[bejoy]

Originally Posted by madhav

Prerana noticed that the thermostat was malfunctioning in the car and the same has been replaced. There was no part available, but they procured it from Concorde and had the same fitted on the car. The electrical and wiring were also checked and they have cleared other possibilities and the diesel filter replaced.

Thanks for the update. And nice gesture from Prerana to source the part from Concorde. Though they are located closely, it takes a lot of will to get it from the competitor and serve the customer. Who was the SA? Actually the SA deserves the applause!

[confortablynumb]

Originally Posted by confortablynumb

Madhav, Keep the thread posted. I am facing similar issues with my MJD.

Madhav, Did get a chance to drive long distance after the fixes from Prerana? I am having an appointment with Prerana tomorrow. Just curious to know whether your car's problem is fixed ? My car faced the same problem while being driven down from Kerala.

[madhav]

Sorry guys the long trip didn't happen. However, I did a few long city drives and here are the observations

1. No 'Check engine light'
2. Change in the engine temperature behavior
a. With AC on, the temp gauge used to drop to almost 'C' when the hi-speed fan started. Now with the AC on, the hi-speed fan running, the temp gauge stays just above the 1/4 mark. It does move up slightly, but never over the 1/2 mark.
b. Without AC, the hi-speed fan kicked in just after the temp gauge moved over the 1/2 mark and brought it down.

Have informed Prerana, that the above behavior is not as it was before. They are saying that if the temp gauge stays below the 1/2 mark with the fans starting at the appropriate time, then it should not be a problem.

I've pushed the car to a 100Kmph, but for a very short distance (300-400m). Need to do a longer drive to confirm that the issue has gone away for sure!

confortablynumb: Sorry my response does not give you a clear idea if the problem is fixed. However, Surendra, the SA at Prerana will show interest to solve the problem, so at least there will be attention to the issue.

Will keep this thread posted!

[madhav]

I finally managed to do the long drive. It was to Mysore and back the same day. Managed to push the car and try some hard accelerations to check if the light pop's up. So far the 'Check Engine' light has not shown up.

The thermostat replacement seems to have fixed the issue and the engine temperature is also monitored correctly.

I guess that the issue has been sorted out... However, I will keep my eyes open.

Cheers!

[Black_Beast]

Thanks for the update on this, I too faced similar problem, but didn't bother much as the 'Check Engine Light' went off after few seconds.

Guess, I'll have to do a check-up on this.

[Alton]

TBHPians with Fiat,please advise.
My Fiat palio stile MJD suddenly developed a change in engine tone and a drum-beat thud (continous and rhythemic )from the engine since last 3 days.
Engine idles with a characteristic clunk which goes off after 2-3 km.But a clear Crackling sound comes on when increasing speed through the gears.Now the standard pull of the car @ 2000rpm in 2 nd gear during acceleration has come down.The car picks up linearly without that pull only when revved above 2500rpm.
During early morning startup and when kept on idle before switch off after a drive,the whole engine block moves to a side with a drum-beat rhythm which seems to come somewhere below the engine.

Mileage done 84K km with last service at 73Kkm. No issues except an irritating dashboard vibration and a distant clunk from the back.

A local mechanic on the suburbs who also does old Fiat Palios - ELX and 1.9D's advised me to go for an exhaust valve cleanup.Agreed and got it done within 2 hours.The engine hummed back but only for 30-40 kms, with again that crackling sound coming back!!Mileage dropped to 12 from 15.

When dragged to a Fiat specialist, who had earlier worked with old Palios and Adventures,he went on to explain tappet clearance issues with MJD and ending with an engine overhaul along with replacement of Tappets.
Can the Tappets be adjusted? Does it involve engine Re-Bore and overhaul?
Should the whole exhaust system removed and checked for that drum-beat?

The car was serviced regularly by the book!No pothole crashes or fast drives either.

Am planning to take my car to Fiat A.S. here - Tejaswi or Malik Cars.What should I be prepared for and what not for? Guess I would be taken for a ride by them looking at my dependence on the vehicle.

Kindly advise.

[autocrat]

Originally Posted by Alton

A local mechanic on the suburbs who also does old Fiat Palios - ELX and 1.9D's advised me to go for an exhaust valve cleanup.Agreed and got it done within 2 hours.The engine hummed back but only for 30-40 kms, with again that crackling sound coming back!!Mileage dropped to 12 from 15.

When dragged to a Fiat specialist, who had earlier worked with old Palios and Adventures,he went on to explain tappet clearance issues with MJD and ending with an engine overhaul along with replacement of Tappets.
Can the Tappets be adjusted? Does it involve engine Re-Bore and overhaul?
Should the whole exhaust system removed and checked for that drum-beat?

The car was serviced regularly by the book!No pothole crashes or fast drives either.

Am planning to take my car to Fiat A.S. here - Tejaswi or Malik Cars.What should I be prepared for and what not for? Guess I would be taken for a ride by them looking at my dependence on the vehicle.

Kindly advise.

Get the exhaust manifold and exhaust pipe checked for cracks and leakage.

MJD engine comes with self adjusting hydraulic tappets so not necessary to adjust, but replace if worn out. Also its not necessary to get an engine overhaul when tappets are replaced.

