Engine holding back at 2900rpm

As there is no area for a lr discovery I've posted it here :lol:

Yes I know this is a frontera forum I would ask on the lr forum but I've had enough of the analey retentive reply you get on that one.

As i was driving to stretch & gem's today the car was running fine then it started to play up.
it feels like its holding back at 2900rpm in all gears when it does that I get a lot of black smoke out of the exhaust. I'm not sure what is up yet as I haven't looked. Any help would be gratefully received
It idles fine at just below 900rpm even when it's stationary you can't rev it past 2900rpm

Air box & filler are clear
It has oil & water
Has diesel
No eml light
I don't have a code reader
Engine is a 2.5 diesel

No sensor on the air intake

Revs holding back could indicate air getting into the fuel system.

I'll check all the fuel lines tomorrow and the injectors

Possible Swirl valves in inlet manifold not opening, restricting air flow into engine

Well just been looking at the car looks like I have bought another car that defies the laws if physics :lol:

I drained the sediment tank of the crap
Checked the fuel filler and injectors then the air intake all of that was fine. So all I could think of next was the glow plugs took the first one out then connected it straight to the battery it only just got warm (didn't glow) so then checked the rest. All 3 didn't even get warm. So how can I car sound fine on idle and drive when only one glow plug works :shock:

Ordered a new set of plugs so once I have them I'll try it again

Glow plugs only operate on cold starts, they wont be your issue :wink:

Most cars will start without glow plugs in this country, just a bit more cranking and smoke from unburnt fuel :lol:

I'm at a loss then as to what is wrong

Has your fuel filter been changed recently?

Yea that was replaced about two months ago. I will order a new one just incase

May not need a new one, check the lines as they may be letting air in and you say you checked the injectors for leaks, is the turbo boosting up?

You said there's no eml, does that bulb work

sounds like it might be in limp mode if LRs have such a thing. I assume you have checked the turbo? Could be fuel pump advance is playing up, does it only do it once its warm or does it do it even when stone cold? My thoughts are black smoke is too much fuel and not enough air, so can only really be turbo related or fuel pump/injector related. Or a sensor that controls either of them. Does it have a crank position sensor, when mine went in the DTI it wouldn't rev for love nor money and just smoked a lot...but it wouldn't idle steady either.

The Turbo seems to be working well it did yesurday. I can start the car no problem but its only idleing at about 750rpm and sounds like its only running on two cylinders then as soon as I use the loud pedal the engine dies. I've now given up on it until the new glow plugs turn up

My gut feeling is air in the fuel lines or leaking injectors.

Maybe you could throw a couple more logs into the burner and see if that helps mate! :lol:

Seriously tho, my mates got a 300tdi and had a problem similar and it was summat to do with his turbo?? may be worth a check?

Last edited by chrispynuts on Sun Mar 31, 2013 6:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.

It is air supply TRY the Swirl Valves in the inlet manifold they may be stuck shut not allowing enough air in at higher revs !!

Sorry I have just read your profile I was thinking about a 2.2

Maybe worth checking the timing and belt...might have jumped a tooth or two. If its running that bad now I can't believe there's still no eml!

There isn't any swirl valves in the inlet manifold I know this because I took that off 2 weeks ago to clean all the gunk out.
I will try the new glow plugs if its still running the same then I will remove all the air pipe and manifold then check the turbo. I've already looked at the fuel lines and they look fine. With the glow plugs out I cranked the engine over and I'm getting a fine mist of diesel out of all four. So the fuel pump and injectors are fine.

EGR fault if you haven't already removed it? Or possibly the blanking plate leaking if you have removed it. Completely forgot about that lol

Egr has been blanked off