Terrano's first ever problem, major woes.

[Bedhead1157]

My beloved Terrano has went u/s in a big way. Yesterday it started as usual, drove for about 10 miles as usual, then started missing a beat every so often, had to travel about 100 miles so as it had cleared up I drove on, after about 40 miles, it cut out and didn't want to restart, after about a minute, it started and ran really rough below 1700 rpm, above that it goes like it's normal self, in fact it drove the 40 miles back on the motorway at a steady 80 and never missed a beat, until the end of the motorway when it started spluttering again, every time it spluttered there was a puff of smoke out the back. This morning it could barely start and when it did, it barely had enough power to get across the street. I tried cleaning the MAF sensor, which made no difference, no water in the oil or oil in the coolant.

Dunno if it's relevant, but when the ignition is on, there's a buzzing coming from somewhere at the front drivers side of the engine low down. She has 77k on her and a service history.

It's really stumping me as this is the very first time it has ever given any trouble in the 8 or so years I've been driving it, for work and now I own it.

 

[rustic]

Could be air in the fuel line.
Fuel is "sucked" from the tank, so air entry points are...
The fuel filter, if recently replaced, cheap ones often don't seal that well.
Fuel lines from the tank rust and let air in.
Also a point of air entry, is on top of the tank, There is a panel under the boot floor carpet to access this.

Some members have fitted some clear fuel line after the filter to show any air bubbles.

Edit... is the smoke white? it usually is if air is getting into the fuel line.

Rustic

 

[Bedhead1157]

Could be air in the fuel line.
Fuel is "sucked" from the tank, so air entry points are...
The fuel filter, if recently replaced, cheap ones often don't seal that well.
Fuel lines from the tank rust and let air in.
Also a point of air entry, is on top of the tank, There is a panel under the boot floor carpet to access this.

Some members have fitted some clear fuel line after the filter to show any air bubbles.

Edit... is the smoke white? it usually is if air is getting into the fuel line.

Rustic

Yup, smoke is white-ish, filter was replaced in August, just pumped the primer until it was firm and it started first turn, but when you rev, there's a wee puff of whitish-blue smoke with each blip of the throttle, but it's idling bang on 750rpm(it's 6 degrees C outside)

 

[rustic]

Other members will be along soon, to help diagnose the problem, they might also mention the minifilter, see downloads, but not all models have these.

I'm sure we can work with you to solve this problem.:thumb2

Rustic

 

[Banshee]

Rustic is bang on the money there

Best way to diagnose if it is fuel related is to do what I did and replace the feed and Return pipes from the filter with 8mm Internal Diameter clear pipe like I did;
http://www.nissan4x4ownersclub.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20322

Then if you can see significant bubbles in the pipes you know you have an air leak in your fuel system.

Best thing to do if you have is to start cheap first, get in the rear wheel arch and trace the fuel lines from the tank and check for any visible corrosion, even a pinhole could be enough to draw enough air in to cause lumpy running

If all looks good with the lines, change the filter, make sure you don't buy a cheapo one, as Rustic has said, they tend not to seal very well, I tend to find Comline ones suit my truck best, £7 from my local car shop

Get looking and get back to us :thumb2

 

[solarman216]

you say a buzzing from drivers side front of engine, fuel pump is here so could be fuel stop solenoid giving trouble they should not buzz, Rick

 

[Banshee]

you say a buzzing from drivers side front of engine, fuel pump is here so could be fuel stop solenoid giving trouble they should not buzz, Rick

Good call Rick, the buzzing could also be caused by many other things but given the symptoms he has already listed it makes sense

 

[Bedhead1157]

The buzzing doesn't happen all the time, but when you switch off the ignition, it still buzzes for a few seconds. I'll be working until next weekend but I'll keep posting as I get a chance to check stuff out.

And thanks guys, means a lot to know help is out there.

 

[Bedhead1157]

Forgot to say.....

There's a connector with three terminals that heads down to the pump area, if you disconnect it, the engine stops dead and if the engine isn't running, the buzzing stops when you disconnect it.

 

[solarman216]

confirms fuel shut off solenoid, I would remove it and check it out, might just have some dirt in it stopping it going right home, as I said before it should not buzz, buzz indicates a fault, also have to say I have not had one off personally but others on here have so they will be allong with advice sometime, Rick

 

[geoffdown]

The buzzing doesn't happen all the time, but when you switch off the ignition, it still buzzes for a few seconds. I'll be working until next weekend but I'll keep posting as I get a chance to check stuff out.

