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156 1.9 JTD blowing smoke

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blowing smoke
8K views 17 replies 5 participants last post by  dgmayhead 
#1 ·
Just wondering if anyone can help with this, I've read through a lot of threads on here but can't find an answer!

I noticed my car was making a weird noise and blowing out black smoke a month or so ago, and it turned out to be a split turbo pipe, which I had fixed and the problem resolved, until I noticed a couple of weeks ago that the car was blowing out a lot of black smoke again. Took it in to the garage and they removed and cleaned out both the EGR valve and the throttle body, and put some Forte treatment in the tank. This has made it better, but it is still throwing out a massive cloud of black smoke every so often.

Just wondering what else it could be? It is a 2004 1.9 JTD M-Jet with 95k on the clock, and had a full service including cam belt and water pump at 92.5k. I was hoping after spending all that cash it would serve me well for another year or so but at the moment it just seems to be one thing after another and I'm considering getting rid. The thing is it is driving perfectly, no loss of power and normal consumption, it's just chucking out this smoke!!

Any advice would be greatfully appreciated, or I could soon be an ex-Alfa owner!
 
#3 ·
That's what I thought at first but it just doesn't seem to be going away, it doesn't really bother me too much but I'm guessing it annoys people behind me! Also I'm worried about the MOT in December so if I am going to get rid I need to make a decision pretty sharpish. I do love the car but it's starting to get me down, seems something else happens every month or so. I think I may just set up a direct debit at the garage soon!!
 
#5 ·
Do you still get excessive turbo noise (whistle) ater replacing the split pipe. If you do then it is likely the other pipe or worse still the intercooler has a leak. I found that after one pipe going the other split shortly afterwards, but the increase in noise is apparent when the pipes leak. If no noise then I'd look elsewhere. If the smoke is consistent then like you I'd be concerned.
 
G
#7 ·
Just to let you know - the smoke on my car was indeed due to a split pipe. The top hose had a 10 cm cut along its length, pretty close to the place where it's entering the engine. Last fuel consumption before replacing it - 10.1 l / 100 km.
I still have a strange whistle when decelerating, it's been there for almost a year now and nobody can tell the cause. The local dealer said (in December 2009, 12000 km ago) the turbo needs to be replaced, yet it seems to be working fine ever since.
 
#8 ·
Slightly unrelated but I had noticed a whilstle on decelerating following changing the boost pipes and was concerned that running the turbo with less back pressure, whilst having a split pipe could have done damage. However on dipping the gear box oil found it to be somewhat lower than I would have liked (despite looking nice and clean), and following a top up my strage whistle has gone. It would seem in my case at least the additional noise must have been the start of a gearbox whine, and thankfully I think I have caught it in time.

As for black smoke if no splits in boost pipes then I'd be looking EGR, MAF? is your fuel consumption normal or has it increaed? I'm sure there will be someone along with more knowledge shortly
 
#9 ·
Right, the latest on this...

On Monday I was driving down the A1 when all of a sudden I heard a huge 'whoosh' kind of noise, looked behind me and there was loads of black smoke. Great I thought, turbo pipe split, nursed it to a garage and sure enough that's what it was, bottom turbo hose split. Part of me was quite relieved as I thought at least I knew why it was smoking, and it would be sorted with a new pipe.

However, I have now got the new pipe, and the bloody thing is STILL smoking!! Getting rather annoyed now as it has now had upper turbo pipe repaired, lower turbo pipe replaced, EGR and throttle body removed and cleaned, and a fuel treatment in the tank! Is this smoke at the moment just likely to be whatever was in there when the pipe split (there was a LOT of smoke then, and I had to drive it about 20 miles to a garage I knew) and it will soon burn off, or am I looking at a leaking intercooler? Any advice would be great! If it is an intercooler, how much would that cost?

Also, anyone fancy buying a 156 1.9 JTD?? For condition, see this thread!!
 
#12 ·
Do you mind if I ask what your driving style is? These JTD's really do benefit from a *coughs-spirited* driving style at least once a week to clear out any soot build up. Just a thought, every little and all that;)
 
G
#11 ·
No ideas regarding your problem, I'm afraid. I just came back from a 1500 km drive and the fuel consumption was 6.9 l / 100 km (shocking decrease from my previous multi-month average of 8.2 - 8.4 l and the last reading of 10.1 l / 100 km).

montrose: that's an interesting thought. Pardon my car illiteracy, but would this gearbox whine be audible also when the car is not in gear (mine is)? I do have a slight crunching when switching from 2nd to 3rd, but not if moving from 1st or 4th to 3rd or into/from any other gears or if I keep the clutch depressed for a bit longer (recon DMF fitted 10k km ago). If it helps, I can get the sound recorded.
 
#13 ·
Airwave, my gearbox noise was only really audible when under engine breaking, gear box wasn't notchy or anything, I just had a small whine, so I can't help unfortunatly.

I'd head off to Ital autos , they have a good rep there and did a good prompt job on my wifes 147 clutch.
 
#16 ·
Yeah, I know Ital Autos quite well and know they do a good job, taken it there a few times including for the last 2 services, one of which was the cam belt and water pump. I just have the feeling maybe it's time for a change, I've had it nearly 2 years which is the longest I've ever had a car, I'm 27 and this is my tenth!
 
#17 ·
Was all set to make you an offer then my missus decides she wants to keep her cabbie (chuffing sun out again ffs!) It will piddle down tomorrow and want rid again, Chuffing women, all I want is 2 Alfa's on the drive. A convertible is so not practical when you have 5 kids(2 of those of step kids), And no to a people carrier, I've only just hit 30.
We'll see what tomorrow brings.....
I'm off now to make rain dance in garden:lol:
 
#18 ·
Blowing smoke

I have similar problems with smoke blowing on hard acceleration but car drives fine and throws no fault codes. Can't find any split hoses. I have an egr delete.

Like others have said I'm tempted not to worry and to just keep driving. Alternatively, I think my next line of enquirey will be the MAF; then the thermostat. Both of these could be causing over fueling.

They both seem to be common faults and there are numerous threads describing their function.
 
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