Hello all!

I'm wondering if any of you with TDI experience might have ideas about a glitch that I'm experiencing.

After idling for a minute at a light or stop sign, when you go to accelerate there is just nothing there. I have to feather the accelerator for a few seconds to get the turbo to come on, and after about 15 seconds it takes off and runs fine again. It has only done this about 5 times, but it one time almost stranded me.

I've changed filters and fuel delivery pump, may try the fuel injector pump next.

Any ideas of what the issue might be?

The engine is a Defender-Spec 1990 (same 1989-1992) 2.5L 200TDI (I've dropped that into a 1966 Type II/109)

Thanks, all.
--Dutch

 

Can you give us some more info on the engine spec, year, type and fueling system (mechanical or electronic) and fueling control as it's hard to gauge from your post what may be the problem. I have a fair bit of experience of turbo diesels but with that info it's difficult to suggest anything. At a very very rough guess it's either air ingress into the fueling system or a turbo wastegate actuator sticking but hard to judge. It could even be an injector problem? Can you hear the turbo working? Does the turbo actuator rod move when the engine is revved hard. Is there any smoke emissions from the exhaust when you pull away or at any other time, if so, what color? Do you have an emissions EGR valve fitted to the intake? Do you have an intercooler and has it been flushed out recently? The worst thing that can happen to a TDi is being driven 'gently' day after day as the turbo 'clags' up particularly the turbine blades. A turbo needs to be revved hard for 5 minutes once a day otherwise it will fail prematurely. If you can feed some answers back we may be able to assist.

PS Is this the engine type? LR 200TDI 2.5 litre

 

Thanks for your quick reply!

Yes, the engine is a LR 200TDI 2.5 Litre

Here's what I know from my mechanic-friend that is helping me:

Turbo is working for sure
There are no EGR parts on this
Intercooler was cleaned out prior to install
No smoking.

The waste gate sticking may be something . . .

 

Great, that's narrowed some of the possible issues down a lot. Firstly fill up with fresh diesel and then: 1) Check the wastegate for opening operation - not stuck open or closed. 2) Bleed off some fuel at the filter and then at the injector unions, just crack the nut open, one at a time. 3) Check with a stethoscope that the injectors are functioning and not sticking. (though I don't reckon this is the cause though) 4) Check the intercooler hoses for any breakdown internally (they sometimes delaminate internally after a few years. (I've fitted a silicon hose kit and it makes a difference) I don't think it's a pump failure as it functions OK once the initial stutter has gone. It's good there is no EGR as I suspected on that model they are a PIA. (I blanked mine off on all my 3 diesels.) If you start with the wastegate and then check the running after each process of elimination one stage at a time hopefully you are going to strike lucky, but one stage at a time otherwise you won't find out the cause of the issues. Good luck. Keep me posted on progress.

PS I've had another thought (that's 2 in a whole day ) I believe there is a hose between the turbo and wastegate on your engine model, that hose sometimes splits and sends a false signal on fueling and causes a stutter at various different rev range stages - it's worth a check.