noisy engine

Hi everybody? Bought a Fiat Ducatto 2.5nonturbo diesel Elldis motorhome recently with 35000 on the clock but not to be believed! The engine seems rather noisy and I wonder if its the tappets? Are they adjustable on this engine? I know its OHC but some engines have an adjusting screw(allen key type)in the followers. If so, what are the settings for inlet/exhaust and are they donw hot or cold? Also, had a wire burn out under the dash(pink and black) which stopped the engine dead-cut off supply to injector pump solenoid.I renewed wire but now if I put wipers onto normal speed, the engine cuts out! Its ok if the wipers are on intermittent but on normal speed-no! Are these things sharing a common relay because the automatic radiator fan doesnt work anymore either and it boiled over going up a Swiss mountain! There are two fans so hotwired one through a dash switch to keep me out of trouble! The engine doesnt burn any oil to speak of but will only do about 60MPH flat out! Is this normal or has someone changed the cam belt and put it back a tooth out or something? Any answers to any of these probs would be welcome. We have done 2500 miles getting to southern Spain and hope things go ok for the trip home! Thanks to one and all. Bob in Marbella.

hiya, just spent 20 mins replying, but this stupid thing cut me off and lost my reply, will try to re-do it later. Doorman

Ok lets try again, my van has a rattly top-end noise, it's a 2.5 TDI, and has done an inter-lunar mileage. The tappet noise you describe is exactly what it sounds like but there are NO tappets these engines are overhead cam with a bucjket and shim arrangement, so as the valve wear recesses into the valve seat the clearances get tighter, if the cam lobes wear then presumably valve clearances could increase. I do try to work out what the noise is exactly sometimes by turning the radio off, maybe it's rattling piston rings or small-end bearings? The level of noise hasn't altered over the 3000 miles i've just done in the van in the last six weeks, and it's happiest and quieter at about 72mph. You should definately get more than 60mph, which is the max speed in 4th gear.
Can't reply on your other problem but sounds like a wiring fault, maybe a fried connector has melted two wires together?
Regards Doorman

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