'93 Hymer sluggish

[mrs t]

Hi I am having a bit of a problem with Hymer 2.5 TD on Fiat Ducato 1993 model. It runs fine when its on the flat but when we get to a hill it is really sluggish, foot to the floor and not picking up speed. Overtaking is getting too embarrassing to think about! I read on the Fiat forum that there is an airflow sensor/meter which is prone to wearing out but I am not sure if I have one, can't see a similar part on ebay. There is a part fixed to the air filter housing ?outlet which has a little red cap/button at the top and has two connectors, it is marked Behr Thomson Italia,can anyone please tell me if this might be the sensor (and any other advice would be gratefully received). Thanks

 

[witzend]

It could well be the part you describe but always best to start simple is air / fuel filters clean any air intake clips / hoses loose. Does it have a turbo did it get worse suddenly or gradually is it smoking from exhaust

 

[mrs t]

It could well be the part you describe but always best to start simple is air / fuel filters clean any air intake clips / hoses loose. Does it have a turbo did it get worse suddenly or gradually is it smoking from exhaust

Thanks for reply Witzend (good name!). The air and fuel filters are all pretty new in fact the air filter looks scarily clean after being on for nearly a year. The air intake clips and hoses certainly could have been better fixed-would that make that problem? It has turbo and I can hear it quietly working. It has been like this for a while now and doesnt seem to alter but I would love to have its old oomph back again. It only smokes from exhaust when first started which I think is common for these, not smoky when running warm.

 

[witzend]

Some times the hose between turbo and engine comes off or develops a hole which could give you the problems you describe if you get someone to rev the engine and hold the hose does it go solid expand a little this would indicate turbo to be working and no problems with the hose. Also does the other pipe from turbo to air filter compress when engine running (sucked in)

 

[FULL TIMER]

did the person who changed the fuel filter know what they were doing ,I'm sure in my distant memory there is a certain technique for doing these properly. had a very similar problem a good few years back but a garage in the lake district sorted it after the longest journey from Norwich I'd ever had.

 

[mrs t]

Some times the hose between turbo and engine comes off or develops a hole which could give you the problems you describe if you get someone to rev the engine and hold the hose does it go solid expand a little this would indicate turbo to be working and no problems with the hose. Also does the other pipe from turbo to air filter compress when engine running (sucked in)

Will have a look at them tomorrow, do you have any further thoughts on the sensor idea? I was thinking of leaving the connectors off to see if that makes any difference (but if the thing is not a sensor then I don't know where I'm going with that one lol.

 

[mrs t]

did the person who changed the fuel filter know what they were doing ,I'm sure in my distant memory there is a certain technique for doing these properly. had a very similar problem a good few years back but a garage in the lake district sorted it after the longest journey from Norwich I'd ever had.

Thanks Fulltimer but I don't think its the filter though the fuel pump has crossed my mind as a possible culprit.

 

[wineciccio]

PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE ME ON THIS BUT ITS JUST A THOUGHT, buy some good fully synthetic 2 stroke oil and pour it in the fuel tank, you do not mention the mileage, but it very much sounds like what my 2.5 autotrail cherokee suffered from some years ago coming back from Spain, talking to another camper stopped at a service area we exchanged some gossip and I was telling him about the van, and that was what he suggested, at the time I thought he was pulling my leg but I gave it some thought and bought some (a litre) and poured it in the tank , well you can guess the answer after about 70 to 100 miles the van started to pull just like before, I was gobsmacked, apparently if the injectors are rather old their spray patterns is not as good when new, all the 2 stroke oil does it actually cleans/clears them, as I said do not quote me on this but it worked for me. And the van passed its MOT 2 weeks after we came back.:cool1::cool1::cool1::cool1::cool1::cool1::cool1:

 

[mrs t]

PLEASE DO NOT QUOTE ME ON THIS BUT ITS JUST A THOUGHT, buy some good fully synthetic 2 stroke oil and pour it in the fuel tank, you do not mention the mileage, but it very much sounds like what my 2.5 autotrail cherokee suffered from some years ago coming back from Spain, talking to another camper stopped at a service area we exchanged some gossip and I was telling him about the van, and that was what he suggested, at the time I thought he was pulling my leg but I gave it some thought and bought some (a litre) and poured it in the tank , well you can guess the answer after about 70 to 100 miles the van started to pull just like before, I was gobsmacked, apparently if the injectors are rather old their spray patterns is not as good when new, all the 2 stroke oil does it actually cleans/clears them, as I said do not quote me on this but it worked for me. And the van passed its MOT 2 weeks after we came back.:cool1::cool1::cool1::cool1::cool1::cool1::cool1:

I've seen this idea somewhere before but never tried it, sounds good but does it not make your exhaust very smoky? I have been relying on Lucas upper cylinder for MOT's. Derv has had a lot of its additives removed these days which can't be so good for the vehicle so I guess the 2stroke will help. Motor has done about 110k which I don't think is that high, our car has done half as much again!

 

[ralphos]

Is fuel starvation your problem?

Hello.

We had problems recently with our 1992 Mercedes T1, resulting in a breakdown. Fuel filters, including the 'in line' filter had been recently renewed because of intermittent loss in power. The recently replaced in line filter was found to be virtually blocked preventing sufficient fuel supply when needed. IE. when going uphill. Even with a clean filter fitted we still experienced loss of power. The problem appeared to extend back into the fuel system. We had been advised, given the age of the vehicle to replace the fuel tank and supply pipes. This we have done, including a new 'sender' unit which provides fuel gauge readings and is on our vehicle screwed into the top of the tank. Fuel pipes and the sender unit which incorporates a strainer, were found to be partly blocked.

Fuel pipes, bought locally per metre was less than £20. Sender unit £120. Fuel tank, last one available from Germany was £340 Ouch! Plus local garage cost to fit. Examining the old tank which I have retained, it didn't appear too bad. Diesel was full of floating bits. No obvious signs of the 'diesel bug' It might have been much cheaper to have just cleaned the tank and sender unit. It was originally thought that the tank was rusted inside.

Hope this is of some help. Best wishes. Paul.