Diesel stop rubber missing and lack of power

keljon · Post by **keljon** » 01 Aug 2005, 19:58

Just bought a cheap zx 1.9 diesel with lucas fuel pump, the stop solenoid was faulty and on removal the rubber is missing from the end of the plunger. I have replaced the stop and it's working fine but i have lack of power (no black smoke or any other symptoms) the idle speed also seems a little low. Any ideas where the little rubber is likely to have ended up, is it worth my while taking the top cover off to see if i can retrieve it as i am assuming the lack of power is caused by the rubber restricting the flow of diesel.

NiSk · Post by **NiSk** » 01 Aug 2005, 21:30

Just a suggestion - when my father bought a ZX TD and it behaved rather sluggish, a quick inspection showed that the throttle wasn't opening to more than half - due to the throttle cable having enormouse amounts of play - it almost looked like it had been done intentionally - a quick readjustment of the cable gave bags more power!
//NiSk

Kowalski · Post by **Kowalski** » 01 Aug 2005, 21:58

If your diesel is a bit smokey, making the throttle cable a bit longer helps it get through it's MOT (or equivilent) test.

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » 01 Aug 2005, 22:01

I wouldn't start taking the diesel injection pump apart unless you have specialist knowledge. They are extremely fine pieces of engineering and can be completely wrecked by dirt or unskilled attention. There are many diesel specialists who can and do repair the things and by and large their charges are reasonable.
Jeremy

keljon · Post by **keljon** » 01 Aug 2005, 22:41

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by jeremy

I wouldn't start taking the diesel injection pump apart unless you have specialist knowledge. They are extremely fine pieces of engineering and can be completely wrecked by dirt or unskilled attention. There are many diesel specialists who can and do repair the things and by and large their charges are reasonable.
Jeremy
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
it wouldn't be the first time i have had one of these pumps in bits, i was really after a clue as to where the rubber might end up.

keljon · Post by **keljon** » 02 Aug 2005, 00:43

Can anyone point me in the right direction for an exploded diagram of this pump? thanks for the other suggestions, will check the cable adjustment asap

sponix · Post by **sponix** » 02 Aug 2005, 14:55

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Kowalski

If your diesel is a bit smokey, making the throttle cable a bit longer helps it get through it's MOT (or equivilent) test.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Why? When I have watched MOTs I'm sure the examiner operates the throttle from under the bonnet.

jeremy · Post by **jeremy** » 02 Aug 2005, 15:57

Sorry - didn't realise you had worked on injection pumps before. On this link there are instructions for the dismantling of a CAV pump as fitted to BMC diesel engines - not quite the same but may be some use.
http://users.skynet.be/sn/manuals.htm
Jeremy

keljon · Post by **keljon** » 03 Aug 2005, 18:05

Adjusted the cable which made no difference, it also seems to be worse when the engine is up to normal temp. Basically refuses to rev above 3k rpm

fastandfurryous · Post by **fastandfurryous** » 04 Aug 2005, 00:07

Has the stop-screw (maximum engine speed screw) on the accelerator lever been adjusted? I've done this in the past to get through an MOT (actually didn't need to in the end, but there you go) and made the engine top out at 3500rpm.
Either that, or has someone been meddling with the maximum fuelling screw maybe? this can make the idle very slow indeed, and will restrict the engine very badly.
Just as another point, all MOT rev-tests I have ever seen have been done with the accelerator pedal. I would have thought doing a rev-test while standing next to the engine would be very noisy indeed!

keljon · Post by **keljon** » 04 Aug 2005, 01:02

Taxed the car today so bee driving it and the fault is very intermittant, sometimes it can be perfectly fine, ticks over ok and seems to go very well (compared to my 1.9D Xantia)
Other times there is complete lack of power won't rev over 3k and will not tick over. i have a complete repair kit and new top cover for this pump so i am going to whip the top cover off and see if i can find anything over the weekend.

keljon · Post by **keljon** » 05 Aug 2005, 02:39

The car appears to be fine, i am wondering if it was just water in the fuel filter as yesterday i filled it right up with fuel and after a bit of a struggle it now pulls like a train. I drained the water from the filter housing this morning just to be on the safe side but did over 100 miles today with no problems.