Hi people, my once trusty 90 309 1.8td has developed an interesting issue. After sitting in traffic on facing down on a steep hill I noticed lots of white smoke coming out the exhaust.
Once back on the flat and moving, after the final dump of white smoke everything clears and all I then get is the normal soot if I give it some welly.
Does anyone have any ideas as to what could be the cause (and even a solution)?
It is booked in with my mechanic for Wednesday for a checkup, but I wanted to get an idea before then. Current suggestions appear to be HG failure (v expensive to fix I'm told), or stem seals (Head off, so v expensive)
If this turns out to require an expensive fix then I would have a lot of trouble trying to justify spending any more on it, which will annoy me as I really like the car - averageing between 53 and 59 mpg all the time is something I am reluctant to give up easily!
Thanks
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White smoke indicates unburnt fuel, this would happen if the engine stopped firing on one or more cylinder. I think yours is probably light blue caused by oil being burnt, yes, it could be valve stem seals but if it only does it facing down hill I would check your oil level first.
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Well its back from the garage, and the diagnosis is that there is a solenoid on the injector pump that links to the inlet manifold that is playing up. As far as I can make out (talking to my mechanic and perusing Haynes) It is meant to sense how much air is being turboed into the engine so it can add any extra fuel.
But in my case the solenoid is u/s and is allowing fuel into the rubber pipe which is then dumped intto the inlet manifold and causes the smoke. Makes sense really - what with all the downhill smoking!
At the mo, the pipe has been disconnected and blocked off which will allow me to pootle to work for a week and half, then it is going back to the garage so they can talk to Pug and an injection specialist and see how it can be sorted and how expensive it is going to be.
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Sounds like the boost pressure compensator has failed.
Cheapest way would be to fit a good used pump. Repair will be expensive, more than the car is worth.
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Repair will be expensive, more than the car is worth.
Here we go again. Almost any except the most trivial repair to this car will cost more than it is 'worth', but that does not mean it is the wrong course of action. OP has said he likes the car, so unless the cost will be ridiculous, get it fixed. Simply comparing the car's resale value with a repair bill is too simplistic. Especially if it can be DIY.
If £££ is the only consideration, do Scrappage while one still can.
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That's why I suggested a second-user pump assembly - should be cheap as chips to get.
Fitting is easy too.
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I would agree with Andrew. In my humble opinion the best cars were made in the '90's and if in good condition are well worth repairing. One repair on a modern car could cost more than the purchase of a good '90's car, and you can usually repair them yourself.
Edited by Peter.N. on 30/08/2009 at 14:00
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Well she's fixed and not smoking - result!
Haven't paid quite yet, but was quoted 158 pounds which is a darn site cheaper than a new car! Looks like I'll be sticking with the old tractor for a while yet.
I was there when my friendly mechanic was doing it and it was a right fiddly job with little bolts, springs and a plunger bit that kept dropping out and disappearing into the engine bay. Quite glad I didn't have a go myself although it was only a couple of rubber circley flappy bits that were at fault (hole through the middle of them had gotten a bit bigger) and it all looked temptingly easy. Oh how many times have I said that...
Now just have to wait and see what Novembers MOT brings!
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