Worn UJ effect Power?

Hullo,

Is there any possible way that a worn / stiff uj can effect the power of my 90? I can't think of anyway it's possible, but I've been told that it's possible

-Pos

my god, after reading about the fun you've had, I've been put right off upgrading my 2.5na to a 200tdi! I'm going to have to go and apologise to my engine for even considering getting rid of 'er

I know! Well it's still doing much better than the N/A was in terms of fuel economy and power but it's still not as good as it was. Here's a list of things that I've found and fixed so far:

1) Fuel lift pump failed - ****ing diesel into engine
2) Fuel filler neck rotted through - tank full of water & rusty bits of pipe
3) Fuel pickup pipe rusted through at bend
4) New air filter
5) New fuel filter (replaced again since)
6) Hand brake binding
7) Intercooler flushed through - was full of gunk

My new lift pump wasn't working at all last time I checked (no pumping power what so ever) so I took it off and manually pumped it on the cam lever continuously. I also stuck an air nozzle down the inlet pipe and pumped and eventually it started working again, so whatever crap had been in my fuel tank had obviously jammed the spring mechanism - I'm certain it's done this again (will check later). Every now and again I will also get this horrible smell which I'm almost certain is my front brakes sticking, and I'll put my money on it being the drivers side because it pulls in that direction. So, as for all of my problems, I think that amount of salt that we've had on the roads this winter is mainly to blame (I do a hell of a lot of motorway miles). Thats what's rotten my filler neck pipe through which has then allowed a nice salty water to enter my fuel tank along with all the rusty bits of pipe and mud that were stuck to it. It wouldn't surprise me if the front callipers have rusted up and stuck fast either, I'm certain they're on sliding pins (maybe not?). It's getting better but it's using more fuel than it had been doing and it wont go up hills as well either. Bastard thing! It still runs circles around the old N/A mind, and it's l underpowered at the moment.

I suppose there will still be diesel mixed in with my engine oil too, so that'll need swapping in the next few weeks. My gearbox oil hasn't been changed since I've owned the thing in two years (it's only ever been topped up), so that's due a change, as are the axle oils too, which should freshen things up a little. It might be worth me checking to make sure that my fuel return pipe (to tank) isn't blocked and that the oil feed to and from my turbo are clear and working properly.

-Pos

pos said:

I suppose there will still be diesel mixed in with my engine oil too, so that'll need swapping in the next few weeks. My gearbox oil hasn't been changed since I've owned the thing in two years (it's only ever been topped up), so that's due a change, as are the axle oils too, which should freshen things up a little. It might be worth me checking to make sure that my fuel return pipe (to tank) isn't blocked and that the oil feed to and from my turbo are clear and working properly.

-Pos

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UJ's will have only a minimal effect on power, unless they're absolutely solid. If they're worn and loose it's even less likely that they'll rob power.

Bearing the lack of maintenance in mind listed above I'd look more to doing a full, thorough, service on it rather than looking for an elusive 'quick-fix'.

Paul D said:

UJ's will have only a minimal effect on power, unless they're absolutely solid. If they're worn and loose it's even less likely that they'll rob power.

Bearing the lack of maintenance in mind listed above I'd look more to doing a full, thorough, service on it rather than looking for an elusive 'quick-fix'.

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It had a full engine service about 4 months ago including new oil, new filters, new glow plugs, valve clearances adjusted etc. I've only recently discovered the lift pump problem so there will be diesel in my oil now yes. The only other thing that I can do in terms of servicing it is fresh engine oil (and filter of course) as well as fresh oils in the gear box, tranny box and axles. I doubt that a little bit of diesel in my engine oil is going to be causing the power problem though. The gearbox possibly. I'll swap it next weekend and see.

-Pos

Didn't mean to sound harsh, but 2 year old oils won't lubricate too well .. and your geartrain is a direct link between engine and power to the road.

