Hi -

having some trouble with 1998 felica 1.9d (130,000miles) - i am no mechanic...

starts fine and runs fine overall - but when started engine turns over normally, with an irregular 'kick' - this can be quite variable, somtimes quite bad, other times not so noticable.

It is particular noticable during when idleing and at low revs (all gears), and particularly when engine is cold (though can persist when at normal operating temperature). Bad when driving at 30mph, but after driving on motorway seems to be no problem (even when back at thirty...).

The air filter is clean, and i can not see any other 'obvious' issues under the hood.

Any body got any ideas? - would be great if i could get some info to give to a mechanic.

Many Thanks

Would you describe it as being like driving a petrol engine with a misfire? If so then either you've an air leak into an injector feed pipe, or a duff injector.

Since you're not a mechanic, the best general advice would be to look in your Yellow Pages for a Bosch Diesel or TurnerTune outfit near you.

Ideally you would like to get the car scanned with VAG-COM.

I had a similar problem with a housemates car and the error codes thrown were a dead coolant sensor (About £5) and the glow plugs/relay playing up.

I'd say give the coolant sensor a go as hers was IMHO massively over fueling and the bang was from the explosion being quenched by too much fuel.

many thanks - gives me some idea problem is not as loud/dramatic as a misfire - feels more like begining of engine stalling, but never actually stalls, and can be 'accelerated' through without substantial loss in power. noise is normal engine, but with irregular ?loss of power? ring any more bells?

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 ??

Edited 28 August, 200916 yr by Alek Smart

I thought these cars were cable throttle and mechanical injection pump? Just that IME running problems on a specific throttle setting tend to be:-

1) Cable throttle - rough patch on a rotary component, interfering with the very fine adjustments you tend to make unconciously in constant throttle running.

2) "Drive by wire" - worn patch on throttle pot track.

3) Not related to the throttle setting directly.

As far as I know that connector was the diagnostics port on the Favorit but not used on any of the systems in the Felicia as all cars after 1996 were required to have a certain kind of port one that is located under the steering column.

Although not sure what you can check on the 1.9D? Maybe just air bag, abs and immobiliser as the engine is just mechanically driven right?

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 !!!

I would be leaning towards the temperature sensor suggestion as this can cause many little problems with these engines. Thats also going to be the least expensive and easiest start with some problem solving on the engine.

Phil

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 !

I think it just works during startup on these older engines but don't know for sure.

Although cheezemonkhai has reported problems with the glow plugs fixing running problems so maybe it is used more than just at startup.

Phil

Having just had a timing belt replaced on Friday, my recently purchased 1999 1.9D Felicia suddenly started kangarooing last night. I've only had the car a month and it's been serviced (Oil / Air / Fuel). I also seem to have a general loss of 'the full beans' unless i give the pedal the full works. This has happened since I bought it. It kinda lurches like a turbo lag (I wish!). Not too concerned with that, but Im a bit concerned with this latest issue.

Looks like it's had a new temperature cable recently so Im steering away from that, so Im wondering whether the replacement of the engine since the TB change may have altered something untowards. The car seems to take a 'couple' of starts to start from cold, but once it's ran it's a beauty to start.

Going back to the question about the Glow Plugs, i was looking through the Haynes. The manual suggests that the glow plugs continue to work for about 3 minutes after the engine has started, to facilitate running. They start when the door is opened and shut (and the ignition key is used) which is certainly innovative!. I've had diesels before including a 52' Espace that aren't that smart, but it's a bit unnerving when the dash light DOESN'T come on. I tend to switch the ignition key over again and again for the reassurance ...weird I know..

I've put a bottle of Injector cleaner in my full tank to see if that solved the 'turbo lag' issue but it didn't (and it's not too concerning) but the kangarooing was a suprise last night, and has got me a bit concerned..Im supposed to be taking it to France on Thursday and I don't want to be at the mercy of them....Im beginning to suspect that it's more my injectors ?? Not very technical me - more of a common sense kinda chap, so I hope this helps, and if anyone has any help for me it would most certainly be appreciated..

If you're having problems starting then I would be looking towards glow plugs and glow plug relay etc.

And what you have described about the light not coming on all the time then this would point toward a problem with the glow plugs themselves or the relay.

Phil

Try draining the water out of the fuel filter, if that improves the running replace the fuel filter.

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

Can anyone aist re the location of the Coolant temp sensor and how do i drain the water out of the fuel pump?

Near enough the exact same symptoms, will surge at a steady thirty / forty mph and slight hesitation mid acceleration, however when at say 70mph all is well.

thanks

BM

oh i unsecrewd the plastic screw undr the fule filter the was a gurgle for approx three seconds, now takes starts on after approx two seconds as oppesed to instant key was turned.

all felicia have vagcom on the diesels the vagcom plug is on the right under the dash by your right knee its the 16pin which is the standard vw connector if your local to coventry ill do it for free

If you're having problems starting then I would be looking towards glow plugs and glow plug relay etc.

And what you have described about the light not coming on all the time then this would point toward a problem with the glow plugs themselves or the relay.

Phil

Having recently purchaed a 96 felica diesel the glow plug light on the dash does not always light up .....the handbook states that the glow plug light will only come on when the glow plug is needed, so if engine is warm glow plug not needed so wont light up.

Try draining the water out of the fuel filter, if that improves the running replace the fuel filter.

This may sound like a daft question as there is screw thing on the bottom of the fule filter...........I take it to drain the water you just unscrew it and let the water out?

I did mine but it made a gurgling sound I panicked and immediatly screwed it up again, took ages to start and now insted of immedily starting on first click it takes about three to four seconds to start now...have i done something wrong?

I've resolved removing the black pipe from the egr actuator end obstructing it with a screw, now My Felicia runs great :-)