Engine hesitating and losing power

larryr123 · 4th December 2020, 16:48

Hi - my car is MGZT-T - Diesel 2ltr 135. Reg KR05YCM - since new. 161K on the clock.

Stuck in Norfolk and noticed a hesitancy when driving along that seems to be intermittent. It comes on as quite severe and can slow down with consistent jerky motion when driving. After pulling into a garage to avoid the string of traffic behind me running the revs and then starting off again it drove normally for the next 5-6 miles.
I'm hoping to drive back to Bedford on Sunday and wondered if there are a few simple things I can try to get this fixed or if someone is available in the North Norfolk area that can help. I'm 5 miles from the coast near Wells Next the Sea.

Recently put the car through MOT and it failed on emissions, corrected with CleanDrive and after a good blast it passed easily. Since then (3 weeks ago) it has been fine, even felt better, until Thursday night on the way to Norfolk when the jerky loss of power started and again today when driving too and from Holt.

Possible options here - fuel blockage/air filter/MAF?

Thanks in advance for any help or advice - Larry

It runs · 4th December 2020, 17:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by larryr123

Hi - my car is MGZT-T - Diesel 2ltr 135. Reg KR05YCM - since new. 161K on the clock.

Stuck in Norfolk and noticed a hesitancy when driving along that seems to be intermittent. It comes on as quite severe and can slow down with consistent jerky motion when driving. After pulling into a garage to avoid the string of traffic behind me running the revs and then starting off again it drove normally for the next 5-6 miles.
I'm hoping to drive back to Bedford on Sunday and wondered if there are a few simple things I can try to get this fixed or if someone is available in the North Norfolk area that can help. I'm 5 miles from the coast near Wells Next the Sea.

Recently put the car through MOT and it failed on emissions, corrected with CleanDrive and after a good blast it passed easily. Since then (3 weeks ago) it has been fine, even felt better, until Thursday night on the way to Norfolk when the jerky loss of power started and again today when driving too and from Holt.

Possible options here - fuel blockage/air filter/MAF?

Thanks in advance for any help or advice - Larry

It sounds a little like a fuel injector . Iv not had this in my rover but my Freelander ( same engine ) had what you are describing. But without looking ! Hope you get it sorted .
Sorry if I was local I would have had look at it
The fault on the injector on mine caused it to lose pressure to the rest hence common rail they are all on the same rail

larryr123 · 4th December 2020, 17:07

Hi It runs, I see you are from Skelmersdale -- I was born in Ormskirk a few miles from you. Did you change the injector yourself, and was that pretty easy to do?

Regards Larry

It runs · 4th December 2020, 17:49

Yes provided you haven't had a leaky copper washer / seal .
But it's also determining that if it is an injector then which one .
I caught mine badly running and disconnected each injector electronic connection and the one that made no difference was the one .
The other 3 made the engine cut out instantly .
Long strong grips a reasonable socket set 17 mm open ended spanner . Gloves .

Obviously the Rest is down to iether experience or if you are stuck . ,Then it's YouTube .
Do not run your hands over and metal pipes in the thaught of looking for a suspect leak .
The common rail pressure if leaking will do serious damage to you if the engine is running
.
But it also could be anything else . I'm just suggesting I had a same description issue . I was in ormskirk today

stevestrat · 4th December 2020, 17:55

Trikey lives in Norfolk. Very knowledgeable guy and a trader here, I don't know if you are anywhere near him but send him a PM, he may be able to help you.

larryr123 · 4th December 2020, 18:22

Hi Steve, Thanks good point, I've had great feedback from Trikey in the past. Unfortunately he is quite a long way away from the Fakenham area so may not be that practical for either of us.
Another thought occurred to me in that it may be the MAF sensor, either dirty of faulty. Many years ago I failed to remove a dirty air filter and this I assumed caused the MAF to fail with similar jerky loss of power -- frankly I'd forgotten it was so long ago, I've have the beast since 2005.
I'm going to give that a try first thing in the morning, by simply unplugging the MAF sensor plug. I remember that being rather tightly clipped on so I must be careful not to break the clip.
Does this sound like a sensible first step?

Larry

stevestrat · 4th December 2020, 18:30

Still worth sending Andy (trikey) a PM, he may be able to offer more specific advice.

larryr123 · 4th December 2020, 19:06

Steve, just sent him a Pm explaining the problem and asking his advice re MAF or otherwise. Thx

marinabrian · 4th December 2020, 22:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by larryr123

Hi - my car is MGZT-T - Diesel 2ltr 135. Reg KR05YCM - since new. 161K on the clock.

Stuck in Norfolk and noticed a hesitancy when driving along that seems to be intermittent. It comes on as quite severe and can slow down with consistent jerky motion when driving. After pulling into a garage to avoid the string of traffic behind me running the revs and then starting off again it drove normally for the next 5-6 miles.
I'm hoping to drive back to Bedford on Sunday and wondered if there are a few simple things I can try to get this fixed or if someone is available in the North Norfolk area that can help. I'm 5 miles from the coast near Wells Next the Sea.

Recently put the car through MOT and it failed on emissions, corrected with CleanDrive and after a good blast it passed easily. Since then (3 weeks ago) it has been fine, even felt better, until Thursday night on the way to Norfolk when the jerky loss of power started and again today when driving too and from Holt.

Possible options here - fuel blockage/air filter/MAF?

