Help Almost no power

scubadvr1999 · **Joined:** Thu Feb 03, 2011 11:54 am **Posts:** 22

Guys, just bought a crd about two weeks ago, i just drove from indiana to ny last night and i had no problems at all. got up this am went to the res and fueled up, added some additave and driving home i was getting on the highway and i had almost no power. i can hear the turbo spooling and when i put my foot down it revs to 3 grand and wont shift until i let my foot of the gas a bit. i drove bout 20 miles home pulled in the garage and boost hoses look good but my tranny fluid was on low cold. And I just drove for a lil over an hour home so IK it is warm. When i bought it from the chrysler dealer they said they did total flush on tranny and cooling system. Is there a chance in hell they used dexron instead of atf+4? any ideas other than adding tranny fluid?

bhc04 · **Posted:** Sat Feb 05, 2011 12:54 pm

I'd top it off when it's warm with proper fluid and see if it solves problem. Other than that, yes they could have put "wrong" fluid in, and you probably will have to bring it back to where you bought it and have them do another "complete" flush, new filters etc. Don't know about your dealer, but some dealers are notorious to just job out some of the work to trans. shops. Not only Chrysler, but I'll bet they've all done it at one time or another. I use my dealer where I bought my CRD in 06 exclusively. They are a Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep dealer in Bullhead City, AZ. and in this area, sell and service a large amount of Dodge diesel trucks from locals and lot's of snow birds that come here for the mild winters. The techs. are very good here and have a good knowledge of diesels in general and service guys, parts guys are in my half century of driving have been the best I've ever dealt with. Owners of dealership is a family that has 3 locations in my county, local here since the late 40's, well respected people both personal and business.

racertracer · **Posted:** Sat Feb 05, 2011 1:51 pm

I believe that one of your turbo hoses is split. do a search on turbo (CAC) hose leak.

Check both CAC hoses for rips and leaks.

You can temporarily repair the leak with silicone stretch tape.

JL Rockies · **Posted:** Sat Feb 05, 2011 2:19 pm

Yes it's the hose, it will be split on the bottom where you can't see it. The other answer doesn't apply.

audiboy86 · **Posted:** Sat Feb 05, 2011 3:53 pm

Double check the fuild especially the color of the fuild and smell. But i am with racertracer and JL Rockies it is either your hoses or maybe your fule filter when was the last time it was replaced?

warp2diesel · **Posted:** Sat Feb 05, 2011 6:31 pm

Split hose is most likely the problem.
But, when you check your Trans fluid, drive to for a few miles and with out shutting off the engine check the level. The 545RFE takes a while to work out the air in the trans and you may need to check it a few times after driving it with out shutting it off. Starting up in the driveway and running for a few did not work on mine, I had to do the drive a few miles and check add some and check again and add some more.
Most of the times when Dextron II(I) or some Universal fluid dumped into a 545RFE, the driver reports shuddering very soon after. If it is shifting normal after you get the level correct, chances are you are OK.

scubadvr1999 · **Joined:** Thu Feb 03, 2011 11:54 am **Posts:** 22

alls good now. pulled hoses off cleaned them and saw no probs with them. they are dated 09 so they are farely new. added half a qrt of fluid and prob solved. thanks all

naturist · **Posted:** Sun Feb 06, 2011 4:46 pm

Do be aware that if anything happens that causes the ECU to put you into "limp mode" you will suddenly have almost no power, and it will stay that way until you switch off and restart. And that sounds like it might be the problem.

Lots of things will throw it into "limp mode," and a big one is a partially clogging fuel filter. If ANYTHING causes the fuel pressure to drop just a little bit, you get limp mode. If the filter is on the verge of being used up and needing replaced, you will be able to drive normally, unless you require a bit more power than the filter will allow fuel for. This could be climbing a hill, accelerating away from a stop or on an entrance ramp. Since you just bought it, I'd suggest asking if they also changed the fuel filter, and if they did not, I'd do that.

Last time I encountered the problem, I pulled out onto the highway and tried to accelerate to avoid being squashed by a truck. Limp mode happened, and I was forced to pull off onto the berm at 25 miles an hour to keep from getting killed. Truck passed me, as I switched engine off while still rolling, and restarted. I was able to GENTLY get up to speed of 60 mph and drive for several miles, until I had to climb a hill, when it went back into limp. Once again switched off and restarted as I rolled up the hill. Changed the fuel filter, problem solved.

