Rover 600 Diesel engine problem

[dans1977uk]

I've got a 1998 Rover 600 with the 2 litre Turbo Diesel engine (105bhp) though it's developed a strange fault. Soon after I had the cam belt changed it's started loosing power. The car used to be really quite fast, but recently it's hard to get any form of acceleration from most speeds and (where it's legal) it won't go above 90mph or so. The engine always starts first time and doesn't smoke, the air flow (or air mass) meter has been checked and the catalitic convertor checked but to no avail. The turbo is leaking a little oil but not so much I'd think that was it but I'm not a mechanic so can't say for sure. Any ideas welcomed!! (Apart from buy a car thats not a rover!)

[BillyNoMates]

I am wondering if the belt has 'stretched' slightly since fitting throwing your timing out marginally ?

This can happen - not familiar with your particular engine. Some engines recommend losening the tensioner via an accessible bolt in the cambelt cover after a few hundred miles, then re-tightening.

I know my old Volvo requires this. But cambelts and tensioners haven't changed much over the years !

Do you know if the tensioner was changed at the same time ? As the MAF and cat have been checked I assume it has been back to the garage ? What did they say ?

[dans1977uk]

The garage that changed the Cam belt had it in for a week to try and find the cause of the problem with no joy - the tensioners were all changed at the same time so it may well be that the belt has stretched a bit, not entirely sure - I'll ask them to check that.

They suggested it was the fuel injection pump that had gone but they cost over �1,500 for parts alone so desperately hoping it's not that, though I think the problem would be more severe if the injection pump had gone.

Thanks for your time!

[staceylhill]

I had my cambelt changed a few months back and my car lost power i took it back in and my turbo pipe was loose and letting air out when they put this back together it fixed my problem.
Hope this helps

[ordy]

I have the same problem.

My local garage has looked at the problem and they too can find nothing. It was only after I got the car back that I remembered that I had a similar problem about 18 months ago but on that occasion, instead of losing power the accelerator would suddenly go wild and jump to 3500 - 4000 revs. On that occasion the code on the ecu pointed to the sensor on the fuel pump. As you say they were then talking big money. It was then that one of the technicians recalled that somewhere he had read that there was an issue with the wiring loom on the 600's. He removed all the tape around the wiring (where it comes across the manifold) and by playing around with the cables was able to recreate the problem.

I came across this site trying to see if anyone else knew about this supposed wiring issue.

In my case since I got the car back (only 2 days ago) the engine response is much better. But if it returns again I will ask the auto electricians to test the loom before spending out on a pump. As you say - if it was the pump you would think the problems would be much greater or more frequent.

[dans1977uk]

Thanks ordy, that's a huge help - the car's in next week to have a new turbo fitted (mine's leaking a little oil and I found a new one at a bargain price on ebay) so I'll ask them to test the loom as my local garage fortunately shares space with an auto-electrician.

Really appreciate your time.

[A Shearer]

God, thought I had written thisa post myself. I have identical problem. Are you sure I don't have your car and the same mechanics.

I've just changed the main fan belt and tensioner, fuel filter, air filter and full exhaust including cat. It's still the same. The only difference with my car is the engine warning light comes on now and again when going up an extended incline. It hates hills.

A diesel mechanic did say the same to me - fuel pump (big bucks), may be an injector but check loom first as these are a problem. I have girlfriend car at moment so having spend 2 times more than the car is worth it is sitting there till I need to give her her's back.

Do you know exactly what it was eventually, nodoubt mine is the same and it may save me time and money to look at what ever was wrong with yours first.

Thanks

[dans1977uk]

Never really got to the bottom of it, infact I gave up in the end as the car ran perfectly well, just a little slower than it perhaps should have done! Now driving a Volvo 740 estate automatic too) so know what really REALLY slow motoring is like!

I wrote to Car Mechanics magazine about the problem actually and they've printed the letter and reply this month.. have a look in WH Smiths or even bigger Tesco's. Really good magazine and they've got a few hints and tips which may help.... though I do think it's the fuel injection pump myself.

[exupboy]

Stop.... I had a very similar problem after a cambelt change and after ten months of random chugging and spurious revving. I blanked the EGR and changed the MAF to no avail. Then one desolate afternoon leaning over the chugging lump, I rested my hand on the wiring loom that passes over the timing belt cover and the engine note changed. A good tweak of the loom gave very definite change in the tickover so this afternoon, I removed all the wrapping, straightened the wiring and re-wrapped loosely and so far - so good. (Try it - it costs nothing)

[roverdave]

This site has been very useful, my Rover 600SDDi 2 litre diesel developed a chugging and rev surging problem. I did the suggested un wrapping of the wiring loom where is goes over the cam belt cover and the problem has gone away for now. however when I tug at the wires it changes the engine revs. I did have engine management lights on from time to time for short spells of 3 or 4 seconds. I had this fault downloaded and was told it was linked to the injection pump, however the un wrapping of the wiring seems to have stopped that. many thanks to the above users with the same problems.

[wolfdesigns]

For anyone who might be interested, our Rover 600 diesel developed a similar problem - wouldn't rev above 2000rpm. On top of the fuel pump is a bannjo bolt, and inside the bolt is a small filter - which was blocked! Removed the filter and it now goes better that it ever has!