Iseki TU167 faults: recognizing and solving problems
Iseki TU167 faults: recognizing and solving problems
Does your Iseki TU167 (or TU147, TU157, TU177) no longer start, is the exhaust smoking white, or are you losing power? In this article you'll find the complete fault table from the factory manual, plus an in-depth explanation of a common phenomenon: white smoke at idle.
Suitable for the entire series: Iseki Landhope TU147, TU157, TU167 and TU177 (2WD and 4WD versions).
Iseki TU167: starter motor problems
| Symptom | Possible cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Starter motor does not turn when turning the ignition key | Clutch pedal not pressed | Press the pedal fully down |
| Safety switch faulty | Have it repaired | |
| Battery discharged | Charge the battery | |
| Dirty or loose connections | Clean, tighten, apply grease to prevent corrosion | |
| Switch or starter motor faulty | Have it repaired | |
| Starter motor turns but doesn't reach speed | Weak battery | Charge the battery |
| Poor grounding | Clean connections | |
| Incorrect oil viscosity | Use the correct oil | |
| Fuel pump not working properly | Check the fuse | |
| Starter motor turns but engine doesn't start | Air in the fuel system | Bleed the system |
| Clogged fuel filter | Clean or replace | |
| No fuel supply | Open the fuel tap, check fuel is present | |
| Engine fault | Specialist garage |
Iseki TU167: engine runs irregularly or stalls
| Symptom | Possible cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Irregular idle speed | Air in the system | Bleed the system |
| Clogged filter | Clean or replace | |
| Clogged injector | Specialist garage | |
| Fuel leak at the lines | Tighten clamps, resurface copper rings | |
| Uneven injection | Specialist garage | |
| Fuel pump | Check the fuse | |
| Engine stalls at low speed | Injection pump faulty, incorrect valve clearance, or injector faulty | Specialist garage |
| Engine overrevs (runs away) | Dirt in the governor, or oil rising into the combustion chamber | Specialist garage |
| Engine suddenly stalls while driving | Fuel shortage | Refill and bleed |
| Too little engine oil | Top up | |
| Injector faulty | Have it replaced by a specialist garage | |
| Seized due to lack of lubrication | Specialist garage | |
| Engine overheating | Too little coolant | Top up |
| Fan belt loose or broken | Tension or replace | |
| Clogged radiator | Clean | |
| Too little engine oil | Check and top up |
Iseki TU167: smoke color and power loss
| Symptom | Possible cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Exhaust gas is white (white smoke) | Clogged air filter | Clean the element |
| Too much engine oil in the crankcase | Check the level and correct it | |
| Insufficient fuel supply | Specialist garage | |
| Exhaust gas too black | Poor fuel quality | Fill up with the correct diesel |
| Too much fuel, or injector pressure too low | Specialist garage | |
| Insufficient engine power | Seized/clogged injector, carbon buildup, insufficient compression, leaking valve seat, incorrect valve clearance or injection timing | Specialist garage |
| Fuel shortage | Check the fuel system | |
| Clogged air filter | Clean the element |
Iseki TU167 white smoke at idle
In addition to the official causes above (clogged air filter, too much engine oil, insufficient fuel supply), owners of these and similar older K3 diesel engines often report a specific pattern: noticeably heavy white smoke at idle speed, which clearly reduces or disappears as soon as the throttle is opened.
This is a well-known phenomenon in older, indirect injection diesel engines and usually has one of the following causes:
- Worn or dripping injectors/injection nozzles. Reduced spring tension or contamination means the fuel is no longer atomized finely enough at low speeds.
- Delayed injection timing of the fuel pump.
- Compression too low due to worn piston rings or incorrectly adjusted valve clearance. At low speed, compression "leaks" more easily past worn parts, causing combustion to run cooler and incomplete. At higher speed there's less time for pressure loss, so combustion runs hotter and more complete.
- Insufficient preheating in cold weather. See our operation and starting page for the correct preheating times.
- Water or contamination in the fuel.
Practical advice: if problems persist, have the injectors tested and, if necessary, reconditioned or replaced, have the injection timing and valve clearance checked, drain the fuel tank and filter if in doubt, and always allow sufficient warm-up time before putting the tractor under heavy load.
Iseki TU167: electrical, clutch and brake faults
| Symptom | Possible cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Oil pressure light stays on while driving | Too little engine oil | Top up to the correct level |
| Incorrect (too thin) oil viscosity | Use the correct oil | |
| Pressure switch faulty | Replace | |
| Oil pump faulty | Specialist garage | |
| Clogged oil filter element | Replace | |
| Charge light stays on while driving | Wiring fault | Clean and tighten connections |
| Alternator or regulator faulty | Specialist garage | |
| Battery faulty or too little distilled water | Replace or top up | |
| Fan belt loose or broken | Tension or replace | |
| Clutch slips | Pedal adjustment incorrect | Adjust the clearance |
| Clutch lining worn or burnt out | Have it replaced by a specialist garage | |
| Clutch doesn't disengage | Clutch lining seized | Specialist garage |
| Pedal adjustment incorrect | Adjust the clearance | |
| Brakes work poorly or pull to one side | Too much pedal play | Adjust |
| Lining worn or burnt out | Specialist garage | |
| Uneven left/right pedal pressure | Adjust to be equal | |
| Brake pedal doesn't return well | Return spring damaged | Replace |
| Sliding parts without grease | Remove rust, apply grease |
Iseki TU167: hydraulic faults
| Symptom | Possible cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| Hydraulic pressure doesn't build up | Engine speed too low | Use 1000-1500 rpm |
| Too little transmission oil | Top up to the correct level | |
| Air drawn in via the suction line | Check connections, replace damaged O-rings | |
| Clogged oil filter | Clean | |
| Oil pump or control valve faulty | Specialist garage | |
| Cylinder damaged | Specialist garage, replace | |
| Oil leak at the lines | Couplings loose, or line cracked | Check or have replaced by a specialist garage |
| Squeaking/whistling sound (pressure relief valve) when lifting lever is raised | Stopper position shifted | Readjust the position |
Iseki TU167: K3B/K3C versus K3D for engine overhaul
Before starting an engine overhaul, first check which engine code your tractor has. The TU147 (K3B) and TU157 (K3C) have a different, smaller engine than the TU167 and TU177 (both K3D). Head gasket, piston rings, and other engine-specific overhaul parts are therefore not interchangeable between K3B/K3C on the one hand and K3D on the other, even though all these engines belong to the same generation of tractor. For example, if you order the head gasket Iseki Landhope TU165/TU170 (K3D, €39.50) or piston rings Iseki K3D (€23.60), these are specific to the TU167/TU177 and not suitable for a TU147 or TU157.
Shop4trac tip: recognize this? For electrical faults, the glow plug relay (€34.50), the glow plugs (€19.50), the oil pressure switch (€9.95), the alternator (€138.50) and the starter motor (€154.50) are frequently requested parts. If the clutch slips, the complete clutch set (€139.50) offers a solution. In case of overheating: check the water pump Iseki TU 14-17hp (€59.50). If white smoke persists despite clean filters and good injectors, this points to wear in the engine itself: in that case choose the complete overhaul set engine K3D (€395) for a TU167/TU177, or the overhaul set engine K3C (€385) for a TU157 with the smaller engine.