I don't think being low by only 1/2 quart of transmission fluid will be enough to cause limp mode, but it might. I still think your most likely candidate is the fuel filter.

mikey1273 · **Posted:** Mon Feb 07, 2011 2:31 pm

Mine has done some odd things a few times once I can not say what it was my crd is well cared after. I had limp mode a few times in a week and started checking filters check the air filter too. These engines need alt of air. If tears cloged up it could do that to. I had to clean my Amsoil era filter to fix a limp issue that happened a few times.

crushtheogre · **Posted:** Mon Feb 07, 2011 6:01 pm

I had the exact same problems for a few weeks; no acceleration on highway, couldnt go up hills very well, would NOT rev over 3 grand. It felt very choked....Mmy WIF (water in fuel) light came on a few days ago. I changed the fuel filter today(filled it with Diesel Kleen, took the 2 bolts off the whole unit and did it in about 15 minutes, never had to go underneath) I then warmed it up for a few minutes and drove it; WOW what a difference, it pulls very hard again and goes up hills(highway speed) no problem.

It wouldn't downshift on highway before now it drops a gear and pulls again. It was definitely in limp gear. It now goes well over 3K and has the power I heard about.

I'm very happy, now for my DR. performance module....

Paul

Joe Romas · **Posted:** Wed Feb 09, 2011 9:14 am

crushtheogre wrote:

I had the exact same problems for a few weeks; no acceleration on highway, couldnt go up hills very well, would NOT rev over 3 grand. It felt very choked....Mmy WIF (water in fuel) light came on a few days ago. I changed the fuel filter today(filled it with Diesel Kleen, took the 2 bolts off the whole unit and did it in about 15 minutes, never had to go underneath) I then warmed it up for a few minutes and drove it; WOW what a difference, it pulls very hard again and goes up hills(highway speed) no problem.

It wouldn't downshift on highway before now it drops a gear and pulls again. It was definitely in limp gear. It now goes well over 3K and has the power I heard about.

I'm very happy, now for my DR. performance module....

Paul

Since you had water in your fuel and signs of a plugged filter I would have a new fuel filter in the Jeep with me and the tools to replace it because you may have gotten a bad tank of fuel :dizzy:

By the way the fuel filter is supposed to be changed every 25k miles. It could last forever IF you always got clean fuel but one tank can shut you down.

crushtheogre · **Posted:** Wed Feb 09, 2011 10:10 am

The WIF light came on and then went off, I should have been clearer on this. It went off in the same day but lack of power remained until the new filter change.

scubadvr1999 · **Joined:** Thu Feb 03, 2011 11:54 am **Posts:** 22

*******update**********

Fluid is still good and level now after about 500miles. Hoses are good, I pulled them off and all is well there. I haven't had the prob in a week now. Thought maybe it was crap diesel and filled up at a good station. (No more reservation fuel). Was on the highway today in stop and go and was doing round 15 20 and put the petal down to get around a car and it went to 3k and nothing. Just felt like tranny was sliping. Then as soon as I let off it shifts and takes off. Not full power still tho. Iike I said earlier I just bought it and it had a full service. I am gona call n c if they did fuel filter in the am. Sound right. For fuel filter still

scubadvr1999 · **Joined:** Thu Feb 03, 2011 11:54 am **Posts:** 22

Bump up ......any help?

racertracer · **Posted:** Tue Feb 15, 2011 7:03 am

Air in the fuel lines or lack of fuel being delivered to the high pressure pump.

Install a lift pump to take up the slack due to slow fuel delivery because of air or a dirty fuel filter.

Search this site for information on a lift pump for our CRD and you'll find a few option available.

Pumping the air out using the fuel separator pump will get rid of the air temporarily.

This is a common issue with the KJ diesel.

As far as which lift pump to use, I suggest a simple inexpensive inline lift pump.

Go here: viewtopic.php?f=5&t=58378&hilit=facet+inline+lift+pump

scubadvr1999 · **Joined:** Thu Feb 03, 2011 11:54 am **Posts:** 22

New update---I was going to go down and take the crd to the dealer and have them scan everything, so I hooked back up the MAS and cleared the codes. And *BAM* power is back! pulled out of autozone and put the petal down and she let out a little smoke and took off. So what did u do wrong. I unpluged the two plugs on the airbox, thats it. was I only supposed to unplug one of them?any input

WolverineFW · **Posted:** Tue Feb 15, 2011 9:32 pm

Yeah...only unplug one of them. Leave the little sensor with the Mercedes logo plugged in.

Help Almost no power

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