Sold an E50 Lemon?!

[CantonasCollar]

Good stuff definitely something you need let us know how you get on

Will do Matt, will be sure to let you know how things progress, thanks for all of your help so far, it's much appreciated!

 

[BMR]

Also be aware that since they started producing "green diesel" a few years ago vehicles have been growing algae in the fuel tanks, this first started with Diesel engined boats but then progressed onto Diesel engined road vehicles, I have come across 2 forms of this one on a focus which when i removed the diesel filter it had turned black with orange spots the other case was a 3.0 E50 which looked like the diesel filter had been filled with black cotton wool. Both of them would run fine for a few miles then cut out as the fuel supply got strangled. Wynns produces an additive to kill this bio bug but you still need to change your filter more often until its gone.

 

[CantonasCollar]

Also be aware that since they started producing "green diesel" a few years ago vehicles have been growing algae in the fuel tanks, this first started with Diesel engined boats but then progressed onto Diesel engined road vehicles, I have come across 2 forms of this one on a focus which when i removed the diesel filter it had turned black with orange spots the other case was a 3.0 E50 which looked like the diesel filter had been filled with black cotton wool. Both of them would run fine for a few miles then cut out as the fuel supply got strangled. Wynns produces an additive to kill this bio bug but you still need to change your filter more often until its gone.

That's very interesting lots to consider, thanks for the advice!

 

[CantonasCollar]

Evening all, hope you are all well!
So a bit of an update, still nothing in the way of stalling which is a positive! I received the diagnostics plug and got the following codes:

Code 18 Fuel Inj F/VB 2
Code 22 Fuel Inj F/B
Code 34 Needle Lift Sen (although this one said it started 0 times with this particular code)

I cleared the codes and the flashing engine light went off! Hurraaahh!
But alas a couple of days later the light EML started flashing again, just did the diagnostics again and showing same codes as above.
Looking up the codes they are as follows...

18 Fuel quantity adjuster/position sensor- malfunction
22 Fuel Pump
34 Knock Sensor

So the car is behaving and not stalling but with the bulb now present and through the diagnostics kit I now have the knowledge that something appears not to be OK with the bus? Looks to be pointing to something fuel related!
(apologies for the random bold above! )

 

[Elliematt83]

That points to the sensor on the pump @Cliff Goodwin had this problem and think he removed sensor and gave it a clean,I've heard of a few that run about like this with with no problems

 

[Cliff Goodwin]

That points to the sensor on the pump @Cliff Goodwin had this problem and think he removed sensor and gave it a clean,I've heard of a few that run about like this with with no problems

I never actually got around to taking mine out, the wynns extreme diesel clean every 3 months with a full tank and filter change and accidentally filling it with petrol seems to have cured my problem for now,

 

[Elliematt83]

I never actually got around to taking mine out, the wynns extreme diesel clean every 3 months with a full tank and filter change and accidentally filling it with petrol seems to have cured my problem for now,

Can't beat a fix like that

 

[Magsy]

Hi @CantonasCollar I am sorry to hear about your misadventures hope you get sorted very soon with minimum cost. I know it may not be everyone's cup of tea, but we take our bus to a group of polish lads (one of whom we affectionately call 'angry Lucas' lol) they may not be skilled in Nissan motors per se, but we won't take our bus anywhere else. They don't charge for labour, only by the job. Maybe there could be a garage run by polish lads near you who could get to have a look at it? Ours work some magic! Lol I have a Nissan Micra and it kept idling rough, only had it a few days quite literally when it started, took it to the lads and they said it was a filter - £800 to replace....worth more than the car...I nearly collapsed on the floor - but one of the guys they call tractor cleaned the filter - no replacing - total cost £10! I know that it doesn't help your cause directly, but it was just based on our experience....☺

 

[CantonasCollar]

That points to the sensor on the pump @Cliff Goodwin had this problem and think he removed sensor and gave it a clean,I've heard of a few that run about like this with with no problems

Thanks Matt, so going by Cliffs solution I've covered the filter changes and Wynns Extreme Clean so it's just a case of filling it up with petrol now instead of diesel!
Is the cleaning of the sensor an easy process for the uneducated?

 

[CantonasCollar]

Hi @CantonasCollar I am sorry to hear about your misadventures hope you get sorted very soon with minimum cost. I know it may not be everyone's cup of tea, but we take our bus to a group of polish lads (one of whom we affectionately call 'angry Lucas' lol) they may not be skilled in Nissan motors per se, but we won't take our bus anywhere else. They don't charge for labour, only by the job. Maybe there could be a garage run by polish lads near you who could get to have a look at it? Ours work some magic! Lol I have a Nissan Micra and it kept idling rough, only had it a few days quite literally when it started, took it to the lads and they said it was a filter - £800 to replace....worth more than the car...I nearly collapsed on the floor - but one of the guys they call tractor cleaned the filter - no replacing - total cost £10! I know that it doesn't help your cause directly, but it was just based on our experience....☺

Hi Magsy, thanks for the message! Sounds like you've done well with finding Polish fellas, loved the fact that you got filter sorted for a tenner instead of £800! That's a cracking result! It's tricky as I'm not great with cars by any stretch of the imagination (trying to learn!) so I'm at the mercy of the garages and mechanics and in the main having to take their word for it. I guess that's why I'm here and gleaning as much knowledge and advice from you friendly helpful lot!

