Overheated and rough running

[misterroboto]

So... long story short, my Delica has not been running quite so smoothly lately and I attributed it to timing and injectors. I have myself booked in for a Delica tune at CVI mid April when I would be on the coast. As of late it has been a little bit harder to start, blowing a lot of black smoke and idling down around 500-600 rpm. My Delica is automatic and I have noticed it is slighter "stiffer" when I put it into gear. No resistance or anything, just not as smooth as it once had been. When the van was up in running rpms it still ran quite well. BUT today on my way from Golden to Merritt I had another big issue rear its ugly head. Was climbing my way up into Rogers Pass and all of a sudden it overheated, A/T temp light went off, and the little "pill shaped with squiggles through it" light came on (please pardon my ignorance on this, I have no idea what it represents....anyone?), engine light came on so I pulled over and turned the van off. I checked all my fluids, oil, transmission, coolant; nothing leaking from underneath. Van would start again but ran VERY rough. I got it towed back into Golden and am now awaiting the prognosis tomorrow. Local guy who has done a bit of work on the Delica already, not a ton though so I am a little concerned and looking for a bit of guidance. Transmission? Fan Belt? Water pump? Head gasket? Engine????? Anybody with some ideas....would greatly appreciate them. Thanks so much all!

[loki]

that might be the water in the fuel light but not sure for the description alone :)

[misterroboto]

yeah, water in the fuel sounds about right, hope that is all it is, and hope I haven't messed up my injectors while I was at it.

[misterroboto]

So I am unsure if water in the fuel would cause the engine to overheat.

[jaggedfish]

Water in the fuel could cause some degree of overheating I would assume, due to the engine having to labour harder because of poor combustion. This would be magnified by the fact you were climbing mountains at the same time, and, if your cooling system wasn't 100% functioning in the first place (ie low on coolant), the oveheating problem could rear it's head. I have noticed these engines (at least mine anyway) stay relatively cool with normal driving so a low coolant problem may not identify itself until something else causes it to.

Wise not to take chances by having it towed tho... an ounce of prevention and all that....