Citroen Relay going into LIMP MODE

TWICKS

Thanks everyone. Started van and started normally.Stopped and left for 5mins. Started again and it went into a 'lacking in power mode' which as 'crazy Red' said may not be 'Limp Mode'. I could rev up to 3000 rpm but very sluggish and smoky. Switched off for 3 hours. On restart now almost totally cold started ok no smoke. Have tried 3 garages with diagnostic equipment but they have been unable to diagnose (maybe they have the latest and not greatly compatible with much older basic ecu). Have been recommended a very good diesel specialist quite a long way but hopefully will be able to diagnose /source issues. Hopefully it points to something not too serious (EGR valve sticking) and not too expensive to repair- I dont know what a typical time or cost of this will be for a citroen relay - Any guidance on this or anything else to limit time and costs? Thanks to everyones advice thus far. Its been very helpful and useful. Will let you know of outcome.

CrazyRed

I'd lay a pound to a penny that the EGR's got coked in cr*p and is sticking. From the extra info you've given above, it sounds exactly the same as happened to my car when my (bodge) to stop the EGR working went wrong and jammed the EGR valve open!

TWICKS

Thanks. Took van to diesel specialist Wades of Hoddesdon. £35+VAT for diagnostic. They came highly recommended being used by other garages from Greater London area to resolve diesel problems. In my case they ran a Bosch diagnostic test on engine it couldn't pick up any codes / communicate with engine (maybe theres a connection fault with ecu?). As luck would have it, the engine had been 'idling' for a while as the test was carried out and it went into 'low power mode' and was smoking. The technician said" i think i know what that is - its the dozer valve ((a cut off flap which cuts air to engine (?)" . He had a look and the flap was stuck close. He pulled out the vacumatic supply pipe to it and hey presto it stopped smoking and power resumed! Still need to find out whats causing this to stick(?). I think i do need to get the EGR cleaned as Crazy Red suggested. Many thanks any further thoughts welcome.