Xsara picasso very poor running and EML

[Andy F]

Hi all,

Got a friends misbehaving Xsara Picasso 2.0 Hdi 90hp on the drive. It idles ok, but using any amount of throttle causes it to mis fire and potentially stall. When it is running and on the road and use hard acceleration it will be either lumpy and cut out or you can hear the turbo spool and it feels like there is plenty of pull.

I had it on my lexia and took the following photos of the readings. When i tried all of the actuator tests, things seemed to be buzzing and whirring at the right time.

Being a musician I don't really know how to interpret these readings, so if any can shed any light we would be most gratelful.

With some revs


Fault codes




Many thanks
Andy

[Andy F]

Probably also worth mentioning we have changed the fuel filter.

This car was misfuelled at New Year with petrol. Not sure how relevant this is 5 months down the line but could be important.

[GiveMeABreak]

Andy - quite relevant in fact - I had the same happen on my Xantia HDi 110 - was fuelled with Petrol, but despite cleaning out the pump and tank, worked for a while with intermittent problems, then started cutting out more and more frequently. Increasing throttle at low spped and at lights helped to keep the engine alive - but it soon kept stalling until finally had to have it towed to the main dealer to have a new fuel pump fitted.

I believe the petrol knackers the diesel in-tank fuel pump and there's very little you can do short of replacing them. If this is not the cause of the problems, it could be a significant contributor. Diesel acts as a lubricant in the fuel system, whereas petrol has the opposite effect and can cause serious problems - especially in the Common Rail Diesel engines as these run under very high pressures.

[Paul-R]

This car was misfuelled at New Year with petrol. Not sure how relevant this is 5 months down the line but could be important.

Was the engine (and therefore fuel pump) run after misfiling? Or was the fuel mix removed immediately?

Last September I stupidly filled my wife's Xsara up with petrol (stupid Tescos putting the diesel nozzle in the middle of the two petrol nozzles) but realised just before it was absolutely full and therefore before starting up. We pushed the car to one side and my brother came over with two 20l jerry cans and an electric pump to suck it all out. I then completely filled the tank with diesel to swamp any remaining traces of petrol. 10,000 miles later there appears to be no ill effects. (now where's that wood to touch?)

[GiveMeABreak]

Yes, as Paul says - severity of damage greatly reduced if you realise the mistake and DON'T start the engine until you can get it pumped out. In my case, I didn't actually realise at the time (similar issue with changes to the pumps) so too late for me and I only realised when I took it to my mechanic when the problems started and he noticed the fumes leading to discovering Diesel in the tank. In fact he was amazed I made it to the garage at all and not gone up in a ball of fire!

[Andy F]

Thank you for the responses. Unfortunately he didn't realise his.mistake until too late and drove it until it conked out. They called breakdowns who emptied tank.and replaced with diesel. All seemed well after until now. Understand re petrol not having the same lubrication properties as diesel could cause problems with pump. We are going to try a different fuel pressure regulator tomorrow from one out the breaker yard and see if it effects the running. After spending time on Google the symptoms seemed to.match other people experiences. Does this seem a likely cause in.your opinions? Also had no idea a regulator was so.expensive, £167 from.GSF!

Will keep you posted, many, many thanks
Andy

[myglaren]

Have a look on Amazon for the fuel pressure regulator.

My daughter bought a C3 1.4 HDi from a Honda dealer. While they did the paperwork one of the mechanics went to fill it up.
Put petrol in by mistake.
She got about four miles before it conked out.
They towed it back, drained and purged the fuel system and it was fine for a couple of years after until she bought something else.

[Paul-R]

If the car was run until it stopped then it might not (just) be the in-tank pump. It could be the high pressure pump. In fact surely it is more likely to be the high pressure pump as this relies upon the lubrication properties of diesel oil?

Hopefully it is neither and something else will come to light. How many miles did the car do in the five months after misfiling?

Also, when was the fuel filter changed?

[Andy F]

Hi all,

I.changed the fuel.filter about 3 weeks ago when.it first started acting up, owners had never done it so it seemed a sensible starting point. I.would think the car had done between 3500 and 5000 miles since misfuelling.

A sort of conclusion. We changed the fuel pressure regulator with one out the breaker yard (£4!) and it improved things no end. Not 100% but it is now quite driveable. Pulls well at speed and much smoother at idle. It is however, a little reluctant to start and can feel a bit jumpy when.pulling away slowly at low revs. I think the. High pressure pump might well be.on the way out? but I guess time will tell. Will update if there any further developments. They seem.happy for now and as I'm a musician not a mechanic I can go back there to playing my trumpet for a bit.

Thanks again for the input.

[Paul-R]

... I can go back there to playing my trumpet for a bit..

Is that a euphemism?

Anyway, glad it's a bit better.

[myglaren]

... I can go back there to playing my trumpet for a bit..

Is that a euphemism?

No, it's a Euphonium

[Andy F]

[Peter.N.]

Injector 3 looks a bit dodgy, I would do a leak off test on them.

Peter