Alek Smart

Interestin to see the black anodized frame is peeling on yours too....mine`s now just white powder. Any suggestions as to primer or type of Paint to refurb it ??

Just an update on my rooting around earlier tonight. I drove to a friends garage (50Km) and proceeded to remove the injectors. Purely on visual inspection all looked well and when pressure tested they all appeared normal in respect to spray-pattern and lack of drip. Only slight oddity was number 2`s sealing washer would not budge from the injector hole,but showed no obvious signs of damage so I left it undisturbed. After refitting the injectors the fun REALLY started as the beast simply would not start...no way ! Removing the injectors should not of itself present a major obstacle to starting as any air in the system should be at the easiest end to expel upon recharging the system. This obviously is NOT the case here. I also discovered that the Rotary Injection Pump is of Lucas manufacture and not Bosch as I erroneously thought. It took over an hour of dreadful gut-wrenching starter-motor burning operation before I managed to coax it back into stumbling life. The trick was to get hold of an ex-Peugeot rubber-bulb type fuel priming pump and insert it into the fuel feed between the Filter and the Injection Pump,then prime like billy-oh...this eventually allowed a faltering startup with one injector pipe open to bleed as much air as possible. The REAL result however is that on the return journey the motor is sweet as a nut...NOT A VIBE or SHUDDER to be found and as responsive as a politician to a photo-op ! I`m at a bit of a loss to explain the miracle,but I really would like to get a schematic of the 1.9 Non Turbo Diesel Fuel System as I`m bamboozled by the absence of any obvious fuel lift pump

One further item to ponder...is the Glow-Plug setup on the 98 Felicia 1.9 a simple on/off system or is it the more modern type which stays in use during normal running or at least during warmup..? Info is quite difficult to come across for these Diesel Models I find !

Yep Philje123,that`s what I figgered too. The Diesel is fully cable controlled with only the fuel cut off being nuclear powered. I`m kind of leaning to Ken O Neill`s No:1 suggestion,a defect or slight mark pn the actual throttle shaft itself,however I`m not fully au fait with the Bosch Rotary Pump so I`m reluctant to fiddle.......for now !!!

Interesting as it appears to mirror my 1.9D also. I`m veering towards it being related to throttle positioning as it occurs ONLY at a specific part-throttle setting and only at balance or overrun and can be driven through. For example mine occurs at 30-35 MPH..a nusiance in city running and when I floor the throttle it leaps forth and flies with not a wobble to be felt and NO smoke either ! As an aside....I noticed a block connector wedged in the bulkhead adjacent to where the loom enters the passenger compartment...Is this the VAG connector? ...reason I ask is that there`s quite a bit of electrical corrosion on the connections...given that its a 1998 vehicle is the VAG cable a worthwhile investment ??

Jorily,my 1998 1.9D Felicia estate has the most awful buzzing and rattling coming from the gearlever also. Now,browsing your site I see a couple of potential fixes but the ? is which should I consider first,the actual selector rod and joint OR the Gearlever Repair Kit ?

Hi all. Any opinions,suggestions,warnings or even howls of derisory laughter at my request for info on a wheel swap for my 1998 Felicia 1.9D Estate. The current 13" wheels are I feel somewhat small. What is the max Diameter the Felicia wheelarch will accept without butchering and what if any effect will it have on the gear/speedometer ratios/.... Phew !!...Next question is where a really rerally cheap set of BIG wheels lurk !!!

My current 1.9D Estate is riding on 13" wheels......can I go to 14" without any obvious difficulties.....?

Savage...I would be looking firstly at the fuel filter and its associated pipework. It`s also worth checking the insides of the flexible hoses as if they break up the bits can clog the rather small orifaces etc etc... I would try a little methodology before replacing anything else.... As Mrs Beeton might say....."First.....catch your wabbit "

Do you have a Sunroof fitted...? If so remove the glass panel entirely and have a good hard look at the sealing arrangement and the drainage holes leading away from it..

If You can get hold of one of those rubber squeezy bubbles which Renault use as a fuel lift pump it can be a magic tool. Simply fill ur filter and fit it,then use ur squeezy to draw the head of fuel through it,remembering to have a suitable receptacle to hand to catch the diesel as it runs through. Reconnect the fuel lines and hit de button...should do the trick !!

I would definitely spend a little time poking an prodding at various wires and connections before dipping into the piggy bank to the tune of 2K. Diesel Injection Pumps are remarkable items and generally VERY reliable,when they do fail it tends to be well flagged and usually as a consequence of some error or omission on the owner/operator`s part.......Namely dirty fuel or water ingress.......

Hmmm,Interesting...Does anybody have a fuel flow diagram for the 1.9 Diesel ? It would seem from this thread that there is a submersible lift pump fitted in the tank..Electric presumably...Can anybody confirm/deny this ?? :confused:

Philj...Dont do anything crazy here. Diesel Fuel Injection pumps are VERY robust units and seldom conk out as yours has.. Usually a DP will give some form of warning,a creeping paralysis almost which should give an owner time to contemplate robbing their nearest co-op. Get down n dirty and check,even visually,the Fuel Filters and pipework,even have a prod around the Fuel Tank filler cap for breathing restrictions and then look closely at the Glowplug system....even if it still turns out to be a duff pump,the diesel experience will make a man of you.....

Hi Jeremy. God bless Bono....Oops sorry I forgot....Gos IS Bono !! Just read your post and I would thoroughly agree with its thrust. In my case I had already worked through my Fuel System as it was my first port of call when the trouble began. I am a time-served mechanic who spent his formative years working on the assorted products of the Leyland Motors Empire mainly Buses so the smell of diesel holds no fears for me. My machine also has somewhat high Fuel Consumption which I am currently attempting to rectify. I would be looking in this instance for tell-tale black smoke signs BUT I`m not getting any even under load !! Perhaps the greatest single barrier to sorting everything is the fact that the Skoda is Mrs Smart`s Car......as long as it`s running it MUST be ok......Ok ? Cheers.