Since you say turbo is not spooling up at 2000 rpm, its a strong possibility that the exhaust gases are leaking and hence not spooling the turbo. Start the engine and check under the car for exhaust leakage. Its better to rule out all simple causes before we get into something expensive.

[Alton]

Thanks Autocrat.
Will the get the Tappets checked and replaced.Any idea ,how much should they cost and labour?
Am more worried on the turbo part.Have heard of Swifts with turbo issues with MJD engines.Hope mine will be ok.
Will go about from the simple checks as advised -
1.Tappets check and replace.
2.Exhaust system check along with Turbo.
Any idea on Timing chain? The mech was also referring to it.Does it go off within 1 lakh KM? Is the root cause with Timing chain since on idling everything seems fine on the engine grunt.But only when it begins moving in gear ,the crackling sound comes up?

[anupam00]

Get your Turbo Checked,

It's linked to the turbo,when a turbo develops a leak the starting is not smooth,after 3~4 minutes it gets ok,
It's fine to clean the exhaust,engine manifold,egr valve but the solution is turbo,
In case the turbo has developed leak,then there is a big probability that it leaves mark on one piston if not all & that's a bad situation resulting overhaul.

get the same turbo checked asap,the biggest problem & advantage of MJD is the turbo,
1.9 D case is entirely different the engine is powerful enough on it's own that to the technology & design

Thanks & Regards
Anupam

[Alton]

Originally Posted by anupam00

Get your Turbo Checked,
Thanks & Regards
Anupam

Thanks Anupam,yes,got it checked first and foremost.They have removed the exhaust manifold around it and checked .Found Inlet manifold choked with black soot.The whole exhaust was removed and cleaned by the time I returned to garage.
Fortunately,tappets sound seems ok for an MJD,hence no action on them.Even timing belt sound was comparable with a 65K km Punto MJD.Hence not doing anything on that part.The mech doesnt want to open the Head lest it destroys a company fit engine spec.
After exhaust was cleaned and refitted,during the test drive ,on slight acceleration,the engine began jerking 1500-2000rpm but RPM stayed constant and picked up with speed.After a full throttle,engine seemed fine.That punch in the Turbo has not come back.
Now what else to do? Mech says,lets run for a day for 50km,get back,check exhaust again from Inlet to tip,clean again,also do an engine flush,change oil filter + regular oil.By this time all the muck from cleaning of carbon and any thing in engine must flush out.Last flush was done at 44K kms.
Is this the right approach?Please advise.
Should I give a go ahead?

[jatinpatel]

Check the Blow Off valve (BOV) check if prematurely blowing of turbo pressure hence turbo is packing less punch and higher time to spool up.

[anupam00]

I would suggest please get your turbo changed,

You car is performing ok after some idiling as other cyclinders are helping the combustion,

If you change the turbo now,then there is a probability that your engine might be saved,else the turbo would have caused damage to one piston & that results in rebore,

I would simply suggest change the turbo & then see the result,

Thanks & Regards
Anupam

[autocrat]

Originally Posted by anupam00

I would suggest please get your turbo changed,

You car is performing ok after some idiling as other cyclinders are helping the combustion,

If you change the turbo now,then there is a probability that your engine might be saved,else the turbo would have caused damage to one piston & that results in rebore,

I would simply suggest change the turbo & then see the result,

Thanks & Regards
Anupam

Hi Anupam, I could not follow how turbo can damage one piston.

As far as I know ther turbo is driven by exhaust gas pressure. The exhaust from all cylinders get merged in exhaust manifold. Moreover the exhaust gases exerting back pressure if turbo does not spool is not possible -they just flow out the exhaust pipe as pistons keep pushing the gases out.

[anupam00]

if the turbo develops a Air Leak,than the compression of the car would be down,resulting more load on piston,
How does a turbo affect the operation of a diesel engine and what are the possible problems and effects to the engine when one goes

I hope this helps,

In case not let me know,

Thanks & Regards
Anupam

[Alton]

Originally Posted by jatinpatel

Check the Blow Off valve (BOV) check if prematurely blowing of turbo pressure hence turbo is packing less punch and higher time to spool up.

Checked BOV and found OK

Originally Posted by anupam00

I would suggest please get your turbo changed,

You car is performing ok after some idiling as other cyclinders are helping the combustion,

If you change the turbo now,then there is a probability that your engine might be saved,else the turbo would have caused damage to one piston & that results in rebore,

I would simply suggest change the turbo & then see the result,

Thanks & Regards
Anupam

Checked Turbo,engine idling and almost everything else his experience could tell him.Found everything working fine.He was dead against opening Engine to check pistons.At last he simply drained all the diesel - 22 litrs and put in fresh diesel into the tank.Fired up the engine and let it idle for a good 15 mins.Initially thick black smoke with occassional bursts came out of exhaust as rpm rose to 2000.But after that no smoke unless revved to 2500rpm!!.AND most important note - that thumping noise from the engine just vanished.!!!Its just puttering now as before.Charged me Rs.1K for all the work and told me simply - its adultered Diesel sir.Dont go back to the last petrol bunk you went.
Now am a bit confused and amazed at the same time.Adulterated Diesel does make you run around in circles!!!!
Engine flush with STP Diesel flush + oil change with filter is under way now as I write this.