Fed up with my car!

[Bushbaby]

Hi All,
It does appear that my car is on its last legs with a fault that is difficult to diagnose. Its a 2002 Mondeo 2.0L TDCI (130bhp) version. It feel like its dragging its heels when driving and if accelerated hard (especially at speed) the dreaded glow plug light will flash and it loses power (default engine management setting) which clears when switch off. I've had the injectors leak tested and they are fine. I've had it diagnostically checked with a P0251 code 'injection metering control pump A fault'. However, good old Ford, this can relate to about a dozen different things wrong, in particular, a faulty fuel pump which are £500 new (plus fitting). I've replace the fuel filter, cleaned the engine gas recirculation valve and the mass air flow sensors so Im rapidly running out of ideas.
The car is appoaching 150k miles so I'm really thinking that its long had its day. I cant afford to get a new car at the moment so I really stuck and looking for any thoughts other than driving it off a cliff or leaving the keys in it out on the road.

Help!!

Rob

[Joe]

Put it in the curry.

- Joe

[AlanBeckett]

When you say Fuel Pump Rob do you mean Injector Pump? or is it a Common Rail Engine with a High Pressure Pump?

Alan

[Bushbaby]

Thanks Joe

Hi Al,
Its common rail with a high pressure pump. Its not idling irratically which I'm told is a sign of the pump failing. But having said that, lack of fuel due to injector pump problems especially at higher revs seems to be likely. I could by a used one and give it a try. I've also checked the injector hose and thats not split as far as I can see (another well known problem).
I hate diesels..great when they work though.

Regards
Rob

[Tedzed1]

Hi Rob, long shot but it may be worth checking the EGR valve is not blocked, check the air intake pipe to it is not full of gunk.

[Bushbaby]

Hi Paul,
thanks for your thoughts. I've already taken this off and cleaned it. I would say with the crud that comes out of it and goes everywhere I think I would replace than clean.

Regards

Rob

[AlanBeckett]

This may well be nothing to do with your problem but when my Freelander did a similar thing it turned out to be a split in the rubber Pipe between the Turbo and the Intake. That fooled the Engine Management Computer which then desperately tried to correct for it by buggering about with the Fuel Supply. It was interesting that after the Pipe was changed it took a few miles before the EMC got a grip on what was going on and it then worked normally again.

Alan

[Nick]

Our Polo (my station car) is going to the doctors tomorrow - P0121 & P0221 - basically means that the throttle position sensor has died - not uncommon in an 80,000 mile Polo. I would fix it myself if I had time.

I have a CReader VI OBD2 reader - pretty good for the money (about 50 quid) - works on the Polo & Volvo we have - but the one the garage used (an Autel MaxiScan costing nearly 700 quid) which can dig down into VW-specifics found a bunch of other stuff too...

I hate cars as well...

[Bushbaby]

Al,
I've had a split pipe before and I suppose just because I cant see a split that there isnt one. Its worth a shot to have another look.

Thanks

Rob

Nick,
I hope you get it sorted.

R

[pwdrive]

I know zilch about diesel engines except that they don't like air in the fuel line in any quantity, our old diesel escort started playing up once, changed the filter and generally buggered about with it to no avail, turned out to be a very very small pin hole in the plastic fuel pipe, fixed that and all was well, not long after that the cam belt snapped at speed, got someone to replace the bent valves etc no problem, not long after that the wife was striming some weeds in the bottom yard where the car was, the strimmer cord picked up a stone which smashed the door window on the car, decided to get rid of it.

Lawrence.