What I meant with a full service is that as well as gearbox/axle oils etc you might also need to check brakes, any binding, stuck pistons, worn pads jamming, check wheel bearings are greased and free but not loose, tyres are at good pressures etc etc

Paul D said:

Didn't mean to sound harsh, but 2 year old oils won't lubricate too well .. and your geartrain is a direct link between engine and power to the road.

What I meant with a full service is that as well as gearbox/axle oils etc you might also need to check brakes, any binding, stuck pistons, worn pads jamming, check wheel bearings are greased and free but not loose, tyres are at good pressures etc etc

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I did think that I sounded a bit ignorant in that last post! Sorry I'll make sure that the drive train oils get swapped next weekend. It's got to do some good! I'm certain I've got a binding brake somewhere too, so all being well I'll have cracked it come next week I'll keep you posted.

Cheers for your help!
-Pos

Hey Pos , your calipers are not sliding pins there oposite pistons . When did you start loosing power ? did you adjust the pump before hand or made other adjustments somewhere down the line but havent twigged " oh yeah I did that " ??? .

sypher said:

Hey Pos , your calipers are not sliding pins there oposite pistons . When did you start loosing power ? did you adjust the pump before hand or made other adjustments somewhere down the line but havent twigged " oh yeah I did that " ??? .

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Hi Sypher. It was about a month and a half ago when I noticed the power was down, it wouldn't climb a big hill near my house at the speed and the ease that it usually would. I then did some investigating and found a whole array of problems, only one of them being the engine specifically - a stuck fuel pin in my injection pump which wasn't allowing the pump to deliver more fuel when the boost diaphragm was pushed down. Other than that I've fixed all of the other problems and it's still no better. I'm currently in Ipswich, the 220 drive here from Leeds was a pain because my engine kept deciding it wasn't going to have any power. I'm still certain that muck is getting into the lift pump and jamming it (which it did before), and I'm just about to check and see if one of my brakes are binding at the front. The gearbox oil really needs changing too.

-Pos

Ummm well if your sucking up crap in the tank still that wont help (as everyone knows ) , your getting boost and fuel , but is it at the right time ? have you tryed tweeking the pump timing ? ( remove the disc plate fan side of the case , arm yourself with a socket and a drop end spanner . Slacken the x3 10 mills a tad and rotate the centre nut ( pump spindle ) either way . There is picys on here im sure of it ) .

Its worth a try if you havent already as youve coverd it all really so far !!!!!

sypher said:

Ummm well if your sucking up crap in the tank still that wont help (as everyone knows ) , your getting boost and fuel , but is it at the right time ? have you tryed tweeking the pump timing ? ( remove the disc plate fan side of the case , arm yourself with a socket and a drop end spanner . Slacken the x3 10 mills a tad and rotate the centre nut ( pump spindle ) either way . There is picys on here im sure of it ) .

Its worth a try if you havent already as youve coverd it all really so far !!!!!

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I know I've done about everything. I was wondering if the timing belt had stretched slightly or whether it'd gone as far as jumping a tooth. I'll sort my binding brakes out first and see how that goes, I can smell em!

-Pos

pos said:

I'll sort my binding brakes out first and see how that goes, I can smell em!

-Pos

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lol best had me thinks ...

the brakes will have the most effect on the power. I wasn't aware you had gone 200 pos... nice arn't they

If you have diesel in your oil i would get it changed ASAP - oil that has been thinned with diesel will NOT lubricate your delicate turbo very well, and it will fail. like this.

boydy1989 said:

the brakes will have the most effect on the power. I wasn't aware you had gone 200 pos... nice arn't they

If you have diesel in your oil i would get it changed ASAP - oil that has been thinned with diesel will NOT lubricate your delicate turbo very well, and it will fail. like this.

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I went 200TDi about 4 or 5 months ago Boydy Yeah they are good (well it was excellent before my power went!) I'm going to sort the brakes tomorrow afternoon after uni all being well and I'll be swapping my oil at the end of the month. That turbo failure looks extreme. Is it yours? That'll have spat a nice load of metal into your cylinders

-Pos

yeah that were my turbo. I was kinda hoping that most of the big bits got stuck in the intercooler...