Technical Hesitating 1.3MJ

[French 4x4]

Hi team, I have a 2010 1.3 4x4 which is causing me a bit of a headache.

I had it serviced about 4 weeks ago where they replaced the fuel filter. All was well until about a week ago when I experienced some acceleration hesitation issues and a couple of times a message on the dash board comes up saying check fuel filter.

The message has come on at idle and during driving but only for about a few seconds, it then disappears for a few days.

The hesitation issue appears quite often, I put my foot down and the engine does not want to accelerate, instead it sort of just sits there! If I drop it down a gear and floor it, it seems to start accelerating then flies away no problems.

There are no warning lights on and I'd say it only happens about 10% of the drive through the day.

I did wash the engine bay the other day, don't shout at me, I know probably a bad idea! Anyhow I've checked the air filter and it's dry and so is the inside of the airbox. I've WD40'd the engine bay electric connections but that doesn't seem to have helped any.

Any help much appreciated

 

[koalar]

The error is saying there is water in the fuel filter

If you drain the filter is there water

 

[French 4x4]

I haven't drained the fuel filter yet. Do you know if there is a drain on the filter? It's the black plastic filter holder type with a screw ring fitting around the top.
Thanks koalar much appreciated

 

[koalar]

there normally a drain cap towards the bottom of the filter housing, not too well up on the diesels hopefully there all the same

 

[A3jeroen]

Is the filter screwed on tight?

gr J

 

[DaveMcT]

I had a strange fuel over temperature error which it seems is caused by the filter housing going bad. I replaced the whole unit and the error has not returned.

 

[French 4x4]

Seems nice and tight, opened the drain valve and looked at the sample, couldn't see any water phase in sample. Checked lid was tight and so far diesel check message disappeared.

I disconnected the MAF sensor and drove all day, covered 60 miles and the car is a different beast! Acceleration is much better and linear now, I'm able to drive in 5th at low revs up a hill now. Also noticed the indicated combined fuel consumption has gone from 55mpg to a whopping 69/70mpg! Don't know if thats true but I'm pleased. Guess the hesitation was down to a dodgy MAF?

Will buy a new MAF tonight and swop out when it arrives.