I wonder can anyone make some suggestions from similar experience. My diesel van (Ford, 1998, 1.8, and only 45,000 miles done) has developed a problem.
mechanic I usually take it to says he's never heard anything like it, but thinks it might be something to do with a ?fuel injector. He's given me the address of a diesel specialist, but this is quite far away and I'm scared of the van breaking down on the way, so I'm hoping someone here could give any advice about the likely cause.

I first noticed the engine was losing power, it couldnt get above 40, and then it started jerking (I depressed the clutch), making a noise like a tractor or a machinegun, clouds of white smoke were coming from the exhaust, speed dropped to a crawl, and I later noticed that there was a heavy deposit of fuel all over the back window. Curiously, after I had revved the engine fully whilst stationary, the problem stopped for an hour or two (it got me the hundred miles back home), but now it seems terminal. Oh - and the red ignition light doesnt go off, as it should. If anyone has experienced this kind of thing, I'd be very grateful to know what it was that caused their problem - and whether there was a cure (I obviously dont want to waste money on something insoluble

Muckart D