XJ 2.5TD VM... weird problem!!

[JEEPADDICTION]

Hi all. Im new to AJOR. I live in South Africa. Few months ago i bought a 2001 XJ (2.5td VM engine). She is in great condition, inside and out, really in love with this Jeep! And the engine seems to have been maintained nicely by the previous owner.

Here in SA however, not many mechanics know much about this VM engine and parts are hard to locate. Also, parts from the jeep agents are extremely expensive. So before i go replacing parts that dont need to be replaced, i am hoping you guys on AJOR may be able to help me pinpoint what the problem is with my Jeep.

She ran beautifully for the past few months. (except i dont know why she is so sluggish on take-off, in first and second gear, and especially if taking off on an incline. and she boosts only after 2000rpm? is all this normal behaviour for a 2.5 vm xj??)

Anyway heres the main problem thats started recently:
She is randomly going in and out of limp home mode. One minute she is stuck on 2000 rpm, wont accellerate past that,,, then after a while she drives normally, boosts normally. Then at any given moment, she goes back into the limp mode! Also, ever since this limp home mode problem began, i noticed that the engine is noisier than usual. sounds like a tractor now!

Fuel and air filters have been replaced. The no.1 injector is my suspect, but i really dont want to guess around. (new no.1 injector costs R11 000-00 at jeep dealership!) The diesel pump has been re conditioned. Glow plugs are new. i always use only high quality diesel at all times. What on earth could be the problem guys? some advice would be greatly appreciated

PS. whenever she does get out of limp mode, she drives very well, turbo kicks in as normal... just trying to rule out a turbo problem
But as i said earlier, shes always been like a donkey on take-off, so i dont know if that has anything to do with this problem i am experiencing now

[layback40]

Welcome to AJOR !!
I had the #1 injector problem about a year ago.
If you look in the XJ section in the VM diesel sticky you will find details of a place in Lithuania that may be able to supply you with a good second hand #1 injector.
Have you tested the resistance? Should be ~ 80-100 ohms. If its higher tan that you have a problem.
When mine went into limp mode, it was fine up to about 2000 rpm & then was gutless. Mine has plenty of pull from idle up. Your waste gate could be jammed open or your EGR valve could be jammed open.
Best get rid of the EGR. The waste gate can be tested by applying pressure to the dash-pot & watching the shaft move. If it doest move with ~15 # pressure its faulty.

[mud_slut]

i second the egr valve my xj is playing up at the moment and i think it's the same thing. if its stuck open you will be losing intake manifold pressure and therefore boost/ power and the engine/ turbo will be working harder to keep the car moving (which could explain your issues in lower gears)

how is your fuel economy ?

[Morris4x4Center]

Originally Posted by JEEPADDICTION

Hi all. Im new to AJOR. I live in South Africa. Few months ago i bought a 2001 XJ (2.5td VM engine). She is in great condition, inside and out, really in love with this Jeep! And the engine seems to have been maintained nicely by the previous owner.

Here in SA however, not many mechanics know much about this VM engine and parts are hard to locate. Also, parts from the jeep agents are extremely expensive. So before i go replacing parts that dont need to be replaced, i am hoping you guys on AJOR may be able to help me pinpoint what the problem is with my Jeep.

She ran beautifully for the past few months. (except i dont know why she is so sluggish on take-off, in first and second gear, and especially if taking off on an incline. and she boosts only after 2000rpm? is all this normal behaviour for a 2.5 vm xj??)

Anyway heres the main problem thats started recently:
She is randomly going in and out of limp home mode. One minute she is stuck on 2000 rpm, wont accellerate past that,,, then after a while she drives normally, boosts normally. Then at any given moment, she goes back into the limp mode! Also, ever since this limp home mode problem began, i noticed that the engine is noisier than usual. sounds like a tractor now!

Fuel and air filters have been replaced. The no.1 injector is my suspect, but i really dont want to guess around. (new no.1 injector costs R11 000-00 at jeep dealership!) The diesel pump has been re conditioned. Glow plugs are new. i always use only high quality diesel at all times. What on earth could be the problem guys? some advice would be greatly appreciated

PS. whenever she does get out of limp mode, she drives very well, turbo kicks in as normal... just trying to rule out a turbo problem
But as i said earlier, shes always been like a donkey on take-off, so i dont know if that has anything to do with this problem i am experiencing now

EGR could be sticking up or a sticking wastegate.. .. does the engine run hot at times? Not over heating, but just hotter than normal..

[Shedman4x4]

Thank you for this thread gives me an idea as to one of the many problems i'm having also have a major oil leak coming from around the rocker cover intake manifold any ideas.

[mud_slut]

Any chance you could put a picture up ?

[Shedman4x4]

Yeah will take one in a bit and put it up. I have the water gallery off etc... So I could Inspect the oil feed lines into the heads the line itself seem fine a bit suspect on one of the bolts. also while disecting found a lot of oil in the intercooler pipes and cooler itself, think turbo may need a seal kit put threw it or it it a posible wastegate stuck open could cause this as my truck struggles to take off when on a hill.
Thanks for taking the time to help I really appreciate it, it has been interesting coming over from a 4.0 grand to the 2.5vm Cherokee mechanically speaking.