The Vehicle is a 2008 Model import from Japan, converted in Brisbane to their Diamond Series it has presently 172,000 Km.
On a recent trip we arrived on a camp site Friday night, the vehicle performed perfectly going over the Snowy Mountains. Saturday morning we received a call informing us that a Bushfire has broken out at our Property and is raging out of control, several Fire Trucks and a Water bombing Helicopter where on site.
So, as one could imagine we immediately wanted to return Home but guess what. The Vehicle refused to start no matter what was tried by the NRMA.
There was no Hire Vehicle available for us to go Home. The nearest Town with repair facility was Wagga Wagga but all big Garages where booked out for weeks on end. One Company pointed us to a Truck Repair Shop who might be able to help, so the NRMA transported the vehicle to Wagga Wagga.
There, the Mechanic connected his Scanner to the on Board Computer and one hour later after consulting with others gave us the result. All Injectors are faulty, and because they would not do a botchy Job! ( that could ruin their reputation) they would also take out the Injector pump which could also be faulty, there was also a possibility that some Pistons might have a crack!
There estimated repair cost would be between $10,000to $15,000and it may as well be cheaper to replace the Engine!
The bill for this exercise $ 580.00 and no physical work whats owe ever was done apart from using the Scanner.
Being an Ex-Motor Mechanic myself I checked for fuel at the injector, there was none, so the common rail had no pressure which made me think that there might be no fuel to the pump it could also be a faulty fuel shut off valve, but this was entirely dismissed as nonsense by the Diesel Experts.
As it made absolutely no sense what they were telling me. I called the NRMA again who brought my vehicle another 300Km back home. Some local garages told me a similar story but left the hole in the piston out, but were also fully booked out.
Several days later I was given the name of a Mobile Diesel Mechanic who, as it happen was living only about 20 km from us who was willing to have a look at the vehicle, he also agreed with my assumption that Injectors dont go bad over night.
That young Mechanic done his Diesel Mechanic Apprentice ship with the Army and spend the next 8 years repairing all kind of diesel vehicles and he also worked on Toyota Coaster with the Hino Engines, two and a half hours later my vehicle was running as smooth as it was before, the course of the problem appeared to be a loose intermitted connection on the shut of valve.
I have been driving the vehicle now for a couple of thousand Km without a problem and hope it stays that way.
Total cost of the repair ( no parts required ) $300 .
The NRMA where fantastic and tried to get us home as quick as possible but circumstances where against us all the way.
In conclusion: it demonstrates how important it is to get a good second opinion before you commit to a very expensive suggestive repair.
Our Home and Sheds where saved, but the fire came within several meters to the House, appr. 30 Acre was burned out.
16 October 2023
By the way, I informed the garage in Wagga Wagga what Bull they told me and told them what was really wrong, guess what!
they refunded the Money I paid them without any commend !
12th March 24
I am still trying to get my Limp mode problem fixed, my Mechanic with his scanner found the the Turbo Activator was faulty, on physical inspection he found the Turbo Activator is stuck on 7% , I knew that this fault code was present when I bought the Vehicle but was told by an Auto Electrician that , if the Vehicle runs normal ignore it! so I did for the last few Years! Now it appears my Turbo has not been really used all the time I had the Vehicle! We have now ordered a new Turbo including the Actuator and my Mechanic expects that this hopefully will fix the limp mode problem. I will keep you all informed once the turbo has been replaced.