 

[Kevinthecar]

Evening all,

I think I already know the answer but thought I'd run it past you folk on the off chance I could possibly do something.....
Back in November of last year I bought an E50 from a chap off Facebook. Came across as a very decent bloke chatting prior to meeting and in person but turns out that he's done one over on me. Test driving it all seemed spot on and have intermittently driven it since purchasing one because of the lack of being able to drive due to covid and because I've been out of action for 3 months as a result of breaking my elbow during a run.
Long story short it started stalling a couple of weeks ago and continued to do so every time we took it out, anyway took it to specialist garage for Japanese vehicles and they've since discovered that the engine maintenance light has been removed and there has been an issue with the engine for some time. They are still trying to work out the issue with it and are taking it to Nissan for diagnostics on Monday when hopefully all will revealed.
So basically he's sold me a car that was crocked and covered it up by removing the bulb.
I appreciate that these are the risks with buying privately and I also understand that I should've noticed that the light wasn't coming on when turning on the ignition. I have yet to contact the bloke on Facebook for all its worth but my question is, is there anything I can do other than message him to give him a piece of my mind? I haven't got a leg to stand on have I? Proving it that he removed it is the sticking point eh?
Thanks in advance.....

Being in the motor trade this is now quite common but the new trick is a bulb with a timer in (from China) so you turn the key on and a few seconds later bulb goes out!.
Not much you can do as a private sale especially as time has gone on a bit. Check out air mass sensor
Regards Kevin

 

[Magsy]

Just a thought @CantonasCollar - is there a video on YouTube that may help with getting rid of the eml warning?

 

[Cliff Goodwin]

Thanks Matt, so going by Cliffs solution I've covered the filter changes and Wynns Extreme Clean so it's just a case of filling it up with petrol now instead of diesel!
Is the cleaning of the sensor an easy process for the uneducated?

The sensor is located on the underside of the pump, u will need to replace the 2 o rings which are different sizes, can't remember who it was but someone on here gave it a try but it didn't help for them, that doesn't mean it won't work for you, also check the fuel pump relay I replaced mine

 

[CantonasCollar]

Being in the motor trade this is now quite common but the new trick is a bulb with a timer in (from China) so you turn the key on and a few seconds later bulb goes out!.
Not much you can do as a private sale especially as time has gone on a bit. Check out air mass sensor
Regards Kevin

Thanks for the input Kevin. That's a bit sneaky with the timer bulbs, no way you'd spot that one would you!
I've given up on going back to him about the van, concentrating my efforts on sorting the issue!

You mention the MAF sensor, I've bought some MAF cleaner. I've had a look around but to no avail so far, would you happen to know Kevin if there any sort of guide as to how to clean it/location etc.?

 

[CantonasCollar]

Just a thought @CantonasCollar - is there a video on YouTube that may help with getting rid of the eml warning?

Evening Magsy, I've managed to stop the EML light flashing the once using the diagnostics kit by clearing the error code thinking that they might be old stored codes prior to any 0f the potential fixes. It went off for a few days but then started again, I've cleared the codes again and no flashing so far but I suspect it's only a matter of time Magsy before it comes on again.

 

[Elliematt83]

I've never had to do it but believe its 2 Allen bolts best access underneath in the location cliff said but reckon it will be a fiddly job

 

[CantonasCollar]

The sensor is located on the underside of the pump, u will need to replace the 2 o rings which are different sizes, can't remember who it was but someone on here gave it a try but it didn't help for them, that doesn't mean it won't work for you, also check the fuel pump relay I replaced mine

Thanks for the info Cliff, I think that the cleaning of the sensor you mention above might be a stretch too far for my novice hands but the pump relay replacement might be doable. Is it a straightforward job?

 

[CantonasCollar]

I've never had to do it but believe its 2 Allen bolts best access underneath in the location cliff said but reckon it will be a fiddly

Okay thanks Matt I'll leave that potential fix alone for now then, I'll look at cleaning the MAF sensor and replacing the fuel pump relay, sound like they might be a bit more doable?

 

[Cliff Goodwin]

Thanks for the info Cliff, I think that the cleaning of the sensor you mention above might be a stretch too far for my novice hands but the pump relay replacement might be doable. Is it a straightforward job?

Sensor is a fiddly job, relay is easy, open bonnet on the left is a fuse box containing the relay, just swap the 2 blue ones around to see if it makes a difference

 

[Elliematt83]

Okay thanks Matt I'll leave that potential fix alone for now then, I'll look at cleaning the MAF sensor and replacing the fuel pump relay, sound like they might be a bit more doable?

I've just been having a read up the fuel quantity control is inside the actual pump and the one on the bottom that you can remove is injection timing solenoid,I'd personally carry on putting injector cleaner in and see how it goes over a few fills I've read that the problem disappeared on a few that I've seen using this method