Hi everyone,

I had a problem last night my 2003 1.9 SDI which was misfiring (although i know diesels as a rule dont tend to misfire). It would happen in the revs below 2500 but once it got past that it started to pick up again. However on the motorway foot to the floor all i was getting was 65-70 and going up a hill it got down to 50. (I even got overtaken by and old man in a micra!!!)

We stopped in a car park before we got home and had a look around not seeing anything obviously I checked the vacuum hoses etc and could see anything. I removed the sensor in the airbox and blew up the dust (thinking there is a problem with air getting to the engine) and this seemed to help but not solve the problem.

Could anyone throw any light on this situation?

It sounds like one of the MAF, the timing belt has jumped a tooth and a duff injector.

Check the MAF by unplugging it. If the running improves, buy a new MAF.

Otherwise take it to a garage, in case it's the timing belt.

Alrighty cheers for the I shall try that. Is the MAF the sensor located in the top of the airbox? (sorry not used to all this fancy electrickery, normally have a carb)

will keep you updated

Just thought i'd say out of interest that i replaced the MAF and all was sorted. Thanks for all your help!

Ok the plot thickens further,

on my way home tonight just pulling into my road the car dies totally... everything gone. no lights on the dashboard. So i manage to get it in and try restarting the car. It turned over but wouldnt fire. Played around for half an hour and found nothing. Then just before i left the car it started and ran normally back home, so i took it round the block and it was running like it should. Only problem was the engine light is illuminated on the dash.

My friendly garage will let me borrow their VAGCOM but until then would it be ok to drive as i need to get to work?

please help a disheartened SDi owner

Check battery connections. MAF is close to battery, good chance the cables were disturbed when MAF was replaced.

Ok just checked they were a little loose.... so I've tightened them up and tried starting again. I am assuming the light will stay on now until i get the fault codes read and reset?

should i be good to roll tomorrow morning though? Its not that i dont like public transport...... well yeah it is.

Light will clear after several starts and drives above 10 MPH, assuming it's a spurious fault code.

Throttle bodies on ebay are about £30, bargain!

edit just found this:

"

Throttle body adaption process is for petrol cars. The V157 manifold flap is not really an electronic throttle body and does usually throw a fault code when faulty. Check that you have 12V between pins 1 and 4, when the ignition is on.

It is the fuel quantity injected that primarily determines engine speed, as diesel burns in an excess of air. Under normal operation the manifold flap is open. It closes to slow/stop the engine.

Does the car shudder to a stop when you turn off the ignition?"

I did think having a throttle body was a bit odd as diesels dont have them! The butterfly valve is there to give the car some engine braking, but I did find a post saying someone lost power when they unplugged theirs.

Edited 19 December, 201213 yr by Dunkuk