Hi all, apologies for joining purely to rape your knowledge I;ve never had a problem before, thats why I have always stay with FIAT vans. My works vehicle is an 04 Ducato 2.0 JTD, owned since new, FSH and a brilliant work mule.

About 6 weeks ago I started getting an intermittent noise which came and went and sounded like something getting caught causing a clatter. Have looked, found nothing apart from a minor 'oil' leak, had it into garage...found nothing and said it was normal diesel noise.

Just been recovered home, van sounds like engine is disintegrating within itself like the big end is going even in idle and when in reverse its alot worse. I was driving normally, stopped at roundabout and when pulled off it sounded like I'd left engine behind. Crankshaft pulley looks like its moved backwards and is grinding itself away but more worryingly, theres 'oil' all inside coming out of the pulley and landing on the belt. Could it be diesel and Im losing the diesel pump as well??

Any ideas please??

raec said:

Crankshaft pulley looks like its moved backwards and is grinding itself away but more worryingly, theres 'oil' all inside coming out of the pulley and landing on the belt.

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Personally I'd be much more worried about the crankshaft pulley grinding itself away - oil on the timing belt is immaterial if you have no crank pulley!

Presumably your thrust bearings are gone and I imagine a lot more besides. Sounds like new engine time to me but you can always have the sump removed and get the end float and bearings checked.

Thanks for the reply Corkman, you are confirming what the back of my brain is saying....its a very big problem indeed.

Call to FIAT mechanic then I think, I can do some engine work myself but im nowhere near skilled enough to be diagnosing or repairing thrust bearings. As you say, if thats the case I may be looking for a donor engine instead.

crankshaft pulley had broken in half as I suspected, changed and replaced fan belt and all is well

hi after a result like that i would buy a lottery ticket or two ..stay lucky

raec said:

crankshaft pulley had broken in half as I suspected, changed and replaced fan belt and all is well

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wow that must've felt good! like he said euro millions here you come.
how did the garage not spot that?