Thread: DonDownUnder's D3 dropping into Limp Mode

When you filled in Croydon was the fuel brown, or did it smell different?

It may have been algae in the fuel.

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I didn't manage to observe the fuel color when I filled Croydon but I found out my Brother got fuel at the same outlet and his Nissan Navara was running a bit rough during the same time. The fuel filter will be replaced shortly and the old filter opened up
to examine for trace elements when I get home. I managed to get a new H Q filter and a workshop manual via express post
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Hello I refer to former post regarding limp mode. we changed the fuel filter at Emerald. no sign of contaminants in the fuel all went well on the way home to Penrith from that point. We don't know if that was signs of things to come but after being home for two weeks we then headed towards Tweed heads for a military reunion. Got as far as Tamworth for a stopover and on the second day without the caravan hitched we suffered a another breakdown with error code on on one of the camshafts, Thinking it was related to the fuel issue the scenario idea was it was the fuel injection pump or fuel pump belt. Lift pump in tank OK at Schrader valve vent. We were towed complete with Caravan and Disco3 by truck (NRMA) to tweed heads so would not miss the reunion and have vehicle repaired whilst up here. Towed again to workshop and it has been discovered that the
front camshaft timing belt has slipped several teeth and grossly miss-aligned. There is evidence of piston Contact with valves and subsequent fatal damage, The timing belt has only been installed for some 23,000km and will pursue compensation as the motor repairs will be a hefty fee. The incident happened on a flat road and I was accelerating from 60k to 80k at a speed limit change without the caravan and minimum load in vehicle. The repair shop up here at Nerang are looking at different options for a rebuild or another motor, so if anyone has one kicking around or a crated motor please advise. I am not a Happy Chappy

That is not good news. I hope the mob that did the belt cough up with out a fight.

Good luck with this. I hope it all works out.

I had a similar situation happen with my D3 just after buying it second hand a number of years ago when a independant workshop stuffed up the cam timing, after three failed attempts at getting it right and damage to various cylinder heads and rocker gear they gave up and provided and fitted a new crate long engine gratis.

If it has had valves v Pistons, I would not want it repaired, I would want it replaced even with a low k second hand engine. Remember the force of the impacts not only damages the top end but puts huge strain on the bottom end which early TDV6's can and often have major meltdown issues with anyway.

Good luck with it.

Hi, I have received an estimate to replace motor of approx 20K$$ close to 11k$$ for Crate Long Engine. I will not repair existing, the reason the timing belt out of sync is the direct result of the drive sprocket on the crank coming loose

Originally Posted by TerryO

I had a similar situation happen with my D3 just after buying it second hand a number of years ago when a independant workshop stuffed up the cam timing, after three failed attempts at getting it right and damage to various cylinder heads and rocker gear they gave up and provided and fitted a new crate long engine gratis.

If it has had valves v Pistons, I would not want it repaired, I would want it replaced even with a low k second hand engine. Remember the force of the impacts not only damages the top end but puts huge strain on the bottom end which early TDV6's can and often have major meltdown issues with anyway.

Good luck with it.

Originally Posted by DonDownunder

the reason the timing belt out of sync is the direct result of the drive sprocket on the crank coming loose

I wondered if that might be the cause given the earlier then latest symptoms. Without a key it relies on appropriate torque for the bolt so accidents can occur.

Originally Posted by DonDownunder

the reason the timing belt out of sync is the direct result of the drive sprocket on the crank coming loose

and that causes all the initial faults/codes?