Slow Transit

[Andyj]

Hi

Im new to the forums so hello everyone

Anyway i have just bought my first Transit its a 190 LWB with 138k on the clock but had a new engine 14k ago, its a 99/V by the way.

My problem is that the van seems very slow indeed struggling to get over 30mph in 3rd gear and not much more in 4th.

The van seems to rev freely when at standstill and the clutch seems to be ok.

I just wondered if anyone had any idea's as to what the problem may be?

Thanks in Advance

Andy

[Nighthawk]

Hello and welcome to the site.

This might sound daft, but are you sure it's slow......and not a mis reading speedo?

If the engine is Ok, and it's connection to the drive train is OK (that being the clutch) there should be no problems with road speed.
Gear ratios are fixed as is the final drive ratio, and they must be OK because your not suffering from loss of drive.

It's not uncommon to have a loose flange nut on the back of the gearbox which will allow the worm drive gear to spin on the shaft.

[Andyj]

Hi

Thanks for the quick response.

The road speed feels incredibly slow, i have tested the speed with my road angel and it really does struggle to get over 30mph in 3rd and flat out in 4th is only around 40mph.

At first i thought it was just me as im used to driving a company astra 1.7dti which feels fairly quick but my relatives have driven the van and we are all agreed it is painfully slow.

I thought maybe the fuel filter may be clogged what do you think?

[100ps_drw_hicube]

could be the injection pump, we had the same sort of trouble as you, until the van packed up altogether, took it to a dealer who put a new pump on, wow what a difference like a new van, could be something a lot smaller and cheaper but you never know, have you tried bleeding the fuel system??

[madmark]

wow nighthauk you realy do know your stuff mate, its a great pleshure to have you on bord!

[Nighthawk]

Right, so we have a good base to start from.

GPS speed is good enough for me

You say the engine revs ok, is it getting full throttle?

open the bonnet, engine off
get someone to press and hold the throttle, while you look at the throttle lever on the pump.
with the throttle still held down by your assistant, see if there is any more movement in the throttle lever.....if so adjust the cable with the adjuster on the cable.

Are you 100% sure that the clutch isn't sliping?

[Andyj]

Thanks for advice

I will check the cable in the morning using my assistant (mrs Andyj)

I don't think the clutch is slipping is there anyway to tell?

Andy

[Nighthawk]

Clutch slip can usually be spotted in 5th gear

30mph ish in 5th, floor the throttle.
your looking for the revs rising rapidly with no increase in roadspeed.

there are other ways to diagnose it, but i'll leave that to the other informed chaps on this fine forum.

[stevew]

Just a thought....
My van drives like that when the engine management goes into 'get you home' mode. You can normally tell what it's doing because the engine managemnet light comes on, but if the light wasn't working...
On my van, a turbo, the engine turns out clouds of black smoke when it's in get you home mode so that would also be a good indicator.
You don't say what engine you have? All informaton is useful when diagnosing a fault like this.
Welcome to transit ownership!
Steve

[Andyj]

Hi

Problem all sorted courtesy of nighthawk

Thanks alot van feels alot better now i have had the accelerator cable adjusted.

I checked the clutch as you said and the road speed seems to rise steadily so im assuming alls ok.

[Nighthawk]

Happy to have been able to help

Happy christmas