Member Since: 12 Mar 2013
Location: Manchester
Posts: 9
Towig performance
Hi All,
Well last week was the first trip away towing the caravan, and have to say i did have some issues/ concerns.
First off, there seems to be a lack of towing capabilty coming from my DS3. now im towing a weight of about 1.2tons, and i suprised to find that it seem to be running out of power in 5th and 6th is almost crawling up the speed to the point that reach say 80 would take a considerable push and a down hill slope. Again as soon as i hit any form of gradient the disco just cant seem to push on up a hill while accelerating.
i did have a 1.8d smax which was capable of doing the above.Any thoughts welcome .
Aparently the car was remapped by previous owner could this affect top gear speeds?
Second issue and may well be related to the first is that a half way to location and warning light came on Engine management fault, then lost almost all power ie trying to accelerate above 40-50 was becoming an issue.
If anyone has had similar issues would love to hear them.
Second issue and may well be related to the first is that a half way to location and warning light came on Engine management fault, then lost almost all power ie trying to accelerate above 40-50 was becoming an issue.
I would say this will be the cause of issue 1 also
I dare say somebody cleverer than I will be along soon enough
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16th Apr 2013 3:19 pm
M3DPO
Member Since: 22 Sep 2010
Location: Notts.
Posts: 8243
I tow amongs other trailers weighing up to T3.5 a Hobby Prestige weighs T1.85, on motorways/A roads I set the CC to 65mph (never tow any faster) on a long steep incline the speed will reduce to 55mph at which point the Auto will change down to fith gear from sixth, when this happens the sudden surge back to 65mph can be alarming to the degree of luggage being thrown to the rear of the van, items on the dash being thrown on the floor, little bit like a jet taking off, HWMBO screaming "you're going to fast again", to which I reply with a permogrin on my face "it's not me darling it's the car".
In short you have a fault .
Second issue is typical of a D3 that has not had a long run, or been driven concertively, it is almost certainly the catalist burning itself clean particularly if it threw white smoke out of the exhaust at the time, usually a short stop and restart it will rectify itself.It can when others can't,
It will when others won't,
It goes where others don't.
Last edited by M3DPO on 16th Apr 2013 3:44 pm. Edited 1 time in total
16th Apr 2013 3:37 pm
ronp
Member Since: 29 Nov 2006
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 15269
Yep, definately a fault.
Below is a post from my 'caravan for sale' thread
ronp wrote:
This is a vid of the D4 towing the caravan around 10 days ago on the A1m North Yorkshire, on way home from Lakes.
Sitting nicely at a near constant 70mph [without use of cruise control], only slowing up at end because of my junction exit.
Tows like a dream
Don't normally tow at that speed btw, it's just the motorway was quiet, I could, so why not?
...... always on the road less travelled 🚧
< ‘tis but a mere scratch …….. it’ll polish out.
16th Apr 2013 3:40 pm
Mark Y
Member Since: 14 Sep 2008
Location: Warwickshire
Posts: 1249
Why would you want to tow at 80
16th Apr 2013 4:01 pm
ronp
Member Since: 29 Nov 2006
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 15269
Just to clarify Mark Ys comment - [as it's my post above] it's not me that wants to tow at 80.
It's directed at the OP...... always on the road less travelled 🚧
< ‘tis but a mere scratch …….. it’ll polish out.
16th Apr 2013 4:19 pm
bigdave Site Sponsor
Member Since: 04 Jul 2008
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 9870
Have the EGR valves been done, blanked or replaced?
It may be them.
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Member Since: 09 Jul 2011
Location: Central
Posts: 1790
Alan, I have a manual too and tow a caravan, if you keep the revs above 1500 it pulls just fine, are your EGRs blanked? and the ESF could be (just possibly) a sticking actuator on the turbo You need to get the codes read for that - if you don't have or know anyone closer I would recommend Disco_Mikey up at Strathearn who may also have a cheap fix if it is the actuator
16th Apr 2013 4:24 pm
Andym01207
Member Since: 01 Mar 2012
Location: County Durham
Posts: 412
Agree, there is something wrong.
I moved from a TD4 FL1 to a Disco3 and the first time I squeezed the throttle hard on a dual carriageway when towing it actually made me laugh out loud.
They are, or should be, a very capable tow car and a caravan should pose no issues at all.
16th Apr 2013 5:11 pm
DiscoDunc
Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 16390
sounds like something not right with your D3 - it shouldn't struggle at all.
Ronp..... nice vid... but how do we know you are towing the caravan Duncan
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16th Apr 2013 5:19 pm
ronp
Member Since: 29 Nov 2006
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 15269
DiscoDunc wrote:
Ronp..... nice vid... but how do we know you are towing the caravan
Good point Duncan
Suppose if someone were anal about it they could work out the approx speed of the cars being overtaken, versus the overall outfit length versus the distance it took me to pull in.
Then again it would be easier just to believe me. ...... always on the road less travelled 🚧
< ‘tis but a mere scratch …….. it’ll polish out.
16th Apr 2013 5:30 pm
AlanCD
Member Since: 12 Mar 2013
Location: Manchester
Posts: 9
Thanks Guys, not sure if im really any further on, think first step is to take into dealer and ask them to look at history of fault codes.
I would consider a good "indy" rather than a dealer - the latter are very expensive.
If you fancied a drive DiscoMikey isn't too far away.
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22nd Apr 2013 8:48 am
piper5
Member Since: 01 Jul 2012
Location: fife
Posts: 116
almost certainly a egr valve has gone, mine did that towing a 26 ft caravanup drumochter pass last year, wouldnt go worth a till the revs came up then went like a scalded cat. i squeezed the egr pipes flat completed my holiday then got rid of the egr valves much better, i regularly tow three tons with no issue
22nd Apr 2013 7:27 pm
MHP
Member Since: 31 Dec 2011
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Posts: 2776
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You need to get the codes read for that - if you don't have or know anyone closer I would recommend Disco_Mikey up at Strathearn who may also have a cheap fix if it is the actuator 
till the revs came up then went like a scalded cat. i squeezed the egr pipes flat completed my holiday then got rid of the egr valves much better, i regularly tow three tons with no issue
