lack of power - on hills

[wizbru]

Hi folks

My 3.1 1996 wizard seems to be losing power at about 3000 rpm on hills. Seems fine on the flat. Have checked fuel filter for water (relatively new). Turbo is blowing hard at 12psi.
Engine is at 180000kms - Is it time for injector servicing? How much dothese normally cost?

Any help appreciated

[geeves]

Exhaust blocked or damaged, blocked air cleaner binding brakes due to last weeks mud are all things to check first. Also low pressure tyres will eat power.
If these things fail to fix diesel doctor in petone will be able to sort out.
Unlikly to be anything serious as there would be lots of smoke

[wizbru]

Went up the Wainui hill today - got just over 3000 rpm and it started surging a bit - still no evidence of smoke
Do I mention your name Alan at Diesel Doctor to get a good discount?
Will check Air filter too

Cheers

[geeves]

No need you will like his prices anyway.
When he did my diesel pump he apologized for it costing $280 as it had taken 4 hours. The next best quote I had was $800 The 3rd diesel place in Wellington wanted 800 if I took the pump out.
Talk to Lindsay and say you were recomended from club isuzu but dont ask for a discount

[wizbru]

Thanks Alan for the contact

Lindsay is a very helpful man

He reckons it's a tiny gauze filter on the fuel inlet to the pump - he said to rip it out in the first instance.

He also said injectors only need looking at if smoking is a problem.

cheers

[coolcon]

I had this problem with my bighorn. There is A flap in the exhaust (my mechanic called it an engine brake) i think it's used to assist in heating the engine quicker. He tied up out of the way.

[isuzumudman]

Hi Coolcon,

It's actually part of the cold start mechanism which chokes both the exhaust and air inlet. The exhaust butterfly is at the bottom of the front exhaust pipe near the transfer case. On my Bighorn it froze open. I chopped it out anyway. The inlet one is on the turbo side of the intercooler and just needs a vacuum hose disconnect and clamp the hose shut. If you really want to finish the job you could trace back and remove all the steel vacuum stuff too.

[Burty]

Howdy - how did this problem get fixed in the end as I am experiencing the same symptoms upon returning back from a trip in the hills. Ive basically lost most of my power getting up hills (and when you live in Queenstown you know how the vehicle performs when normally going up the same hills).

Seems a wee bit slower on the flat, but a hill I normally drive up in 2nd is now a very very slow low rev climb in 2nd.

Im off to replace the air filter after work to rule that out as the drive was on the dustiest road Ive ever driven on.

[geeves]

First air and fuel filter change. Its amazing how much an air filter can affect things and how quickly it goes from ok to hopeless. Then its things like binding brakes, low tyre pressure bad auto if auto, loss of turbo boost,leaking pressure hose between inlet and fuel pump, blocked exhaust(the fast warm up device can stick closed) , timing or injector pump or something horrible inside the engine

[Burty]

Cheers Geeves.

Replaced air filter and took it to my mechanic this am - "check for missing or hesitation, rough running or hard starting, check turbo boost, ok 10lbs, check glow plugs and compression, good 495 to 510, check vacum system, repair, remove exhaust flap, repair egr sys, check throttle flap, check for blocked gauze filter, check valve clearances and adjust, check fuel system, injectors, inspect fuel pump, check delivery volume and pressure, check filter, check idle, check cold start". He ssaid the turbo was making a bit of noise and taking a bit longer to get the pressure up. He did something to the turbo plumbing to keep the exhause gasses being re-fed. ALso put some injector cleaner through.

The turbo is taking a lot longer to make a 'difference' since the problem started on tuesday with a bit of turbo whine and comparatively poorer than normal performance, particularly noticible when heading up hills - the steep one I normally power up now wont power up until I get to the top.

The mechanic said give it a couple of weeks and see how things go and if its still a problem then it could be a case of another turbo, or worse, the injector pump. Time to hold my breath I guess.

[geeves]

Let me guess. 4jg2 engine around 160000km If so has the turbo been makeing a chirp when you switch off? If so new turbo
sorry

[Burty]

Cheers Geeves - 4jg2 @ 140,000 - I did notice a sporadic chirping whilst driving round - I guess I should start shopping for a replacement turbo /

[geeves]

The turbos used on the 4jg2 had a non dismantleable bearing and a heatshield made of the wrong stuff If you fit a genuine turbo it will do the same thing in anouther 160k or so. Look up "powertruck" on this forum He can source a direct replacement without these faults for about the same price and is in Chch.
If you go second hand you are buying trouble unless you can get cheap and fit yourself

[Burty]

Cheers again Geeves, you're a wealth of practical knowledge as always.