I have an estima 2.2d. Quite often the engine note will change becoming more noisy, as if the injection timing is out, followed by the engine management light coming on. The vehicle loses power and black smokes.
If I switch the engine off and restart the problem dissappears. Any ideas, it's getting me down and I'm scared to trust it on a run.

- (#12144) brian, 16 Jul 04 14:18

Ideas? Well, firstoff, scan for a fault code, then take it from there...

Guess is either a sensor going out of tolerance (poor connection), or the timing solenoid valve is sticking closed (poor connection or mechanical seizure, dunno)but either way, you sound like youre getting excessive advance and perhaps fuelling too.

- (#12144) David Miller, 16 Jul 04 14:31

Thanks, David. I believe the advance solenoid is on the bottom of the pump. It has two wires conected. By removal of these wires the pump goes to full advance which would indicate that the pump goes to full advance when engine is off. The solenoid is controled by the ECU. Do you know if it works either full advance or no advance i.e. full on to start engine, engine cold and then clicks to off position when engine reaches certain temperature? With so many possible causes sensors, ECU, solenoid I fear spending loads in trial & error. I'm toying with the idea of 'bodging' it and disconnecting from ECU and giving it 12v via ign fed flick switch when engine warms. What do you think? Brian

- (#12144) brian , 17 Jul 04 05:24

assuming the denso pump is similar to the bosch in vw tdis, the solenoid is driven by a pwm signal (opening is controlled by duty cycle...) so no supply = advance, 12v = full retard, and in between (say) a 50% duty cycle- on half the time- = half advance...

you can't just hard switch it, a. it'll burn out and b. the engine needs different amounts of advance depending on fuel and air temp, boost level, load etc.

there's some info out there on the eminas electronic injection- "the mad mechanic" was the name of the site i recall, and you might spend some time at tdiclub.com for an oversight of the bosch system. the only appreciable difference is the bosch has a sensor on one of the injectors to make timing control "closed loop", afaik

- (#12144) David Miller, 17 Jul 04 13:41