Thanks in advance for any help or advice - Larry

First of all, given the weather we've been having, I'd be making sure the ECM isn't swimming in the plenum

Brian

larryr123 · 5th December 2020, 14:32

Brian, It's a good point, I did though experience the problem briefly before I started driving through all the Norfolk puddles.
Disconnected the MAF this morning and have so far driven over 20 miles without issue, so hopefully it is the source of the problem. I'm ashamed to say my air filter left a lot to be desired, so that'll be changed with a new MAF next week.

Regards Larry

4th December 2020, 16:48	#1
larryr123 Avid contributor MG ZT-T Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: larryr123 - Biddenham, Bedfordshire Posts: 224 Thanks: 27 Thanked 19 Times in 17 Posts	Engine hesitating and losing power Hi - my car is MGZT-T - Diesel 2ltr 135. Reg KR05YCM - since new. 161K on the clock. Stuck in Norfolk and noticed a hesitancy when driving along that seems to be intermittent. It comes on as quite severe and can slow down with consistent jerky motion when driving. After pulling into a garage to avoid the string of traffic behind me running the revs and then starting off again it drove normally for the next 5-6 miles. I'm hoping to drive back to Bedford on Sunday and wondered if there are a few simple things I can try to get this fixed or if someone is available in the North Norfolk area that can help. I'm 5 miles from the coast near Wells Next the Sea. Recently put the car through MOT and it failed on emissions, corrected with CleanDrive and after a good blast it passed easily. Since then (3 weeks ago) it has been fine, even felt better, until Thursday night on the way to Norfolk when the jerky loss of power started and again today when driving too and from Holt. Possible options here - fuel blockage/air filter/MAF? Thanks in advance for any help or advice - Larry Last edited by larryr123; 4th December 2020 at 17:06..

4th December 2020, 17:49	#4
It runs Avid contributor Rover 75 saloon Join Date: Aug 2020 Location: Skelmersdale Posts: 181 Thanks: 15 Thanked 49 Times in 42 Posts	Yes provided you haven't had a leaky copper washer / seal . But it's also determining that if it is an injector then which one . I caught mine badly running and disconnected each injector electronic connection and the one that made no difference was the one . The other 3 made the engine cut out instantly . Long strong grips a reasonable socket set 17 mm open ended spanner . Gloves . Obviously the Rest is down to iether experience or if you are stuck . ,Then it's YouTube . Do not run your hands over and metal pipes in the thaught of looking for a suspect leak . The common rail pressure if leaking will do serious damage to you if the engine is running . But it also could be anything else . I'm just suggesting I had a same description issue . I was in ormskirk today __________________ Changed everything that needs changing and everything that didn't . It's called preventive maintenance.

4th December 2020, 17:55	#5
stevestrat This is my second home ZT260 #243 (resting) Join Date: May 2010 Location: Prestonpans Posts: 22,486 Thanks: 650 Thanked 4,624 Times in 3,358 Posts	Trikey lives in Norfolk. Very knowledgeable guy and a trader here, I don't know if you are anywhere near him but send him a PM, he may be able to help you. __________________ Steve T4 Location Map

4th December 2020, 18:30	#7
stevestrat This is my second home ZT260 #243 (resting) Join Date: May 2010 Location: Prestonpans Posts: 22,486 Thanks: 650 Thanked 4,624 Times in 3,358 Posts	Still worth sending Andy (trikey) a PM, he may be able to offer more specific advice. __________________ Steve T4 Location Map

4th December 2020, 17:07	#3
larryr123 Avid contributor MG ZT-T Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: larryr123 - Biddenham, Bedfordshire Posts: 224 Thanks: 27 Thanked 19 Times in 17 Posts	Hi It runs, I see you are from Skelmersdale -- I was born in Ormskirk a few miles from you. Did you change the injector yourself, and was that pretty easy to do? Regards Larry

4th December 2020, 18:22	#6
larryr123 Avid contributor MG ZT-T Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: larryr123 - Biddenham, Bedfordshire Posts: 224 Thanks: 27 Thanked 19 Times in 17 Posts	Hi Steve, Thanks good point, I've had great feedback from Trikey in the past. Unfortunately he is quite a long way away from the Fakenham area so may not be that practical for either of us. Another thought occurred to me in that it may be the MAF sensor, either dirty of faulty. Many years ago I failed to remove a dirty air filter and this I assumed caused the MAF to fail with similar jerky loss of power -- frankly I'd forgotten it was so long ago, I've have the beast since 2005. I'm going to give that a try first thing in the morning, by simply unplugging the MAF sensor plug. I remember that being rather tightly clipped on so I must be careful not to break the clip. Does this sound like a sensible first step? Larry

4th December 2020, 19:06	#8
larryr123 Avid contributor MG ZT-T Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: larryr123 - Biddenham, Bedfordshire Posts: 224 Thanks: 27 Thanked 19 Times in 17 Posts	Steve, just sent him a Pm explaining the problem and asking his advice re MAF or otherwise. Thx

5th December 2020, 14:32	#10
larryr123 Avid contributor MG ZT-T Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: larryr123 - Biddenham, Bedfordshire Posts: 224 Thanks: 27 Thanked 19 Times in 17 Posts	Brian, It's a good point, I did though experience the problem briefly before I started driving through all the Norfolk puddles. Disconnected the MAF this morning and have so far driven over 20 miles without issue, so hopefully it is the source of the problem. I'm ashamed to say my air filter left a lot to be desired, so that'll be changed with a new MAF next week. Regards Larry