Technical New to Forum, need your expertise.

[mickwilz]

Hi just like to introduce myself, new to forum and need your help.I recently bought a 2004 2ltr JTD Ducato swb diesel van. What a joy to drive, everything in perfect working order, oh, forgot to say, the service indicator was showing, but I never bothered investigating it as I was going to get it serviced at some time, but not yet. However driving home last week and without any warning, the red engine light came on and the van went into limp mode, I continued home, about 3 miles at no more than 2500 rpm and tried to fathom what might be wrong. At some point I dipped the oil and found the level to be below the minimum, and duly topped it up, a bit to much. restarted the engine, light went out and revs returned to normal. I took it on a test drive, drove no more than 100 yards when the engine cut out, light came back on again, I waited a couple of minutes and restarted it, light out revs normal, but blowing a cloud of blue smoke. I rechecked the engine oil level and was shocked to see the level well over the max marker, so drained off the excess about3/4 gallon, restarted the engine, light off, revs normal, blue smoke. I remained at the roadside and ran the engine to burn off any excess oil and reduced the smoke to an acceptable level, engine ran through its complete range of revs while standing still, I went on a test drive, after about 500 yards, engine cut out, light on, blue smoke. Leave it a minute and it fires up, light off, revs normal smoke gone etc., and so it keeps happening.
A long story I know, but I assume the more detail the better. My questions are: Has anyone else had this problem? What was the outcome? The service intervals, I have noticed the reading on the van is 0 kmtrs, do Fiat disable the vehicle and cause it to go into limp mode when the service interval has reached 0, or is this fault nothing to do with oil or service interval and maybe fuel related. At a loss, I don't want to spend 000's replacing stuff that's perfectly serviceable.
Many thanks in advance. Mick.

 

[FreeSpirit]

Hi Mick
The fact that your service interval reminder is indicating a service due would not have any thing to do with the limp mode symptoms. Not sure what you mean by 0Ks as our 03 2.8JTD has a spanner appear under the odometer when it is getting near its due service. I have to reset our 2.8 JTD yet as it has been indicating the service due for a couple of months & already done it.
You can download the 244 04/05 Owners Handbook from the downloads section of the FF if you haven't got the original with the vehicle as well as the 02-06 eLearn WSM ISO.
Not sure about what would be happening with the limp mode - maybe a bad electrical connection or could even be fuel related. Maybe change the fuel filter etc there is one of my posts on how to bleed the low pressure fuel side after a filter change. I would also check all the engine electrical plugs & also check the fuse boxes in the engine bay for faulty connections & also corrosion of the fuse box assembly.
Not much help & not sure I can suggest anything else maybe someone else may have a suggestion!
Cheers

 

[FreeSpirit]

Just an update I found while looking at the ECU Pinouts & descriptions -
Fuel temperature sensor Fuel temperature sensor (1) incorporated in the fuel filter detects fuel temperature and sends it to the electronic control unit. When fuel temperature is excessive (outdoor environmental temperature condition, engine under full load and tank on reserve), effective high pressure pump lubrication can no longer be guaranteed. The control unit determines fuel density and volume on the basis of input values and corrects output to limit engine performance.
Maybe this could be a possible fault -if the Fuel Temp sensor which is located on the fuel filter is faulty & whether this would enable the Injection light & produce your symptoms??

 

[mickwilz]

Just an update I found while looking at the ECU Pinouts & descriptions -
Fuel temperature sensor Fuel temperature sensor (1) incorporated in the fuel filter detects fuel temperature and sends it to the electronic control unit. When fuel temperature is excessive (outdoor environmental temperature condition, engine under full load and tank on reserve), effective high pressure pump lubrication can no longer be guaranteed. The control unit determines fuel density and volume on the basis of input values and corrects output to limit engine performance.
Maybe this could be a possible fault -if the Fuel Temp sensor which is located on the fuel filter is faulty & whether this would enable the Injection light & produce your symptoms??

Hi FreeSpirit'
Thanks for the response, as you say I have confirmed that the service interval indicator would not cause the engine to go into limp mode, I will bear your remarks in mind, as I also think it could be fuel related. The only thing that mystifies me is that when I topped the engine oil level up the light went out and the engine ran ok for a while. Still, I have resorted to booking the van in with Fiat, I just hope they don't stuff me.
Many Regards. Mick thanks again.

 

[corkman]

Fuel temperature sensor Fuel temperature sensor (1) incorporated in the fuel filter detects fuel temperature and sends it to the electronic control unit. When fuel temperature is excessive (outdoor environmental temperature condition, engine under full load and tank on reserve), effective high pressure pump lubrication can no longer be guaranteed. The control unit determines fuel density and volume on the basis of input values and corrects output to limit engine performance.
Maybe this could be a possible fault -if the Fuel Temp sensor which is located on the fuel filter is faulty & whether this would enable the Injection light & produce your symptoms??

I wonder does it cause a mil, maybe thats arkks problem... last thing you'd think of.

 

[mickwilz]

A quick update,
got up a 4.30 this morning to beat the traffic and take the Ducato to guest Motors for diagnosis, the van started on first turn of the key with no smoke, I gently pressed the throttle and checked the engine through it's rev range, everything ok. I started my journey nurturing the engine, making sure I never exceeded 2500 rpm, when I arrived at my destination, I thought I would give it a good thrashing, racing it up and down the road like a madman, it performed marvellously, that well, that I cancelled my appointment so I could continue testing it. I have now just returned from a 30 mile test drive and up to now everything seems to be A1. No cutting out, no smoke, no mil light in fact it seems to have cured it's self. I will let you know how things end up. So once again many thanks to those people who bothered to respond, I not sure my catalogue of whoo's will help any one else as I haven't managed to get a definitive conclusion as yet. I must say the forum is a very useful tool sharing information certainly helps people to focus on, hopefully, the most likely problems. I will be back.
Mick

 

[Arkk]

Hey Mick, Do you want to take my problem van for a drive, you must have a knack with them.
Glad it's going ok for you
Cheers, Arkk

 

[coastline taxis]

the 00000 your seing on the dash Are they not your oil level indicater

 

[FreeSpirit]

the 00000 your seing on the dash Are they not your oil level indicater

You know I think you're right I never thought of that because our 03 2.8 JTD vehicle doesn't have that oil level indicator for some reason. Although I remembered reading about it in the owners manual.
Cheers