Help Needed - 200TDi Low Power :(

Hey guys - I've always wanted a Defender 90 and since my band started doing fairly well I compromised and got myself a Discovery. That way I can fit all 6 of us in and tow a trailer with gear, etc and the Def 90/120 was too small or not comfy enough.

I have an MR2 turbo so I roughly know how turbos work and I've had three Capris in the past which I used to service so I know roughly how engines work but diesels are a bit...odd...to me.

I have a problem though and it's got me pretty stumped.

When I bought the 200tdi it seemed fine, a bit of a boat compared to what I was used to but it pulled alright and got me home no probs. Then it sat on my driveway waiting to get used for a few months and (possibly due to an aftermarket alarm) the battery ran flat. I replaced the battery with a non-LR item and since then the Disco's just been, well, rubbish.

It had a very low and slightly rough idle when I took it out for a run a few weeks back and there was no power at all. It struggled to get over 30-40mph even with the go pedal flat to the floor and rather dangerously tried to stall whenever I stopped accelerating and the revs returned to idle.

So today I collared my Dad for some mechanical support and did the following:

Cleaned up the pipes as there was a lot of carp and oil over them
Bled fuel filter
Tested fuel pump pressure from filter to a jar (seemed OK, filled half a coffee jar in under 5 secs)
Replaced fuel filter (just to be sure)
Replaced air filter
Raised idling speed (shouldn't have to do this as it hadn't been adjusted but the locking nut was loose)


I took her out for a short run and the Disco went fine. Picked up well, was smooth, sounded alright...for about 3 minutes, then when I drove down a series of short roads and turnings the old rubbishness returned. Almost stalling when coming off the juice to stop at a junction with hardly any low-down grunt to pull away and pulling my foot to the floor made no difference...but after 5 secs or so the engine struggled back up to normal idling speed and I could pull away.

When I got back we:

Checked all hoses for cracks
Check turbo actuator movement
Copper greased turbo actuator/wastegate linkage (just to be sure)

As I figured that the wastegate may be sticking open at points causing me to lose power. I took off the air filter to turbo hose which had a fair amount of skank and oil on the inside but the turbo itself luckily was pretty clean. I'm guessing that the crud is coming out of the small cylinder (EGR?) valve at the top/side of the rocker cover and passing along the smaller hose that goes across the engine to the air filter.

Rather than risk death by taking the Disco out for another run with it's stalling at a junction habit we were able to replicate the problem kinda by revving the engine up to about 4k rpm for a few seconds and as the engine slows down to idle it goes lumpy and tries not to stall for 4-5 seconds.

I'm completely stumped. There's no ECU/EDC to mess things up, it's all mechanical, right? So a flat battery shouldn't affect anything (it still goes flat if not used) at all? The fuel is coming out of the filter under what seems to be OK pressure and is pretty clean and the turbo actuator isn't sticking at all.

Help

hi m8,the 200tdi has a sedimenter bowl at the osr on the inside of the chassis leg.it will probably be full of crap,take it of and clean it out,check the ring seals are ok before puttin it back together.

It does?! Awesome, I'll check that first thing tomorrow! What does it do exactly, is it where dirt from the fuel is deposited?


Any other suggestions, chaps?

Mauler said:

It does?! Awesome, I'll check that first thing tomorrow! What does it do exactly, is it where dirt from the fuel is deposited?


Any other suggestions, chaps?

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that's what it's sposed to do but most people forget about it or don't even know it's there mate..

it could be full of years of crud and a good clean or replacment is worth the time and few quid(if replacing) tbh..

another check is delivery and the injector's.. check the fuel is under constent pressure along the rail(theres a bleed valve if i remeber rightly) and also each injector is getting fuel(again via the bleed valve's)..

where's uncle charlsey when he's needed as this is more his field

I've been meaning to get back to you guys for a while - thanks for all your help, that sorted it.

I went out that Sat morning, got under the Disco and sure enough covered in black carp was a pot about 3/4 the length of a coke can. I got an ice cream tub, jar and pliers and set to it. The pliers did the job a bit too well and the carppy plastic plug sheared off halfway up it's thread...at least it's still in there keeping the diesel in! So I get on the blower to my motor factors and they tell me that a new sedimenter will only be available from Land Rover themselves. Bugg3r. I call the nearest (30mins away) LR dealer who tell me that not only do they not have a sedimenter for a s1 Disco but they're also about £70. "LOL, bye".

As soon as I figure out what angle the naff Haynes manual "changing the sedimenter" (why the hell it isn't mentioned in the actual fuel system chaper I have no idea!!!?!? GRRRRR) is taken at I set at it with a spanner and socket and get it unscrewed and my arm covered in diesel. Nice. It's all nice and shiny on the inside with some blacky fuel at the bottom and I wonder what the hell is wrong with it. I soon find out when I dump it upside down into the ice-cream tub.



Uttery gross. Disgusting. This pineapple slice of white slimey crud flopped out and it was one of the worst things I've ever touched even with gloves on. So so nasty, I was almost sick. lol Anyway when pushing the engine this lovely collection of mank was getting pulled up to the top of the sedimenter by the increased flow from the pump and blocking the fuel lines causing the engine to be starved of fuel and almost cut. After cleaning the sedimenter and seal with clean diesel and checking for leaks I took the car out for a quick ride and she was fine.

So thanks again guys and if anyone in Essex wants a Disco in pretty good condition for under £1k please let me know!

Mauler said:

I've been meaning to get back to you guys for a while - thanks for all your help, that sorted it.


Uttery gross. Disgusting. This pineapple slice of white slimey crud flopped out and it was one of the worst things I've ever touched even with gloves on. So so nasty, I was almost sick. lol Anyway when pushing the engine this lovely collection of mank was getting pulled up to the top of the sedimenter by the increased flow from the pump and blocking the fuel lines causing the engine to be starved of fuel and almost cut. After cleaning the sedimenter and seal with clean diesel and checking for leaks I took the car out for a quick ride and she was fine.

So thanks again guys and if anyone in Essex wants a Disco in pretty good condition for under £1k please let me know!

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Excellent picture. I think there are probably a lot of us who are now wondering what is the state of MY sedimentor, after seeing that.

I'm just off outside, won't be long............................................

fook, i had a bit of grit in that and thast about it, thats fooking disquisting!