Misfire

[Terry]

I guess this is one for Nighthawk.
Since I got water in the fuel I have had an erratic misfire this (last)weekend it resolved itself to a consistent misfire but only at full throttle & when labouring. I got fuel at South Mimms services on Saturday and noticed a distinct improvement in performance. But it was back to very poor again this morning. (Can't get over 60 and power dies away badly at slightest incline, doesn't even have to be a hill). Garage put a professional tester on it this morning and absolutely NO fault codes ! Performed O.K. going to Sevenoaks (still with misfire), but ratshit returning !
PLEASE,PLEASE,PLEASE tell me its a cheap fix

[AndyG]

Fuel filter

[Terry]

Fuel filter was changed when we found water in it. (a table spoon full), about a month ago.
Tank was then drained removed & cleaned (about a teaspoon of water plus a little black sediment and a tiny amount of file-ings). A new filter was installed, upon reassembly..
Fuel filter was checked (only for tightness) on Friday, cleaned externally left idling for about 1.5 hours....... no leaks !

[transitgeoff]

fileings ive had this a couple of times now and nighthawk diagnosed fuel pump, what we also found was excess oil in the engine, its from the fuel pump, the fillings go in the injectors, compression gets up the fuel pipes into the pump, the pumps front seal is blown out and because its driven internally fuel trickles into the engine, check your oil! but if there was fillings in the tank its defo pump... when you fit the new pump DEFINITELY HAVE NEW INJECTORS, FUEL FILTER, INJECTOR LEAK OFF PIPE AND THOUGHERLY REMOVE ALL FUEL LINES AND TANK AND FLUSH !! i was a good 30 minutes on a steam cleaner on the tank, if you dont do all these steps the fillings WILL kill the new pump

[AndyG]

fileings ive had this a couple of times now and nighthawk diagnosed fuel pump, what we also found was excess oil in the engine, its from the fuel pump, the fillings go in the injectors, compression gets up the fuel pipes into the pump, the pumps front seal is blown out and because its driven internally fuel trickles into the engine, check your oil! but if there was fillings in the tank its defo pump... when you fit the new pump DEFINITELY HAVE NEW INJECTORS, FUEL FILTER, INJECTOR LEAK OFF PIPE AND THOUGHERLY REMOVE ALL FUEL LINES AND TANK AND FLUSH !! i was a good 30 minutes on a steam cleaner on the tank, if you dont do all these steps the fillings WILL kill the new pump

[Terry]

I spoke to a diesel 'specialist' S.A.S. in Guildford, they said check the inlet and or outlet ports on the pump if there are no filings in there, the pump is O.K. We checked & it was filing free, (he broke a pipe undoing it so,we were off to a £40.00 start), took the van to SAS and they renewed all 4 injectors and its (apparently) cured it. Towing a car to Brands this teatime so that'll be the acid test. The bill totalled £513.00, so I reckon I got off light.
Pump alone is rumoured to be £700.00 +.

[Nighthawk]

checking ports is one way of looking at it, but I prefer to disconnect the fuel return pipe from the pump to the filter and attach a hose.

block off the pipe on the filter head where the return used to attach and start the engine, the returned fuel will carry metal particles (if present). I usually allow it to pump through about 1/2 gallon.

It doesn't sound like you had enough water in the system to cause damage though. The water trap will hold around 60ml before you risk allowing water to enter the flow.

with luck it's fine

[Terry]

Well I thought it was too easy, tow to Brands went problem free, left Brands going flat out (95) down the hill from the Orpington junction to the M2 / M20 ?junction and it just died, speed stabilised at about 60 but it was absolutely gutless, so I switched off the ignition for a couple of seconds, switched back on and wowee back to normal.
So I guess theres a 'limp home' mode and that is what it fired up.... now WHY ?, sometimes using the throttle pedal it clicks, but sometimes not ,doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason or connection !
I have also had suggested there is a low fuel 'gadget' that drops the engine power when you are very low on fuel, could this be faulty ( more than 3/4 of a tank this evening!)
Discussing it with a friend with a chipped Vivaro & he says his drops into 'limp home mode' especially after a long full throttle drag up hill, he kills the ignition for a few secs & its back to normal. Is this a problem /
charaacteristic of a chipped engine ?
Misfire thankfully has NOT returned !
Any suggestions gratefully received...