patchyfog
Member
Hi all, I have done a search and although there were various responses, I am unsure of which will apply to me so I thought it best to try a new thread. Apologies if I'm doubling up on a previous post that I overlooked.
Okay, so I recently bought a very used 2007 diesel auto - 260k km - as I was in a pickle and needed a vehicle quickly. I'll be honest it wouldn't have been my first choice as I don't really need a 4wd ute, however, when I was looking there wasn't much else within my price range...that didn't appear to be an absolute piece of junk anyway. Everything I had read led me to believe they are a generally decent and reliable vehicle. It seemed pretty clean and well maintained and the guy I bought it from was a mechanic so I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best.
I haven't really done much driving in the 6 or so weeks that I have owned it as I have had no need. Anyway, I filled it with fuel and off I went. First tank of diesel and I had no issues...other than only getting about 400km from a full tank. Second fill and things are happening!
First thing was, I started it up one morning - started fine but when I put it into reverse I didn't move. I pressed the accelerator and still nothing, it didn't even rev. I put it into drive and it pulled itself forward. Tried reverse again and still nothing. Put it into park and switched off the engine, started it up again and reverse engaged successfully. Off I went on my merry way. Later that day, fired it up and put it into drive, nothing. It just moved gradually forward, again the accelerator had zero effect. Switched off engine, switched back on and off I went. Following day, same thing. Then at the lights, same issue. I believe this is "limp mode" from what I have read. Turned off engine etc and again, off I went. There were no warning lights on the dash. I'm not aware of any real smoke, other than a little white smoke from the exhaust upon first start,
Using a cheap OBDII that I have lying around I checked for fault codes - it returned P0093 Fuel System Large Leak Detected. But why no warning lights on the dash? Possibly warning lights not working?
I reset the ECU and the engine light responded 10 slow, 10 fast, 10 fast, 10 fast (possibly in a different order) which I understand means "no faults".
Took it for a drive and at the first junction, limp mode again. Drove it around town for another 15 mins or so, stopping occasionally, no issues. I don't really want to risk doing any damage to the engine by driving it until I can work out what the problem is/was. What are the likely culprits?
Secondly, the plastic radiator reservoir/coolant bottle has a pinhole leak. The coolant/water looks clear but the inside of the bottle, in the upper section, is black, possibly covered in some kind of gunk. The plastic has deteriorated badly and I suspect this may just be the start. What are my options? Epoxy? Second hand or new reservoir - if so, where from? Would I better to look at the aluminium "race"options I've seen floating around? I, like most other people right now, am on a budget of next-to-nothing, so need the cheapest fix to get me through the next few months/2000km.
Just so you aware, I am a novice when it comes to mechanics and I've never owned a diesel before so you may need to dumb the reply down a bit, please.
Thanks for any help you can offer.
Okay, so I recently bought a very used 2007 diesel auto - 260k km - as I was in a pickle and needed a vehicle quickly. I'll be honest it wouldn't have been my first choice as I don't really need a 4wd ute, however, when I was looking there wasn't much else within my price range...that didn't appear to be an absolute piece of junk anyway. Everything I had read led me to believe they are a generally decent and reliable vehicle. It seemed pretty clean and well maintained and the guy I bought it from was a mechanic so I crossed my fingers and hoped for the best.
I haven't really done much driving in the 6 or so weeks that I have owned it as I have had no need. Anyway, I filled it with fuel and off I went. First tank of diesel and I had no issues...other than only getting about 400km from a full tank. Second fill and things are happening!
First thing was, I started it up one morning - started fine but when I put it into reverse I didn't move. I pressed the accelerator and still nothing, it didn't even rev. I put it into drive and it pulled itself forward. Tried reverse again and still nothing. Put it into park and switched off the engine, started it up again and reverse engaged successfully. Off I went on my merry way. Later that day, fired it up and put it into drive, nothing. It just moved gradually forward, again the accelerator had zero effect. Switched off engine, switched back on and off I went. Following day, same thing. Then at the lights, same issue. I believe this is "limp mode" from what I have read. Turned off engine etc and again, off I went. There were no warning lights on the dash. I'm not aware of any real smoke, other than a little white smoke from the exhaust upon first start,
Using a cheap OBDII that I have lying around I checked for fault codes - it returned P0093 Fuel System Large Leak Detected. But why no warning lights on the dash? Possibly warning lights not working?
I reset the ECU and the engine light responded 10 slow, 10 fast, 10 fast, 10 fast (possibly in a different order) which I understand means "no faults".
Took it for a drive and at the first junction, limp mode again. Drove it around town for another 15 mins or so, stopping occasionally, no issues. I don't really want to risk doing any damage to the engine by driving it until I can work out what the problem is/was. What are the likely culprits?
Secondly, the plastic radiator reservoir/coolant bottle has a pinhole leak. The coolant/water looks clear but the inside of the bottle, in the upper section, is black, possibly covered in some kind of gunk. The plastic has deteriorated badly and I suspect this may just be the start. What are my options? Epoxy? Second hand or new reservoir - if so, where from? Would I better to look at the aluminium "race"options I've seen floating around? I, like most other people right now, am on a budget of next-to-nothing, so need the cheapest fix to get me through the next few months/2000km.
Just so you aware, I am a novice when it comes to mechanics and I've never owned a diesel before so you may need to dumb the reply down a bit, please.
Thanks for any help you can offer.