mondeo running ropey

[old-wos-is-name]

Hi all,
My mondeo mk3 130hp diesel 04 plate is running very ropey. it is blowing some blackish smoke from the exhaust and hesitates and jerks on accelleration. it has 160,000 miles on the clock. starts first time evry time and runs well most of the time, but getting worse.
any ideas?

[chas2008]

Air filter 1st, then EGR valve ....
From honest john web site-

MY Mondeo (2004 130 TDCi) was suffering from poor performance, a lot of black smoke when trying to accelerate away at low engine speeds (up to about 2000 rpm, but fine after that) and high consumption. The replacement of the EGR valve has cured the problem completely and has also transformed the performance at low engine speeds.

[old-wos-is-name]

thanks,
just checked egr valves on ebay, and see that some sellers have blanking plates
for sale, are they a good idea to fit? much cheaper tman a valve.

[AlBags]

Probably a good idea on yours .. .as there are no emissions lights or ECU-controlled cat/converter to get confused. Later systems detect the amount of air running through it and try to compensate, but end up smoking and rough .. and put a MIL light on.
Make sure you get the right one.

Having said this .. have you tried injector cleaner (Wynns) and a good blow out?

[old-wos-is-name]

Hi,
Yes, tried some redex diesel injector cleaner, but problem getting worse, so will try the blanking bit next, they are only around £3.

[old-wos-is-name]

Hi All,

Thanks for the help, fitted the blanking plate today, took 5 minutes, cost £3.
car now runs smoothly, only smokes under very harsh accelleration, ( there is a bottle of redex mixed with the fuel) fuel consumption back up to 60 mpg from 48mpg, so very amazing, thanks again.
Alf.