1.9 td lackiing power

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 31 Mar 2010, 11:06

Hi Tom,

Getting better

If the mobile mechanic is 100% certain the timing is absolutely spot-on then you need to delve a little deeper..

Did the mechanic reset the timing with the crank , cam and pump properly pinned? I ask as it's critical the crank is properly pinned even though the index hole in the flywheel is hard to reach. If you don't it's still possible to be a half or even one tooth out and that can make all the difference. "Eyeing" the crank keyway to set the timing is not accurate enough, especially when you know it was out to start with..

If you and he are certain the timing is right, the next thing is to carefully check valve clearances. White smoke means that unburned fuel is present in the exhaust and the usual culprit is low compression on one or more cylinders. This would also account for lumpy running. A check of valve clearances should show if any of the valves are unhappy. Any that are way off the normal range may be indicative of being bent.

Valve clearances are 0.15mm - 0.25mm Inlet and 0.35mm - 0.45mm exhaust when cold. They are adjusted by shims.

If all valve clearances are about right then consider having a leakdown test performed to check the compressions are good.

Take it for a run by all means as a bit of white smoke when the engine is cold can be nothing to worry about but there should be none at all when the engine is hot and under way. A run just might settle in a valve or two if they are not currently sealing quite 100%.

Sadly, I suspect you may have slightly bent valves or a damaged valve heads/seats as a result of the timing being off.

I hope I'm wrong in my diagnosis.....

Synergietom · Unread post by **Synergietom** » 31 Mar 2010, 12:45

Thanks jim ive had her running for a good hour now on tick over and the smoke seems to have cleared quite conssiderabley but there is still some smoke if revved up above the 30 mark ive got to be at work for 2 so we've made sure all my AA details arev sorted and im going to take her work to see if the 7 mile run clears her up a bit hopefully i'm worrying about nothing.

Synergietom · Unread post by **Synergietom** » 31 Mar 2010, 23:35

Well i took it to work and it drove a lot smoother than when i bought it the smoke seems to have dissapeard although she is a little lumpy at lower speeds in higher gears. The next thing to sort out is that dodgy altenator ( lights get brighter the faster your going ) with any luck i should be able to get one from the scrappy i will keep updating and let you know.

Synergietom · Unread post by **Synergietom** » 01 Apr 2010, 00:45

Jim ive just been thinking about this lumpiness ( cant seem to switch off once i get started probably too much coffee ) and was wondering if this could be cuased by the cat being blocked after all the running problems and extra unburnt fuel running through it. If so this could be an easy fix by removing the cat and replacing with a piece of straight pipe Sourced from the local scrappy.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 01 Apr 2010, 07:35

Pleased to hear things are getting better Tom

A blocked cat normally strangles the engine. It'll be reasonably OK at low speeds but will make the engine feel as flat as a pancake at higher revs and it'll allow very little boost to develop.

From the sounds of it, yours appears to be OK...

Synergietom · Unread post by **Synergietom** » 01 Apr 2010, 09:01

Thanks Jim that puts my mind at rest a little i'm off to the scrappy when the other half gets bk from the school run can you tell me if the altenator from a 1.9 td zant would fit this engine as ive not seen many synergie in the scrappers.

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 01 Apr 2010, 09:11

Synergietom wrote:T can you tell me if the altenator from a 1.9 td zant would fit this engine as ive not seen many synergie in the scrappers.

Pass

It may very well do. Best way is to pop into a local parts factor on the way to the scrappie and do a quick cross-reference against their lists of replacement alternators. Most factors have these lists in big books...

Generally, if the mounts are the same and the pulley is in the same place and size then it should be OK. Be aware that alternators can sometimes have very subtle differences not immediately noticed such as a pulley spacing a couple of mm different but enough to upset the auxiliary belt run.

Synergietom · Unread post by **Synergietom** » 01 Apr 2010, 12:21

I whent a bought an alternator and it seems to fit ok ive checked it against the old one and the part nubbers on the back are the same so im assuming its identicall allthough now ive got to charge up my booster to get the engine started again and test it properly. Ill post an update later when i get bk from work.

Synergietom · Unread post by **Synergietom** » 01 Apr 2010, 23:59

Just to update i took the car to work again today after changing the alternator i had to jump start it with the escort but the 7 mile trip was enough to charge the battery enough to start it to come home and both trips where greate no problems iether way she is still a little lumpy when cold ( Like porridge ) and when trying to accelerate in higher gears ( doing 25 in 4th uphill trying to get 40 without changing down ) it feels a little like a missfire in a petrol but she seems t have more pull now than when i first her so im assuming i was right about the bodged timming. I'mn going to take her down the M Way tomorrow for the first time both for her and for me as ive only been driving since October 30 last year and ive had no reall exuse to use it. Ill let you know how it goes when i get back.

Unread post by **myglaren** » 02 Apr 2010, 10:19

A good motorway run can work wonders - unless the traffic is reduced to a crawl in typical bank holiday style. Then the opposite effect can be observed.

Synergietom · Unread post by **Synergietom** » 02 Apr 2010, 22:25

Wow what a trip we where only really planning on doing around 30 miles but thought that being as the kids are off school why not take them out for the day we did a total of 144 miles and the bus just ate them up the weather was appauling at one point i couldnt see where i was going but its worked wonders with the bus the battery is fully charged the smoke has completely dissapeared and i even found myself accelerating uphill in fith from 40 to 55 ( had to slow down at that point for a bend ) this is something it wouldnt have done when i first bought it so i think the service timing belt , Water pump alternater and damn good run have wroked wonders the old girl she still life in her yet.

Synergietom · Unread post by **Synergietom** » 03 Apr 2010, 00:55

Jim is there any reason why there should be quite a lot if tar lookink oil on the bak of my engine now it doese look as though its coming from a junction from of the pipes running down the back of the block then into two lower down one runs back across the engine towards the nearside and one runs towards the front into what i assume is a cooler for the turbo

Brigsygtt · Unread post by **Brigsygtt** » 03 Apr 2010, 01:03

My xantia is the same mate, aslong as its not spewing out oil all over dont worry about it.

Synergietom · Unread post by **Synergietom** » 03 Apr 2010, 01:15

Trouble is ive had alot of problems with this car ( Betty the bus ) since i bought it mainly due to bad timing ( The tensioner wasnt set correctly ) then the alternator whent and ive done a full service on her while she's been off the road all this in three weeks and going away on holls next friday ( The only reason why i bought her ) and after seeing the condition fo the oil ( Congield and burnt i had to strip and cleen the sump) Im woried that there may be another dirty little secret waiting to rais its half betweem MWay junctions with no tools ( Kids and GF need clothes )

Unread post by **CitroJim** » 03 Apr 2010, 18:15

As Brigsy says, pretty normal Tom. Any of the induction pipes 'twixt turbo and intercooler will often be found to contain tarry oil as the crankcase breather exhausts into the inlet tract and deposits oil there from vapours.

Many years ago now, the first time I looked in turbo pipes and saw sticky oil it very near scared me to death.

It was the subject of my very first forum post.... On a usenet newsgroup