Technical 1.9 JTD no power when cold

[Duncan Brown]

Hi, I'm a newbie here, so sorry if this is a well known problem (I have looked, but haven't found a perfect match). I recently bought a 2003 1.9 JTD 115bph Multiwagon. It's been fine, but as of yesterday, it has no power when cold, doesn't rev above about 2000 and is embarrassingly slow up hill. When it warms up properly ie the temp gauge hits the half way mark, it suddenly kicks in and everything is fine again. It happens every time, it starts fine, and idles fine, and sounds fine.
Is anyone familiar with this please?

 

[Multiplewagon]

Have a read of my thread from a couple of weeks ago about no power...I would guess you are either needing filters or the EGR valve is goosed as mine was.
Cost 149.00+vat fitted at a Fiat garage.

 

[Argonought]

Hi, I'm a newbie here, so sorry if this is a well known problem (I have looked, but haven't found a perfect match). I recently bought a 2003 1.9 JTD 115bph Multiwagon. It's been fine, but as of yesterday, it has no power when cold, doesn't rev above about 2000 and is embarrassingly slow up hill. When it warms up properly ie the temp gauge hits the half way mark, it suddenly kicks in and everything is fine again. It happens every time, it starts fine, and idles fine, and sounds fine.
Is anyone familiar with this please?

Any warning lights ?

 

[Duncan Brown]

No, no warning lights.

I noticed last night that when it does burst into life, there is a bit of smoke changing up through the gears. But it's not that bad, you can't really notice it in daylight.

 

[Multiplewagon]

This deffo sounds just as mine... EGR valve apparently puts the exhaust gases back into the turbo.. when cold it increases the pressure.. with out the valve working the turbo doesnt spin correctly but the engine still fuels for the amount of throttle u press.. hence the black smoke been unburnt excess fuel.

Please feel free to correct me on this one anyone!

 

[Argonought]

This deffo sounds just as mine... EGR valve apparently puts the exhaust gases back into the turbo.. when cold it increases the pressure.. with out the valve working the turbo doesnt spin correctly but the engine still fuels for the amount of throttle u press.. hence the black smoke been unburnt excess fuel.

I know you've posted on this before but did you get any error reports from Examiner when you had this sorted?

 

[Multiplewagon]

I'm not sure, because I asked specifically for the EGR to be replaced I don't know if it was plugged in, certainly never had any lights or warnings on the dash all the time it was feeling poorly.

 

[Duncan Brown]

I put it into a Fiat garage and they put it on Examiner, the only thing it showed up was an intermittent fault on the MAF sensor, they wanted to replace it (£122 plus labour + vat), but as it's under a used car warranty I checked with my vendor, and he wasn't happy to go ahead. Can't say I blame him really, it's not an intermittent fault I'm seeing, it is every time the engine is cold. So he's going to book it into another Fiat garage that he uses regularly. My money's on the EGR, it seems to be the closest match to my symptoms.

 

[Kelvin W]

Any warning lights ?

Boost valve mate changed the EGR on mine (oh by the way Fiat do a recon one for £57 plus vat easy to replace) but no better
Changed the air flow meter no better
Re-sited the boost valve to the side of the battery box cured it doesn’t like living down by the intercooler in all the rain and bad weather (don’t forget Italy warm dry weather!)

Regards Kelvin W

 

[Argonought]

Boost valve mate changed the EGR on mine (oh by the way Fiat do a recon one for £57 plus vat easy to replace) but no better
Changed the air flow meter no better
Re-sited the boost valve to the side of the battery box cured it doesn’t like living down by the intercooler in all the rain and bad weather (don’t forget Italy warm dry weather!)

Sounds like you started with the difficult jobs first

Engine warning light plus code logged is a sure sign of boost valve problems (well, at least normally)

 

[NumanR]

You guys need a little help with diagnosing these faults, dont fit new bits until you are sure guys.

If no warning lights on then your fault is likely to be egr stuck or low airflow meter reading.

To diagnose airflow meter, disconnect it, this puts in a failsafe figure into the ecu and if the car drives all ok then you have found your fault!
To diagnose egr, make a small plate to block the egr valve and fit it in line with the egr, if the car drives all ok then you have found your fault!
Turbo actuator solenoid nearly always causes power to be lost at above 3000 rpm, (failsafe mode), and also warning light to come on. Its almost always comes up as a boost pressure error, also the reason this valve fails is due to the filter being blocked or wet, rather than move the whole sensor extend the filter tube and fit a filter higher.

 

[ursabear]

I too am a neewbie here, with exactly the same fault with a 52 plate 1.9 JTD multiwagon. I had a similar fault when the car was under warranty, it took the dealer about 4 months to diagnose problem. It does seem that this is a weak spot on the car....one of many.....in fact are there any strongpoints?

On a side issue, just failed 2nd MOT for front suspension coil fractured...it also failed previous MOT for this....will be posting to that string...and many more!!!!!



1.9 JTD Dynamic Multiwagon....nice sunroof....at least it doesn't leak.....YET

 

[Argonought]

It does seem that this is a weak spot on the car....one of many.....in fact are there any strongpoints?

Well! funny enough - there's the JTD engine itself - considered best in class by many

On a side issue, just failed 2nd MOT for front suspension coil fractured...it also failed previous MOT for this

Sounds like you deserve a prize for managing to drive for so long with a broken spring - twice

 

[Duncan Brown]

Look like it was the MAF sensor. Had it replaced end of last week, it's been fine so far. Unusual for it to be only from cold apparently.

 

[ursabear]

I too am a neewbie here, with exactly the same fault with a 52 plate 1.9 JTD multiwagon. I had a similar fault when the car was under warranty, it took the dealer about 4 months to diagnose problem.


Still got the lack of power problem when cold, however if it's been raining overnight, I have full power from start up....any body got any ideas as to reason?

 

[ursabear]

Boost valve mate changed the EGR on mine (oh by the way Fiat do a recon one for £57 plus vat easy to replace) but no better
Changed the air flow meter no better
Re-sited the boost valve to the side of the battery box cured it doesn’t like living down by the intercooler in all the rain and bad weather (don’t forget Italy warm dry weather!)

Regards Kelvin W

Where is the boost valve located and how do I resite it by the battery box?

 

[Argonought]

There's a picture in this thread

 

[minimad99]

Something else for the to do list, hmmmm

 

[jostheboss]

Someone suggested another reason for this may be battery connections - as mine has only started since the weathers been bad, he reckons the connections have oxidised, and only when the alternator charges the battery back up to the correct voltage, does the car come out of failsafe mode. I guess the only way to check that is to charge the battery before I leave - see if that makes any difference.

We shall see!

 

[Argonought]

Quite possibly.

If you've got any concerns about corrosion then get in there, eyeball the problem, and sort it (check all earths as well).

It's only going to get worse if you don't