11:35

Sorry this is such a long post, I'd appreciate any advice as to how to approach this.

Worrying development in 1.7 diesel (KY) 1988 T25 high top (4 gears + reverse).
This weekend our van lost all power when driving up a slight incline, which it would not normally have had any difficulty with. I was not driving but think we were doing about 50km/h in third. The temperature was probably just over the halfway point on the dial despite the fact we'd been diving for 50km in 35 degrees outside.
We pulled the van over and had a look in the engine - coolant, oil accelerator cables etc all ok. The engine would not start (turned with what seemed like a bit of difficulty -scary? - but without any sign of combustion). After 30 minutes cooling down it started fine.

It has never done anything like this before. Does anyone have experience of anything similar, or any idea of what I should be looking at. I have tried to think of things that this could be related to and have come up with the following uneducated list:

A, Oil leaking in a couple of places (mainly sump gasket). I regularly check oil level but it has never been anywhere near the minimum level on the dipstick. WORRY - could my oil levels be low and my dipstick incorrectly calibrated (it is a reconditioned engine about 50,000km ago), i.e. the oil levels were too low and the engine seized?

B, I had recently fixed the radiator fan, and this weekend was probably the first time that the engine temperature had been anywhere near hot enough to trigger it. WORRY - when the radiator fan trips in it causes some form of electrical jiggerypokery that preventing diesel reaching the engine?

C, Over the last few months the van has gradually started to bunnyhop / jerk in all gears (worse in 1st getting better but still evident in 4th). It only really seems to happen when accelerating/decelerating when the engine is not being required to deliver lots of power. I.e. it does not happen when you have your foot to the floor and can be stopped generally by changing gear. Do I have a problem with my injection pump?

D, Lastly, and most worryingly. I have a slight drip of coolant which I am having difficulty identifying where it comes from. I've attached at photo but am in a bit of denial when it comes to investigating further. It seems to me to be coming from behind the mettle plate between the cam pulley and the engine. Head gasket? Could this be related to my troubles?

I am very new to engines/vehicle ownership but am in Greece (my only experience is with at two stroke chainsaw and lawnmower). I'd really appreciate any advice on whether or not this something I can fix or, if I need to see a mechanic here in Greece, what should I be getting them to do.

Tim

Post by **Horza** » 10 Jul 2006, 11:52

Fuel? Is fuel still getting from the tank to the pump? Does it have bubbles in it? Is the filter full of water/carp?

Air? Is air still getting in the other side or is that all gummed up with carp?

If nothing is firing what so ever and it didn't go bang I would suspect one of the above. It would also be consistant with the jumping you've experienced.

I think I recall someone saying you could take a fuel pipe off an injector and observe the diesel pumping out as you turn it over. The airway can be checked by eye.

There shouldn't be anything electrical to do with firing or fuel BTW, mechanical pump. (excluding glow plugs for starting that is)

I can't see where that coolant is coming from, is there nothing at all on top of the head? Coroded core plug perhaps? My golf spewed all it's coolant through a core plug for a laugh.

Post by **wahvan** » 10 Jul 2006, 12:18

Wow that was fast thanks,
Sorry, stupidly I forgot to mention that the van started fine after half an hour cooling down - and has been running ok ever since. (I shall try to E D I T my original post.)

On your specific questions:

The fuel is getting to the injection pump and there was no air in the pipe when it stopped (occasionally there is a little pocket but no streaming bubbles).

The fuel filter was new when I got the van 6,000km ago?

I had a look at the air filter and it did not seem overly bunged up (couple of flies, and a bit of a leaf). Again this was new 6000 km ago.

I had thought that it could not be anything electrical with the pump then read something about the stop solenoid - but thanks for ruling that one out.

There is nothing significant on the top of the head (certainly nothing that would work itself behind the cam plate). The glow plugs were also brand new 6000km ago.

Post by **Diamond Hell** » 10 Jul 2006, 15:40

If you're suspicious, get a compression test done.

Then get it 'sniffed' to make sure it's not blowing exhaust into the coolant.

Are the coolant and oil the right colours? A visual inspection should let you know of any impending doom or suspicious mixing.

Bear in mind that the particularly high amibent temperatures we've had recently are very good at flushing out any latent problems with vehicles.

Post by **wahvan** » 11 Jul 2006, 09:24

Thanks for the advice. Can I just check what I should be looking for in the oil / coolant.

I drained the cooling system when I put a new pump and pipes in about 1000km ago. I used the pink recommended VW coolant to replace it. What should it look like if thinks are going wrong?

In terms of the compression and gas test, what would the implications be if it turns out positive? I.e, what would I need to do about it?

Also could any of this explain the bunnyhopping I'm experienceing or should I still be lookign at issues with the fuel and air supply?

Thanks again,

Tim

Post by **Diamond Hell** » 11 Jul 2006, 11:02

Bunny-hopping is probably a different problem - on a diesel I would have thought it would be more likely to be a gearbox seal, rather than fuel supply problems.

Compression loss could be either worn rings (in which case a squirt of oil into the cylinder will bring the compression back up) or a blown head gasket, which is head off time and skim and new head gasket.

If the coolant is very murky, then something's amiss.

If there's a problem where water is leaking into the oil then you'll get a custardy emulsion of oil and water.

Is the van actually still misbehaving, or has it settled down again?

Post by **wahvan** » 11 Jul 2006, 12:02

No the van is behaving fine at the moment and coolant and oil look don't look too bad. I'm about to do a fairly big trip across Greece on Wednesday which should help establish whether this is a persistent problem or not.

Not being used to running a vehicle, I guess I am a little paranoid about anything that seems in the slightest bit out of the ordinary. The dripping coolant that you can see in the photo has been worrying me - and the power loss at the weekend set me off on a panic.

I'll find out whether it is possible to get a gas and compression check here in Greece - in the meantime is there anything I should be doing to tackle the coolant leak? It is only dripping slightly after a long drive. Is it worth me taking the cam pulley of to try and find out where it is coming from or am I best of waiting to get the test done. If that's negative ignore the leak unless it starts getting much worse?

I can live with the bunny hop as its easy enough to drive in a way that avoids it - unless the issue you described with the gearbox is one that needs dealing with.

Thanks again for your help,

Tim