Vauxhall Corsa cdti smoking on start up
Discussion
Hi - have a 58 plate 1.3 cdti - smokes like crazy and lumpy on start up from cold only for first 30 seconds or so and then is ok afterwards . Injectors have been replaced as have glow plugs ... no one that's looked at it can see anything obvious wrong with it ......but seriously embarrassing .... have tried millers diesel additive , oil been changed etc ... does anyone have any ideas ? EGR has been suggested before but garage said it wasn't that .... I don't know whether to get it changed....but not sure how much that will cost .... any ideas ? (No ritual humiliation 're what car it is please lol )
Edited by Claires828 on Saturday 8th September 17:09
Not that it helps resolving this but my mum has had a corsa c 1.3cdti and a 2008 corsa d 1.3cdti and they both smoked on startup, the 08 sounded rough as you describe too. This was a newish car at the time and only had about 40k on the clock when she got rid, never knew anything different as the previous smoked on startup too.
Boosted LS1 said:
You need some more firelighters to finish the job.
Is it smoke or steam? What colour is the exhaust pipe tailpipe? Excess petrol is black and sooty smoke. Oil is blue smoke. Water is just steam/ smoke. Is the water tank level staying at the same level. Do you only drive occasionally?
It's a diesel you idiot Is it smoke or steam? What colour is the exhaust pipe tailpipe? Excess petrol is black and sooty smoke. Oil is blue smoke. Water is just steam/ smoke. Is the water tank level staying at the same level. Do you only drive occasionally?
So the white smoke is unburnt diesel. Low compression, bad injector patterns or far more likely the heater plugs / circuit has failedHi it's driven daily and gets a good run as we live in the sticks .... the smoke is white/grey and really stinks (chemical smell) I have to keep the windows closed until it passes... by the time I have pulled 30 metres up the road it has stopped . A but of black around the exhaust ... but nothing more than I would expect to see ....
They day after it was purchased. Been fighting with the garage we purchased it from .... currently taking them to the small claims court as they have had it 3 times and not fixed it and now state it's a Vauxhall manufacturing issue .... they won't do anymore and I am stuck with a car that has the problem I purchased it with ... I might add that when I test drive the car it wasn't cold ... so was unaware of the problem until after I had handed my cash over ....
I'd be looking to exercise your right to reject the vehicle. How long ago did you buy it?
ETA: The seller is legally responsible for the goods they sold. Whether the manufacturer provides a warranty to the seller and pays to fix the problem doesn't alter the seller's legal responsibilities to you.
ETA: The seller is legally responsible for the goods they sold. Whether the manufacturer provides a warranty to the seller and pays to fix the problem doesn't alter the seller's legal responsibilities to you.
Edited by GreenV8S on Saturday 8th September 17:47
Claires828 said:
they are ignoring us ... not sure how to proceed
Suggest you consult the CAB if you haven't already. I expect the outcome will be that you send a recorded delivery boilerplate letter informing them that you reject the vehicle, physically return the vehicle to them and then pursue them in court for the money.They'll do everything they can to discourage you - their goal is to keep your money and the only way they can do that now is if you decide it is too much bother and give up.
GreenV8S said:
Claires828 said:
they are ignoring us ... not sure how to proceed
Suggest you consult the CAB if you haven't already. I expect the outcome will be that you send a recorded delivery boilerplate letter informing them that you reject the vehicle, physically return the vehicle to them and then pursue them in court for the money.They'll do everything they can to discourage you - their goal is to keep your money and the only way they can do that now is if you decide it is too much bother and give up.
Yes we are thinking that's our only option although can't afford to purchase another car until they collect and refund the money....
Given injection timing is ecu controlled....that aspect should be ok, so if compression is good, it would point to injectors.
Now just because someone says they replaced them..doesnt mean they did...nor does it indicate what they replaced them with.
There really is lots of crap out there these days, and people buy them because proper parts are bloody expensive. And then they most likely need coded into the ecu too before everything will operate correctly.
And then there's maybe valve timing, the 1.3's have a habit of breaking chains, so maybe someone has done a dodgy repair at some stage and maybe also fitted the chain incorrectly.
Ultimately none of the above should be your problem, it's the garages...but obviously you're stuck in a difficult situation there.
Now just because someone says they replaced them..doesnt mean they did...nor does it indicate what they replaced them with.
There really is lots of crap out there these days, and people buy them because proper parts are bloody expensive. And then they most likely need coded into the ecu too before everything will operate correctly.
And then there's maybe valve timing, the 1.3's have a habit of breaking chains, so maybe someone has done a dodgy repair at some stage and maybe also fitted the chain incorrectly.