And thanks guys, means a lot to know help is out there.

The buzzing is normal its the control sleeve valve in the pump nothing to worry bout I have bosch system and is normal dont no with Hitachi system if some1 can go out to their car dont need to start them just turn key to ign on then off while u r under bonnet near the ip and u will hear this buzzing:thumbs

 

[Bedhead1157]

The buzzing is normal its the control sleeve valve in the pump nothing to worry bout I have bosch system and is normal dont no with Hitachi system if some1 can go out to their car dont need to start them just turn key to ign on then off while u r under bonnet near the ip and u will hear this buzzing:thumbs

Bosch here too, and you're right!

Now it does the whole churny start thing, like my old 306 did with a cracked filter head. I'll get some clear 8mm pipe and repipe the filter head and take it from there.

 

[jims-terrano]

I was going to say mine buzz's too.

OK look in the downloads section and see the instructions to read the fault codes and see what if anything is recorded from the ECU.

Might be an idea to check the Crankshaft Position Sensor, mine was fine when cold but once warm it was a bugger especially at tick over. Used to cause a hell of a misfire and then eventually it used to stall. Reading the fault codes assisted proving this fault too.

Stick with it you'll sort it out.

 

[solarman216]

sorry everyone although I have a TDi have had no cause to do anything on the pump as yet so case of the blind leading those that can see a little better, Rick

 

[Banshee]

Bosch here too, and you're right!

Now it does the whole churny start thing, like my old 306 did with a cracked filter head. I'll get some clear 8mm pipe and repipe the filter head and take it from there.

Def sounds like a fueling issue to me my man

If you have no pipe, you could always bypass all the fuel lines and filter and just remove the feed and return from the filter head and run it straight from a cup of diesel and check the running, you are there for eliminating the fuel tank, fuel lines and filter, if you're problem still exists then it stands a chance that it could be your pump, if it dissapears and starts running good again, well, you get the drill :thumb2

I had a Fiesta 1.8D Ghia as my first car, inherited it off my Nan who had it from new back in 97', starting got that bad that I had to fit an inline fuel primer for morning starts, it transpired that I also had leaky spill off pipes but even after replacing those starting was terrible :doh

I loved that car but it saw it's end and I ended up flogging it for £350 to some guy from Hall Green

 

[Bedhead1157]

Well, it's up at the spannerman, we were due a big flood so I decided to go out and move her to high ground, started after a struggle but I got it moved, on the ground where she was sitting was a pool of mucky sludge that stank of diesel, I went back and looked underneath with a torch and there was diesel all over the chassis in front of the tank, so it looks like a fuel line.:clap:clap

 

[rustic]

Well, it's up at the spannerman, we were due a big flood so I decided to go out and move her to high ground, started after a struggle but I got it moved, on the ground where she was sitting was a pool of mucky sludge that stank of diesel, I went back and looked underneath with a torch and there was diesel all over the chassis in front of the tank, so it looks like a fuel line.:clap:clap

Now.. let me think, you posted your problem, and within 12 minutes of your post was written a solution.

Try getting that sort of response from your Nissan dealer.
I am pleased you have the problem now in hand, and can be sorted soon.:thumb2

I keep telling people, we know these vehicles better than most garages...:thumb2


Rustic

 

[davenclaire]

iv become a bit of an expert on these pumps in the tdi i dont think its a pump problem defo sounds like air getting in have you checked for leaks ? replace the fuel line from tank to filter

 

[Bedhead1157]

Now.. let me think, you posted your problem, and within 12 minutes of your post was written a solution.

Try getting that sort of response from your Nissan dealer.
I am pleased you have the problem now in hand, and can be sorted soon.:thumb2

I keep telling people, we know these vehicles better than most garages...:thumb2


Rustic

Yup!

I was panicking a bit because I've sunk all my cash into the old girl!

 

[rustic]

Yup!

I was panicking a bit because I've sunk all my cash into the old girl!

I have had my Mav, over 18 years, from new, and have not faced any of the problems that some have had. Most of my knowledge is based on "trying to remember" what others have said, using logic and finding some things to try.
I have Used this knowledge and fixed problems I never knew I had :lol

If anything happens to my Mav, I will seriously need some counselling.
I am not joking...

I know it is only a piece of metal, in fact at over 18 years the insurance would probably say a worthless piece of metal.:doh
I have spent quite a few hours on preventative maintenance.:thumb2

Best regards,

Rustic