Hi all,

Anyone out there got any information on servicing\adjusting the Lucas "Epic" computer controlled diesel injection system as fitted to my 1996 2.1td. It goes great except at lower speeds in first and second gears when the engine shakes the gear stick all over the place, orrible...
Ta, Colin.P

Hi Colin,

There's not much to adjust or service on the electronic injection systems since they self adjust anyway.

From your brief description of your symptoms it sounds more like engine mountings to me rather than injection. Could you be a bit more explicit on the description and we'll see if we can come up with an answer for you.

cheers

noz

... Or low compression on one or more cylinder.

Peter.N.

Thanks Noz and Peter, I too thought about the engine mountings, particularly the bottom one but this looks fine with no cracking whatsoever. Don't really think it's a compression problem either as it pulls like a steam train and there's no smoke although I do have rattly tappets syndrome ... I'm back in the uk in just over a week so I'll be obtaining a new set of tappets and replacing the injectors too just for good measure (far too expensive in Norway). Any idea how much a new set of engine mountings costs and if they're still available ? Symptoms are that at lowish speeds, when pulling away in first and second gear for example, the engine seems to judder all over the place, no bad noises and seems to be running ok but as is shakes, the gearstick rocks and rolls, makes for a very uncomfortable ride !! my earlier 2.0 petrol also had engine lurch at low speeds, never did find out what was wrong...

Cheers, Colin.P

If the tappets are really bad, that could be your problem as excessive clearance will cause valve timing error and a lack of lift causing an incomplete charge or exhaust cycle. The tappets will sometimes become operational at higher speeds as the oil pressure increases.

Peter.N.

Hi Colin,

Just thinking about it with your current description, it could be oil on the clutch plate. As you pick up it will slip and stick rapidly.

1) Is it worse first thing in the morning?
2) Are there any drips of oil on the drive just under the bellhousing?

If 1) then it could be a small drip which is enough to make the plate slip but it burns off quickly and you don't tend to see it for the rest of the day.

If 2) then you might have a crankshaft end seal gone. Leaking oil ont the plate will cause the juddering you describe.

Any sign of oil?

Cheers

noz

Thanks again both, no signs of oil around the bellhousing and no smell of burning oil or oil being lost either. The tappets problem sounds favorite - I'll post a follow up in a few weeks when I've replaced them. Out of curiosity, any idea how long a set of injectors should last ?

Cheers, Colin.P

I changed the ones in my last XM at about 250k, the ends of the needles had burnt away, but they were still running OK!

Peter.N.

Hi,

Haynes suggests they (injector nozzles) should be replaced @ 60k. See the comments Noz made recently about the potential harm poor injectors might do and the benefits re fuel economy.

Roy