N16 Diesel SXi - Starting Issue and Engine Power Loss

Kester Brewin · Oct 12, 2015

Hi people, I've an N16 (2003) diesel which has been very reliable since purchase in May. However, last Monday the car began having problems starting. It always does start eventually, but it can take a while. Additionally - starting at the same time - the engine has begun momentarily losing power, and occasionally losing power for slightly longer periods. On one occasion I couldn't get it to rev above 2000rpm, but when I pulled over and restarted the engine it was fine.

Any thoughts on what this might be? Help much appreciated! I've reasonable technical/mechanical knowledge, but wondered if this was a 'known issue' for anyone else before I started going deep on it!

Thanks,

KB

andy_wall101 · Oct 20, 2015

Sounds like a similar problem to me. It's been diagnosed as a stretched timing chain.

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Kester Brewin · Oct 20, 2015

andy_wall101 said:
Sounds like a similar problem to me. It's been diagnosed as a stretched timing chain.

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Thanks - that's helpful. Took it to garage who got a 'fuel pump' fault code out when they plugged it in. Wondering if this might be connected though? Not very up on the details of these things! You get yours fixed?

Liam · Oct 20, 2015

Suction control valve on the fuel pump.

luvrust · Oct 20, 2015

andy_wall101 said:
Sounds like a similar problem to me. It's been diagnosed as a stretched timing chain.

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Thought it was only some of the petrol versions suffering stretched timing chains?

andy_wall101 · Oct 20, 2015

Kester Brewin said:
Thanks - that's helpful. Took it to garage who got a 'fuel pump' fault code out when they plugged it in. Wondering if this might be connected though? Not very up on the details of these things! You get yours fixed?

Not yet no. Still deciding what to do as have been quoted about £350-400 to get it fixed.

luvrust said:
Thought it was only some of the petrol versions suffering stretched timing chains?

Not sure. Mine is a petrol.

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Kester Brewin · Oct 21, 2015

Thanks all. Have been doing a bunch of research, and think that it probably is the suction control valve on the fuel pump. A very comprehensive post on this I found here: http://www.npoc.co.uk/forum/nissan-primera-p12-22-dci-power-loss-sorted_topic54328.html

Kester Brewin · Dec 21, 2015

Kester Brewin said:
Thanks all. Have been doing a bunch of research, and think that it probably is the suction control valve on the fuel pump. A very comprehensive post on this I found here: http://www.npoc.co.uk/forum/nissan-primera-p12-22-dci-power-loss-sorted_topic54328.html

Thank you - apologies for late reply, but it WAS the suction control valve. Fixed by diesel specialist for around £450 all in... Not cheap, but a hell of a lot cheaper than replacing the whole fuel pump!

V-SpecII · Dec 21, 2015

£450!!!

You can get the SCV from ebay for £70 or even Nissan at £120, and its a 10-15 min job tops, with unbolting 2 Allen key bolts!!

If anything a fuel pump would have cost you that, or if you shopped around even circa £300.

Kester Brewin · Dec 24, 2015

Gah!!! Ah well... put that one down to (in)experience