Ultimately none of the above should be your problem, it's the garages...but obviously you're stuck in a difficult situation there.
stevieturbo said:
Given injection timing is ecu controlled....that aspect should be ok, so if compression is good, it would point to injectors.
Now just because someone says they replaced them..doesnt mean they did...nor does it indicate what they replaced them with.
There really is lots of crap out there these days, and people buy them because proper parts are bloody expensive. And then they most likely need coded into the ecu too before everything will operate correctly.
And then there's maybe valve timing, the 1.3's have a habit of breaking chains, so maybe someone has done a dodgy repair at some stage and maybe also fitted the chain incorrectly.
Ultimately none of the above should be your problem, it's the garages...but obviously you're stuck in a difficult situation there.
Thank you- we are going to ask AGAIN for our money back ... Now just because someone says they replaced them..doesnt mean they did...nor does it indicate what they replaced them with.
There really is lots of crap out there these days, and people buy them because proper parts are bloody expensive. And then they most likely need coded into the ecu too before everything will operate correctly.
And then there's maybe valve timing, the 1.3's have a habit of breaking chains, so maybe someone has done a dodgy repair at some stage and maybe also fitted the chain incorrectly.
Ultimately none of the above should be your problem, it's the garages...but obviously you're stuck in a difficult situation there.
It won't have anything to do with glow plugs as someone mentioned.
As someone else said its a 1.3 cdti and on a 58 plate its probably had 4 engines and 74 rebuilds in the 10 years its terrorized the roads.
Realistically dodgy injectors or a bad rebuild/timing/crap compression. These issues can and do overlap...
As someone else said its a 1.3 cdti and on a 58 plate its probably had 4 engines and 74 rebuilds in the 10 years its terrorized the roads.
Realistically dodgy injectors or a bad rebuild/timing/crap compression. These issues can and do overlap...
chammyman said:
It won't have anything to do with glow plugs as someone mentioned.
As someone else said its a 1.3 cdti and on a 58 plate its probably had 4 engines and 74 rebuilds in the 10 years its terrorized the roads.
Realistically dodgy injectors or a bad rebuild/timing/crap compression. These issues can and do overlap...
The problem is that the issue occurs in the first 30 seconds of driving. Lot's of white smoke = uncombusted diesel. But runs OK after 30 seconds.As someone else said its a 1.3 cdti and on a 58 plate its probably had 4 engines and 74 rebuilds in the 10 years its terrorized the roads.
Realistically dodgy injectors or a bad rebuild/timing/crap compression. These issues can and do overlap...
Dodgy injectors are dodgy all the time, not in the first 30 seconds of running. Even more so with a compression problem. It's sounding like glow plug issues to me. (control or supply to the plugs etc).
so
1) Compession test.
2) Glow plug current test.
3) Fuel rail pressure test.
1 of those 3 tests should show something.
Claires828 said:
We have ... but they are ignoring us ... not sure how to proceed when they won't reply to recorded delivery letters , texts , Phone calls or emails . It's now been nearly 5 months ... we have been complaining since the day after it was purchased ...
I suspect at small claims you'll get nowhere and the garage has been very fair by looking at it for you. Facts are....
You have bought a 10 year old vehicle.
It has a current MOT, and drives properly.
The car smokes for 30 seconds then stops smoking.
There are no other issues.
A judge is going to say that the car is fit for purpose, and that given the age and mileage, smoke on startup which then goes away is not grounds for rejecting the car.
I dont see what you are really complaining about? What did it cost, £1500? Just drive the thing and dont worry about it.
Condi said:
Claires828 said:
We have ... but they are ignoring us ... not sure how to proceed when they won't reply to recorded delivery letters , texts , Phone calls or emails . It's now been nearly 5 months ... we have been complaining since the day after it was purchased ...
I suspect at small claims you'll get nowhere and the garage has been very fair by looking at it for you. Facts are....
You have bought a 10 year old vehicle.
It has a current MOT, and drives properly.
The car smokes for 30 seconds then stops smoking.
There are no other issues.
A judge is going to say that the car is fit for purpose, and that given the age and mileage, smoke on startup which then goes away is not grounds for rejecting the car.
I dont see what you are really complaining about? What did it cost, £1500? Just drive the thing and dont worry about it.
Will almost certainly be OK from an MOT perspective - as the smoke is white,and clearing when the engine is warm. Not saying this is acceptable BTW.
Why not get the checks done somewhere else, and claim off the garage you bought it off via small claims?
Dunno, it must be very frustrating if they won't respond, but there is a chance the frustration level is so high, that the problem is being blown out of all proportion. Just suggesting.......
Why not get the checks done somewhere else, and claim off the garage you bought it off via small claims?
Dunno, it must be very frustrating if they won't respond, but there is a chance the frustration level is so high, that the problem is being blown out of all proportion. Just suggesting.......
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