L Series EML and running rough

Hello all,

I wondering if you could please offer some assistance as I'm having some problems with my old L Series I'm afraid. I have a 2000 2.0L Xdi and have recently had an intermittent engine management light illuminated.

When the EML comes on, the engine noise seems to almost double and sounds very rattly/tappety if you know what I mean. Until recently, this was only happening once every hundred miles or so, but the problem with the noisy engine is now constant (although the EML is not permanently illuminated).

From reading through the forum I gather that the wiring to injector 1 is often a common problem. I checked the wiring and the section coming from the engine wiring loom was indeed frayed. The frayed part is from the outer cable (as its kind of like a coax cable?) so I simply wrapped it with insulation tape to stop it from earthing out. Unfortunately this hasn't resolved the problem though. The outer cable just comes up with the wiring from the engine loom, but just ends before it gets to the connector block - anyone know if this is right?...should it just kind of stop there or should it be connected to the connector block or something?

I've also replaced the air-filter, so everything appears to be fine there.

The engine has done 93,000 miles and looking at the condition of the belts, I'm not sure whether any of them have ever been replaced - I've purchased a new timing belt (with tensioners), a fuel injection belt (again with tensioner) and a new auxiliary belt and am waiting for a date from my garage as to when they can fit them.

Just wondered what opinions were? - i.e. do you think I'm going along the right lines that it appears to be a timing issue? - or more likely a knackered injector? - or something else?

Just to summarise it all!, I've got a very noisy engine (with some light grey smoke when cold)...an intermittent EML - and reduced power - (the engine is pretty sluggish since this problem developed, and struggles uphill)

Looking forward to your opinions and many thanks in advance folks

cheers,
Mark

Not really my strong point and am sure some of the wiser heads will be along soon to help you out,
The first things i always check for is condition of engine oil, when was it and the filter last changed?
All turbo hoses for splits
when was diesel filter last changed
when was the fuel system last given a dose of cleaner ie millers etc
is the egr still connected or has it been blanked
think about a decat while your at it as a old cat will choke the engine
thats my list, as i say some one who knows more(most of them) will be along soon

Cheers for the reply dustmaker, much appreciated - the oil and filter should be ok, just done a few months ago along with the fuel filter. I've no idea whether its had a dose of cleaner, so thats a good point, thanks. I hadn't thought about the EGR, I'll check it tomorrow to see if its been blanked off - if it hasn't, is that possible culprit too?

cheers again,
Mark

if you do a search there is a load of posts on egr issues and blanking them same with turbo's, and smoke as i say im fairly new to this as well and have an l series to, mine ran like a bag of cr#p until i blanked the egr and de-catted the exhaust, made a big difference that and i double dosed it with millers on its first full tank and put it in now every time i fill up.
If you are unsure when the timing belt was last changed i would make that a priority along with gearbox and ird oils and also a vcu test, again loads of info available either via stickys at the top of the page or via search function,
keep us updated with how your getting on and :welcome2:to the mad house

Thanks again fella - I've just quickly popped my head under the bonnet and it hasn't been blanked off, so blanking kit just ordered on Ebay!...will look into the decat too. I'm hoping the new belts and tensioners will sort her out, just totally un-driveable at the moment, the engine really is that noisy. I'm worried she's about to blow, so hope I get to the garage ok! - I plugged my fault code scanner in today too, but obviously the L series isn't OBD compliant, so got no joy there.

The strange part is - when the fault was intermittent - I would be happily driving along, then all of a sudden the EML would come on and the engine noise literally doubled - this would maybe last 10-20 seconds, then the light would go out and the engine noise go back to normal....this is what was making me think there was a break in the wiring somewhere...trial and error job I guess!

cheers

Hello all, Just realised I hadn't posted an update, so thought I'd let you know the problem was resolved (hopefully and fingers crossed), in case any one else comes up with the same issue. The problem was actually a knackered diesel fuel injection pump...not a cheap fix by any means. My garage wanted £850 for a recon pump...after a bit of shopping around, I managed to find a Bearmach recon pump for £550 from LRdirect.com - I got this fitted along with a new timing belt for it and also a new tensioner - always a good idea to replace the tensioner along with the belt for the sake of a few extra quid...no point in having all your work undone by a failed tensioner!

any how, cheers guys
Mark