HELP Some input needed for lack of pick-up/power

manisinghb · 13 Dec 2010 at 23:42

Hey guys, been having problems with my 02 Vectra and my mechanic and myself can't seem to figure the problem out. Basically, the car is in good condition and had it since 2008 but recently when I took it for a full service, it just lacks power now. It feels so sluggish and there is absolutely no pick up at all. Local driving is a nightmare as driving in 1st, 2nd and 3rd gears the car just doesn't want to 'move' and the petrol consumption is high. However, at 70,80mph on the motorway it runs like a beauty. My mechanic changed the Fuel Pump relay and the pick up was back again for a few miles only! Then it went back to the no pick up sluggish driving. He now thinks maybe its the throttle sensor? Anyway I don't want to do more work if its only a process of elimination so I thought I could get some input from anyone on here who may have had a similar problem or know the answer?

Also, seems as though the car may be having some electrical trouble, signs appear on the dashboard predominately the ABS sign and a little sign which I think may be the 'servicing' light:

manisinghb · 14 Dec 2010 at 12:50

GODINMAN - yes it was hooked up to the ECU machine which detected a problem with the Fuel Pump relay, which is why it was changed and hence the car drove like a beauty for a few miles before giving up again.

ZAIRS - I think I might leave the dealers last resort, they might charge me a load?

DOGBREATH - yes it has had a timing belt change, do you think the tensioning not being right could be causing a problem?

VOLOSPIAN - that's a brilliant insight, my mechanic did mention perhaps the air intake meter or something? Can't remember what he called it, but it basically judges how much air and temp the car needs?

manisinghb · 30 Dec 2010 at 15:52

Some development guys, looked around and the sign of the car with the spanner on the dashboard that I posted earlier suggests electrical faults. My mechanic (one that I can trust) has suggested this also, so will have to look around, spoke to Vauxhall who said that this kind of trouble can lead to excessive fuel consumption and problems in performance. Perhaps because of this the MAF isn't performing properly.

manisinghb · 19 Jan 2011 at 21:35

Took the car to a mate of a mate's cousin, let's just say an acquaintance hehe =D the guy is chief mechanic at Skoda so hopefully can take his word. Basically he plugged in the ECU and looked at the engine hands on, and has come to one of either 2 problems:

1. My car (an 02 Vectra) actually DOESN'T have a air mass flow meter, on my engine the car has an electric throttle sensor (can't remember what its actually called) which basically does the job of air flow and power management for the throttle. He said this (and the gears) in Vectra's is a known problem and may need cleaning out or perhaps changing (which will be costly).

OR

2. Whoever serviced the car and put the timing belt on hasn't put it on properly and hence the problems.

Anyway, would be nice for some verdicts. I am taking the car back on the weekend to get the timing belt checked so we shall see! (Fingers crossed)

manisinghb · 27 Jan 2011 at 21:53

Hi guys, okay the latest:

Checked the timing belt and its fine, my friend said its not as tight as he would prefer it but still fitted properly though. The previous mechanic also hadn't even fitted the negative terminal properly to the battery!!!! =O
This has only left the throttle body. After driving around until the problem kicked in, I took the power cable out of the throttle body, essentially 'resetting it', and the car although not brilliant as usual still started performing better. I'm getting this replaced over the weekend. But I am intrigued in the EGR as pat_1234 suggested. Can u offer a little more advice please, been trying to look around on the EGR but can't seem to find any decent place to locate its actual position in the engine??

P.S. It's a Vectra B 1.6 Club (Z16XE)...

Oh BTW there is a little more trouble in the car that just picked up yesterday and I THINK this may be linked to this 'power' problem. Basically the driver side head light and dipped lights aren't working, the bulbs aren't even blown and the fuses are all fine. Put in new bulbs which also didn't work. The indicators and high beam 'flash' lights are working though. There has been a noise coming from the main light switch area inside the car for a year or so now but never paid attention to it, and today when I was looking at the bulbs I hit the panel of the car and this noise came up again. It was a whirring noise, kind of as though a little pump is trying to start...? I'm trying to link this to my existent problem, could there be a link? Could it be because of the throttle body that the electric circuits are having problems? Or could the actual electrical problem be emanating from the head light area?? Hmmm...?

manisinghb · 2 Feb 2011 at 18:58

Hey guys, some news on the car then...

The throttle body was replaced and there is a difference. The car is driving like a beaut BUT the little 'missile sign' (thanks Dogbreath lol) still comes up (though not as often as before) and the car will lose power at pick up again after certain amounts of driving. HOWEVER, the good news is it isn't as bad as before.

I'm going to give the EGR valve a clean this weekend as so many of you have suggested it I'll see how it goes. Fingers crossed!

P.S. sorted out the headlights, didn't figure out what was wrong with it though which is bizzare hmm...

manisinghb · 2 Feb 2011 at 20:08

deleted said:
Whenever the management light flicks up the car will feel as if its "dying" anyways, puts the car into limp mode and will guzzle fuel, it'll lock the revs at a certain limit and will limit speed.

its not only when the light comes up, the light isn't a management light its an electric fault light (well, in a way you can refer to it as a management light in one way or another I guess :confused:

) but bledd. you make a good point. I am having the same problems as you describe minus the stalling part. I might also have a look at cleaning the idle control valve if I'm going to be cleaning the EGR valve with a carb cleaner anyways cheers buddy =) do you remember where about its located in the Vectra?

P.S. I'm intrigued with the gasket from cereal box?

manisinghb · 10 Apr 2011 at 13:42

not been having any luck guys. Returned the throttle body I bought but been having trouble getting my money back from the suppliers (long story). I don't know what else to do/try, close to giving up but don't want to. Looking into the throttle sensor but don't know whether to even bother with any other steps...

manisinghb · 10 Apr 2011 at 14:09

MOOGLEYS said:
Have you cleaned the EGR tried unpluggin it..?

yup tried that TBH took the EGR out and it didn't look dirty at all but still gave it a clean. When I took it out, the car starting idling erratically and stalled so not sure if this means the EGR wasn't the problem to begin with anyway?

manisinghb · 20 Jul 2011 at 17:05

Hi guys,

Well after a LONG LONG LONGGGGGGGGG time a response phew! The car is STILL not sorted however a change and full clean of throttle body and throttle position sensor has increased the pick up power by a minorty, a very little minor improvement. I have given the car to a trusted friend who is adament it must be an electrical problem. He is going to check every inch of electrical wires and anything else. Fingers crossed I can post something positive back!

manisinghb · 25 Aug 2011 at 14:08

Guys, got to root of the problem...the vectra's ECU is gone! Mechanic advised me against fitting it due to the high costs... oh well =(

manisinghb · 25 Aug 2011 at 14:29

MOOGLEYS said:
Plug it into a tech 2 and carry out a diagnostic. You can just re-program if needed. Vauxhall charge about £80 to do this if you don't have access to a tech 2.

I might give that a go but my mechanic (actually his friend, who is a techie & used to work for Vauxhall) has said that I will need a new one and it's not worth it, the car is probably worth £600-£700 anyway.