Lack of power on hil.

[Martin Thomo]

I've recently bought a 2004 Ducato C1 Carioca 644 motorhome. Total mileage 28000. it has a 2 litre engine.
Whilst I appreciate it's going to be underpowered, it seems to struggle badly on hills, ie cannot get out of first from a standing start.
I'm taking it down to Spain in January and am worried about its lack of power, especially in the mountains.
Have not changed air or fuel filter as it has only done 1000 miles since last service and has hardly had any use in the last two years.
Any ideas?

 

[Richard n Ann]

cannot get out of first from a standing start.

That's terrible. I think the engine has a big problem and I wouldn't take it anywhere until sorted.

 

[LostInSpace]

it seems to struggle badly on hills, ie cannot get out of first from a standing start.

Ours was like that. I assume you mean on a hill.

We had to change down on motorways with the slightest incline - often down to 3rd gear. Occaisionally,, 2nd.

Live on the level.

 

[Bessy765]

May pay to check rear brakes are not binding. If it’s stood around a lot.

 

[Just smiffy]

Check for mice in the air filter…

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[David and Sally]

A check by a good diesel specialist would be a good investment

 

[DBK]

Is the exhaust gas looking clean or is there smoke?

Changing fuel and air filters as a first step would be my choice. It won't be too expensive although you may need the special tool required for the fuel filter on your model if doing it yourself. You may also have contaminated fuel.

An alternative strategy would be the "Italian tune-up" where you give it a lot of wellie with the engine under load, ie on a road and ideally on a gentle incline. However, this may not achieve much as I don't think your engine has many of the emission control things which can benefit from this treatment.

 

[Richard n Ann]

Should be 86bhp my work transit was 85 and was fine so something isn't right

 

[Masman]

Check the turbo wastegate is not sticking or broken. I had similar but not as bad as yours. Mine was a Sticking wastegate. Local garage lubed it and been OK since.Just noticed yours is a 2 litre.Mine was the 2.8jtd.I don't know if the 2 litre has same wastegate

 

[Verteuil Man]

I would suggest taking it to a commercial diesel garage and getting it sorted. A few hundred quid spent on that will save thousands in recovery charges in Europe.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[gus-lopez]

Assaid ,turbo wastegate seized or stuck

Have not changed air or fuel filter as it has only done 1000 miles since last service and has hardly had any use in the last two years.

all the more reason to change them ,especially the diesel filter as if stood it can get the dreaded algea jelly which would block the filter. There is something you can get to put in tank & kill it if it is that.

 

[MitchandJenny]

Assaid ,turbo wastegate seized or stuck

all the more reason to change them ,especially the diesel filter as if stood it can get the dreaded algea jelly which would block the filter. There is something you can get to put in tank & kill it if it is that.

Injector cleaner, small bottle, tip into fuel filler and top up with fuel then drive around.

 

[Brize]

It sounds like something has seized somewhere.

I would have been very careful about a motorhome that had only do e just over a thousand miles a year. Doing too little is far worse that doing more than the annual average.

Take it to a good dealer.

 

[Just smiffy]

It sounds like something has seized somewhere.

I would have been very careful about a motorhome that had only do e just over a thousand miles a year. Doing too little is far worse that doing more than the annual average.

Take it to a good dealer.

A dealer would be the worse place to take it… it needs a good garage and mechanic…

 

[PP Bear]

Use this link and scroll down to #6 and see my post. I had the same issue and this sorted it out

Turbo help

Hi We are in Spain , Mercia in a town called Lorca heading for the coast. Our van is a fiat 2002 2.8itd Eura mobile. It’s got a dodgy turbo & is making driving very stressful! Very poor hill climbing & will only rev to about 2500rpm before it feels like it’s stuttering like it’s running out of...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[pappajohn]

A dealer would be the worse place to take it… it needs a good garage and mechanic…

Preferably with spanners and no computer/laptop

 

[Grummyb]

Fo you know the filters were changed 1000 moles ago I had 1 exactly the same was told it had just all the filters and would t pull tbd skin off a rice pudding so I changed the fuel filter as that was the cheapest starting point and it that cured it so that's where I'd start if it was my van

 

[cyberyacht]

Let's be honest. 86BHP isn't going to do anything other than just trundle along and that was as it left the factory. A few of those horse have probably been put out to graze since.

 

[hymerman]

I had a similar problem with an old merc hymer which I still own.
As DBK suggested , simple replacement of the fuel filter cured the problem.
Do the simple jobs first.
I bought it privately and the seller thought that there was a major issue and tried to cover up the problem, and sold me the van quite cheaply, 12 years later I still have it , lovely van.

 

[tacr2man]

as previous mentions check air intake for blockages , loose turbo hoses , replace fuel filter , check/drain sedimentor (if fitted) plug in obd scanner to see what turbo boost pressure live data .

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Scottish Scrutineer]

Assaid ,turbo wastegate seized or stuck

all the more reason to change them ,especially the diesel filter as if stood it can get the dreaded algea jelly which would block the filter. There is something you can get to put in tank & kill it if it is that.

I’d be draining the diesel as it may well have developed a bloom (algae like growth) due to it sitting, and replacing the fuel filter(s). There may be more than one filter, possibly one at the bottom of the pick-up pipe in the tank.