Berlingo dw8 sounds like a transit

[Flix]

My 2005 berlingo van dw8 is knocking like a transit, using loads of fuel and smoking. Theres no engine light on and I haven't checked for fault codes.There are no air bubbles in the clear fuel pipes. After reading several threads I believe the advance solenoid could be the problem, unplugging the solenoid doesn't make any difference, is there a way of testing the solenoid? I'd like to test continuity on the wiring to it, does anyone know which pins it is on the ECU plug, and which plug?
Is there anything else that could be causing it that I can check?

[wheeler]

Does the advance valve buzz for a few seconds when you switch the ignition on?
Did this just happen all of a sudden?
You haven’t said but have you checked the oil level?
I have found normally when the advance valve starts to fail switching the engine off & back on temporary resolves the noise.
Need the last 8 digits of the VIN to check wiring pin out.

[Flix]

Yes something buzzes when the ignition is switched on, I presume it's the solenoid, it starts perfectly. Switching the engine off and restarting doesn't stop the noise. The oil level is good.
It all started when I had a couple of hours spare and decided to give the engine a wash.
Initially it was intermittent but has gradually got worse over about 200 miles
Thinking about it, with it buzzing when the ignition is switched would that suggest the wiring is good?

[Peter.N.]

Is it knocking on all cylinders or just one?

Peter

[wheeler]

Thinking about it, with it buzzing when the ignition is switched would that suggest the wiring is good?

Yes, thats why i was asking.

[Flix]

Thanks for that, that's one less thing to check, would that also suggest the solenoid isn't the problem? Or could it buzz but still not work?
I'll try and record it running later

[Flix]

So today we have a non start issue... and now a flat battery
The solenoid didn't buzz when it usually does
So can the solenoid cause a non start?

[Flix]

Charged the battery and it started first time today, still noisy but at least it runs. Couple of things I noticed

The pipe from the solenoid to the top of the pump is perished, not sure what it does but I doubt it being perished helps

Secondly the slots on the air intake pipe are blowing, as it's an intake I'd expect them to be sucking if anything, never noticed this before, anyone any idea what can cause that?

[wheeler]

I've never known a failed advance solenoid to cause a complete non start situation.
Is the little pipe maybe a fuel return pipe?

[dean36014]

The injector nearest the flywheel has a wire on it. These can fail and cause a horrendous engine knock as it alters the engine timing (I think). I've had two go on dw8 engines and in both cases replacement sorted the issue.

[Flix]

Turns out charging the battery wasn't enough, it had no interest in starting today, so new battery put on.... and it still wouldn't start, wasn't expecting that tbh, quick root round for some tools and a test of the glow plugs and it turns out it had 3 dead plugs, ordered some new ones so hopefully that will sort the start issue.
I've got a new advance solenoid to go on which I'll fit once it will start, which may or may not sort the noise issue.

[Flix]

Well new glow plugs fixed the non start issue.
New advance solenoid didn't fix the noise though, which takes me to the number 1 injector, so while it was running I disconnected the wire to the injector which made no difference to the noise it was making, I'll change the injector and see if that fixes it.

[Flix]

Fitted a secondhand injector today and happy days no more noise, it sounds like a sewing machine, ok an old diesel powered sewing machine but it's smooth and sounds as good as ever, no more knocking....but.... it's smokey, like really smokey under load in 1st and 2nd, there's no smoke at tickover, it's white/light grey smoke, I guess the injector isn't as good as it could be or maybe it's because I put injector cleaner in the fuel last time I filled it, anyone got any other ideas on what it could be?

[Peter.N.]

Well done, good bit of detective work there. Had lots of XUD engines but none with that system.

Peter

[Paul-R]

but.... it's smokey, like really smokey under load in 1st and 2nd, there's no smoke at tickover, it's white/light grey smoke, I guess the injector isn't as good as it could be or maybe it's because I put injector cleaner in the fuel last time I filled it, anyone got any other ideas on what it could be?

Does the injector need coding in to the ECU? I wouldn't have thought so on an engine as early as this but maybe someone with better access to information make sure>