[Engine] Engine pulsing

[paradox1001]

My berlingo 1.6 diesel feels like it has a miss fire between 1500-2000 rpm
In low gears it feels like a miss fire on a petrol engine and in higher gears it feels like the power is pulsing on and off more smoothly.

Has anyone had this problem before or any idea what the cause may be?

[Zion]

I'd say MAF....but have we not already gone over this?

At that rpm, could be a sticking turbo actuator, as the turbo goes on boost at 1800....below that there is not meant to be any power.

Maybe that's what your feeling. What would you expect at 1500...not much!

[paradox1001]

I'd say MAF....but have we not already gone over this?

At that rpm, could be a sticking turbo actuator, as the turbo goes on boost at 1800....below that there is not meant to be any power.

Maybe that's what your feeling. What would you expect at 1500...not much!

I may have mentioned this in passing in another thread but I don’t think I’ve started a previous thread about it.

It pulls nice and cleanly from tick over up until 1500 rpm and after that you get the judder/pulsing
once you get to 2000rpm it pulls really well and keeps going.

It seems to be worse sometimes and not as bad other times.

If you boot it it’s not noticeable but if your accelerating gently or part throttle cruising it’s a pain
Especially recently with lots of snow and ice trying to keep the rpm low and the gears high to avoid spinning the wheels.
Surely you don’t have to keep these engines above 2000 rpm all the time?

It’s going in the garage this afternoon for them to have a look at the amount of oil the turbo is putting into the intake and the leaking doseur unit so I’ll be mentioning it to them.

If they say everything is fine or they are all like that mate then the trader I bought it from won’t pay for anything to be done.

If that’s the case then it’s all going to have to wait for warmer weather and when I’ve more time to investigate.

[paradox1001]

Well on the way to the garage the problem got worse
It’s now jolting more violently when it does it
And occasionally is accompanied by a tappety rattling sound and it appears to be smoking out the exhaust when it does it.
The mechanic just pulled the inlet pipe off the turbo to have a feel
I explained the problems to him
They rang the trader I bought it off and he said it’s ok to book it in.
So it’s going into the garage to be properly looked at a week on Tuesday.

It’s now got the engine light showing on the dash but I think that’s because the mechanic pulled the turbo inlet pipe off with the engine running.

I’m pretty disappointed as I thought I’d chosen a good reliable car
With 80 odd thousand miles from new and full service history I wasn’t expecting this in the first month of ownership.
Oh well hopefully everything will get sorted and me and the car will have a happy future.

[Zion]

Ok that does sound a bit more serious - no they're usually pretty smooth with a noticeable shove from 1800. Could be the transition to boost is not accompanied by enough fuel being injected, so it runs really lean and clatters. Could be the MAF or intermittent fuel pressure or something. Hard to say without DiagBox data to investigate.

[paradox1001]

Ok that does sound a bit more serious - no they're usually pretty smooth with a noticeable shove from 1800. Could be the transition to boost is not accompanied by enough fuel being injected, so it runs really lean and clatters. Could be the MAF or intermittent fuel pressure or something. Hard to say without DiagBox data to investigate.

I’ll keep this thread updated as things go along as it may end up benefiting someone in the future.
The engine light had gone off this morning when I drove my wife to work.
And even though the judder/pulsing was apparent it wasn’t violent.

[paradox1001]

So strange goings on

The juddering/pulsing has been there every time I’ve driven the car
Until yesterday afternoon when I started the car in the afternoon
there was a beep and the engine management light came on and the central display mentioned something about anti pollution.
However the car drove perfectly fine for 24 miles picking my wife up from work and bringing her home
The engine management light remained on despite turning the ignition on and of several times.
I started the car this morning
No engine management light, no anti pollution warning and the car drove perfectly
It was actually a pleasure to drive compared to how it was previously.

It appears to have fixed itself and I’ve no idea why.
It’s due in the garage on Tuesday but if it’s not misbehaving they are going to say it’s me and there’s nowt wrong with the car.
At least they will be taking a look at the amount of oil the turbo is putting into the intake and the leaking douser unit.

Could it be that the premium diesel with detergents I’ve been using
Has shifted a load of crud build up and it’s eventually blown it out of the engine?

It sure is puzzling but I hope the problem if it does return does so when it goes into the garage and not weeks later.

[jj9]

You already know there's a good chance your problem is EGR related.

.

[paradox1001]

You already know there's a good chance your problem is EGR related.

.

I have been informed that this is the most possible cause
With it being a newly purchased car and the trader telling me to book it into the garage
I was letting the garage look at it first before I go pulling it apart.
Aswell as not having the weather conditions or the time due to home schooling and needing the car on the road twice a day to get the wife to work and back.

I’m just puzzled as to why it chucked up a fault warning then drove perfectly after
And now no fault warning and still driving perfectly when it was so bad previously.

It’s going in the garage on Tuesday so I will mention the egr valve to them when I drop it off