Peugeot 2001 1.9 TD

[ALAN G]

I posted this in Motorhome Matters on the 10th Feb. A lot of viewers, but no answers. Perhaps I should have used Hints and Tips...so here goes.

The Key Code problem I had was remedied in a French garage last year. This has left the 'van with too much white exhaust smoke on start up. With the engine at normal temperature the exhaust is quite clean. Over the following 2500 miles the fuel consumption was normal at 27 mpg.

The remedy involved removing the fuel pump.

My local garage (where I have both the 'van and my car serviced) are reluctant to remove the fuel pump ( labour cost about £200) to check that it is aligned correctly.

I have read the dialogue in the website (August 2011) re Key Code problems but it doesn't answer my query which is "Is it possible to mis-align the fuel pump to give the problem I now have?"

 

I would prefer to use my local garage as our main dealer Peugeot is fronted by a man (with a declared total lack of technical knowledge) in a suit in the showroom. The customer is not allowed to talk to any of the workers.

 

Hoping you can help, so that I can leave the site without blasting smoke all over next door's breakfast table.

[Derek Uzzell]

Hints and Tips is the poor relation of Motorhome Matters and the reason you didn't get an answer to your Motorhome Matters inquiry is probably because no Out&AboutLive forum member has a definitive answer.

 

If the excessive white exhaust smoke on start-up didn't happen before the French garage worked on your motorhome last year, and the smoking began immediately after that work was done, it's logical to assume that the smoking is the result of whatever the French garage did. But this a 2001 vehicle and coincidences happen.

 

There are lists here of things that can cause diesel motors to produce smoke:

 

http://www.fourthgen.net/diesel-white-smoke.shtml

 

http://www.costeffective.com.au/news_show.php?StoryId=9

 

Although start-up excessive white smoke could result from incorrect injection timing, I'd expect that particular fault to have a significant impact on normal running. However, you've said that your motorhome's average mpg hasn't changed, the smoking stops once the motor has warmed up and, presumably, the normal performance hasn't worsened.

 

I would have thought the smoking is more likely related to the pre-heating glow-plugs as mentioned here:

 

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=12576

 

Although it's plainly sensible to tell your trusted local garage that your motorhome's fuel pump was removed last year, fault-diagnosis by vehicle-owner carries risks. Assuming that your motorhome always white-smokes on start-up, you'd be as well to let your garage do their own diagnosis of the cause. If you want the garage to investigate the white-smoke behaviour and try to cure it, just tell them that and let them get on with it. If you insist that they check that the injector-pump is correctly installed, then you'll have to accept the consequential cost.

[ALAN G]

Many thanks for that Derek, you have located much more information than I found.

 

I take your point about letting the garage get on with the job. I would love to. At 75 I have no wish to start working on a vehicle for which I have no useful information. Even Haynes don't produce a handbook.

I'm an engineer, with many years experience of repairing vehicles (usually just to get to work) B-) Most of them were pre 1980 vintage and quite simple, And manufacturer's manuals were available. In fact in the loft is a Ford manual for a Mark 2 Transit..... much used. :'(

Unfortunately none of the staff at the garage appear to have sufficient expertise to remedy what some might consider a minor the problem.

I'm sure that if there had been a complete failure they would have risen to the occasion, as they have in the past with other defects both with the 'Van and my car.

The one person who could have helped ( from an associated garage) is just starting his 2 weeks paternity leave.

Consequently, I am involved in decisions as to how to spend my pension >:-)

So, I would still like to know whether it is possible to mis-align the pump and get the emissions I have described.

 

Again, many thanks,

Alan