Spoiler

 

Hi, I've just bought a Mk2 fabia diesel, it's a 1.4, 2009. I've noticed since I've got it home that it has a slightly lumpy idle and is slightly stuttery when accelerating (annoyingly I didn't notice this on the test drive). Are there any normal obvious culprits for this? Thanks for reading! 

It probably just needs an Italian tune up.

Take it for a fast A road or motorway run to clear out the exhaust system.

I was thinking of this, we are a bit lacking in fast roads near where I live (50 miles to nearest motorway!) 

The diesel version  1.4 has a 3 cylinder and was always a bit lumpy, you need to check the air hose into the manifold connection as these if loose can cause this lumpy tickover, again as suggested a good blast out works wonders for the diesel, sometimes a wynns diesel / turbo cleaner in a full tank of fuel can sort out these problems

This may not be useful to you, but not living near a motorway or not living near enough fast roads to get a car hot for a while make a diesel a very bad purchase, especially if it has a DPF. I'm not familiar with these so I don't know if they do but if they do have a DPF they you will have problems throughout your ownership.

 

In my 1.6tdi owners manual I need minimum 4th gear and stay above 2k revs for the DPF to start regenerating. If you can't do this with a hot car then I'm afraid you will have issues

 

As above though, the 1.4 is a 3 cylinder and 3 cylinders in generaly whether it be petrol or diesel are quite rough and lumpy so it could just be you're not used to the engine yet.

 

Might be worth posting a video so we can hear exactly how it sounds

21 hours ago, DevonDumpling said:

I was thinking of this, we are a bit lacking in fast roads near where I live (50 miles to nearest motorway!) 

 

Make a special trip, that engine is so economical that you'll only be burning a few gallons to get it done, otherwise you'll just soot it up double quick bumbling about bouncing off the hedgerows locally.

7 hours ago, ruida_silva said:

 especially if it has a DPF. I'm not familiar with these so I don't know if they do but if they do have a DPF they you will have problems throughout your ownership.

 

In my 1.6tdi owners manual I need minimum 4th gear and stay above 2k revs for the DPF to start regenerating. If you can't do this with a hot car then I'm afraid you will have issues

DPF only fitted on Greenline version - not on 1, 2, 3 or Sport trims of 1.4TDI.

On 31/10/2022 at 21:19, KeithCheetham said:

DPF only fitted on Greenline version - not on 1, 2, 3 or Sport trims of 1.4TDI.

Tthat's good. He shouldn't really need to worry then. He probably needs to go and do a nice hot journey but can't imagine he'll need to do it often