Xud injectors

[Black]

Hi all - where can I buy a set of Lucas injectors for the xud turbo engine in my 97 405 estate?

The symptoms are from a cold engine the car only likes starting with two rounds of glow plugs and when it does start it coughs slightly, and with every cough you get a little chuff of blue smoke from the exhaust. It's particularly noticeable if you hold the revs at a steady 1,500 say. Glow plugs are new berus.

When the engine is warm this disappears and I can't get any blue smoke from the exhaust no matter what I do.

The car goes really well - ironically better now than it has ever done in my year of ownership. The throttle response is good and it goes like a train when the turbo spools up.

So, I've decided it's likely to be a duff injector - but cannot find any online. Can anyone point me in the right direction please?

Thanks,
Will

[CitroJim]

Will, it'll be best to have yours refurbished by a local diesel specialist... Most sizeable towns have one hiding in an industrial area somewhere...

[Black]

Good point thanks Jim

[spider]

I'd concur with that. If you can find a specialist (seem to getting a bit rare these days, around here at least) its well worth it.

New needle / nozzle set = quite cheap from what I can recall. Properly calibrated "on the bench" (by them! not you) they will be as good as new.

Carefully looked after injectors and injection pump should outlast the engine.

The cost difference between a rebuilt XU injector vs a HDi one is very alarming. To be fair there's plenty of used ones about now as well as 'recon' so its not an issue as it was when they were 'new tech'

[white exec]

Even though the glow plugs are nice new Beru's, check out
- connections to the glow plug relay, and its internal HD contacts - all can get corroded
- main battery connections (if original lead (Pb) lumps, then clip them off and replace with new brass clamps)
(a warm battery connection is a sure sign resistance has crept in there somewhere; the cable loses its good connection with age)
- connections to the glowplugs/glowplug 'rail'

If main battery connections are not good, there is a big voltage drop to the glowplugs while cranking - just when you need them to be really kicking out the heat. There is also a 'post-heat' which ensures a pretty-well smoke-free start up; this won't be good if connections are poor.

Good idea to get the injectors serviced/checked/recalibrated. I last paid about €70 for a set of four to be bench-serviced by a diesel specialist. Get a quote first - it's a standard job.

[Black]

Hi all,

Thanks for the replies.

I think I may have had a stroke of luck with this. I had the intercooler removed and was in the process of removing the injectors for refurbishment at a local specialist (£100 + vat) when I noticed that the fuel pipes to cylinders 3 and 4 were hardly even attached! They were on, but maybe by half a turn only.

So I nipped them up with a 17mm, bled the system and started the engine. I've only done one cold start but there was no hesitation and no blue smoke.....

So I am really hoping this simple little fix has cured it!

Thanks again,
Will

[Black]

Sorry - meant to write fuel pipes to injectors 3 and 4 ..

[Black]

@white exec thanks very much for the glow plug tip. I will check that - as when I put the new ones in I noticed zero difference between those and the old looking ngk's....

[myglaren]

Fingers crossed it will be OK now Will.

[Black]

Thanks, I will know for sure after a few more cold starts...

[CitroJim]

Excellent news

[white exec]

Yes, really good news. Do check out those electric items - all known issues, with age.

[chinkostu]

I was gonna suggest air ingress but seems you've already sussed it!! its the same issue my 206 had (that had a lucas setup) and i never got to the bottom of the cold starting even with new plugs, filter housing, the works! I knew it was air but couldn't find where, and given hot starting was ok I gave up

[Black]

Ok update on this - nipping up the fuel to injector pipes did help to some extent, but what has made a massive difference is replacing the copper washers on the injectors.

Now the car starts easily from cold on one cycle of the glow plugs, and drives smoother - particularly at low revs when pottering about. No more blue smoke either. I think it must have been combination of the two things that has made the difference.

Also I replaced the oil vapour hose whilst I was at it, and fought to get a new jubilee clip on the lower oil hose (the original clip had broken off and oil was going over block and sump) so I now have a dry engine and a car that drives nicely too.

I was so pleased I thought I would give the old girl an oil and filter change

Next jobs are to try and sort the air con (different post) and I might try to add a catalyst to the exhaust as I feel that old non cat diesels are a bit antisocial these days - especially when dropping the kids off at school

Thanks to everyone for their help!
Will

[Black]

Forgot to add my wife took the car for an afternoon - she called me from up the road to say the battery was dead. 'Can't be' I thought. So I went to investigate and the ignition key wouldn't turn in the ignition past position 1. No matter what I did. Nothing. Whole ignition barrel was locked solid. One of the most bizarre things I've ever had happen to a car.

So I ordered a new ignition barrel (from Poland), fitted it and we're back in business