Dead!
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skyblue465

Original Poster:

100 posts

244 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
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Hi guys.
I have an 05 VXR 6l, which I use as a sunny day car only. I’ve had it from new and it’s only done 3,000m and has never seen rain or even damp roads. Now here’s my problem….
At about 2700 miles the car began cutting out absolutely dead randomly. The revs usually hunt up and down briefly before “blipping” then it dies. Then won’t turn over, telling me to “service engine”. If I lock/unlock a few times, it usually starts, but then it’s a lottery when it might stop again. I took it to my reputable dealer and the diagnostics said, “throttle position error” (or something like that). They said it was either the throttle potentiometer, (£200 for complete throttle) or throttle body sensor (about 1k + vat + fitting for COMPLETE throttle body!). They weren’t sure which, so I opted for the throttle first,….and it died on the way home! So now they say it’s “probably” the throttle body, but aren’t absolutely 100% sure! So I’m expected to pay around a grand and a half on top of the £200 I’ve already paid out and just keep my fingers crossed?
Now, unfortunately, my warranty has expired. But then all a warranty is, is an insurance policy to give customers peace of mind and prevents the manufacturer from giving much of a fight during it’s duration. Its expiration does NOT exempt the manufacturer from liability, or the consumers right to challenge in certain cases, (2700 miles!). I know my rights, and have also been well informed by people in the know, that I’m entitled to rectification from Vauxhall under the Sale of Goods Act. In that a product should serve its intended purpose for a reasonable length of time or usage. Clearly, 2700 miles for a throttle body is not “reasonable”, and it was obviously on the verge of failure from the beginning. I’ve tried contacting Vauxhall, but so far, just got a call center in Bucharest! My dealer contacted Vauxhall and said they wouldn’t even consider a claim without 3 proofs of service. Well I’m sorry, maybe it’s just me, but I DON’T service my car every 1000 miles,.. regardless of the age!
Just looking for other opinions of the situation really? Also maybe someone has a better idea of the reason for the fault? (Could be the crank sensor?) Or does someone have a spare throttle body I could try? I’m in the Bournemouth/Southampton area.

Thanks.

donk vxr

2,755 posts

219 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
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I'am sorry to hear this..........but I think you will find servicing is every 10k or yearly, whichever.

kjmac

561 posts

256 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
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skyblue465 said:
...stuff...


You're missing an additional '0' from those mileages surely? I've done 12,000 miles in mine in just under a year. Feel quite sorry for the poor thing not being used

Arrrrggggg really bugging me that the car's not been used, sorry not much help to the OP


Edited by kjmac on Wednesday 22 October 18:45

skyblue465

Original Poster:

100 posts

244 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
quotequote all
donk vxr said:

I'am sorry to hear this..........but I think you will find servicing is every 10k or yearly, whichever.



Yes, I know, and understand that angle fully, but nevertheless, the part was clearly faulty from purchase, and under normal circumstances, (daily driver) would have failed within 3 months. The service request is an excuse by the manufacturer not to take interest, not a genuine reason to justify selling a faulty product. How CAN I break or damage a throttle body/sensor myself? Thanks for the input though, all angles welcome.....

eliot

11,988 posts

277 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
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A grand for a throttle body? - why not just try to source one elsewhere?.
I assume its fly by wire for that price - its the sort of thing people remove to fit a cable operated one for aftermarket installs, so ask in the right places and you should be able to get one easily enough.

-Z-

7,944 posts

229 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
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Sent you a PM. smile

slackalice

421 posts

254 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
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I would really like to help you here, I had this problem with another car a V8 ( I won't say what make on here as the amount of derision that will follow) This happened on several occasions and cost me a new throttle body, a new air sensor and still broke down in the St Bernard tunnel, and yes I had, had enough, I was about to torch it on the side of the road when another brit turned up and said, pull the multi plug out of the ecu, and the multi plug out of the air flow meter, leave it for 10 minutes and all will be fine (yeah as if) well i did it and the car was perfect, had a good holiday and that was it....................All I can say is try it, what have you to lose, oh a few thousand quid.

bertelli_1

2,393 posts

233 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
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Speak to Monkfish. I reckon the throttle error is a red herring as it wouldn't stop the car from turning over. I suspect you have a random voltage loss problem. I would agree with removing the ECU fuse for a few seconds & then trying again.

skyblue465

Original Poster:

100 posts

244 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
quotequote all
bertelli_1 said:
Speak to Monkfish. I reckon the throttle error is a red herring as it wouldn't stop the car from turning over. I suspect you have a random voltage loss problem. I would agree with removing the ECU fuse for a few seconds & then trying again.


Interesting you should say that phrase, (red herring) As I had that funny feeling myself that the info' given by the ecu was maybe being taken too literally somehow. If this turns out to be a "free" fix, I'll owe everyone a drink who's helped on here and by pm so far. Cheers guys.

ringram

14,701 posts

271 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
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Dude, step away from Vauxhall dealers, they are ok under warranty, but you are 100x better off with a specialist. The nice thing is they usually have parts they can swap around to eliminate the issues. No point paying for idiots to experiment and learn. Better to take it to a competent indi like Rapidgb or Monkfish IMO.

Oh FWIW a board member had a similar issue with power failing and a check engine light, the issue was indicated as throttle position. Turned out I believe to be a bad connection in the loom connection to the throttle body.

Edited by ringram on Wednesday 22 October 19:50

Magic919

14,167 posts

224 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
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Sorry to hear about the car. You should stick around as the forum can be useful, not just in times of strife.

MyM8V8

9,468 posts

218 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
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Get on to a brief. I do every time. Get a threatening letter sent poste haste. Normally gets them jumping about.

A throttle body should be no where near a grand, (if it is that) for goodness sake, you can buy an L98 complete , with a throttle body, for a mere £1500 (ex depot - Oz)

Get real Vauxhall!!! and get this mans pride and joy fixed, now.


delmeekc

1,205 posts

233 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
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is this facebook!!

Boosted LS1

21,200 posts

283 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
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As Ringram says, it could be a loom issue. I had an ultima/lsx with a dodgy wire at the throttle potentiometer. I have some C5 vette throttles, fly by wire here and should have a cable throttle as well if you really get stuck. I've probably got the sensors as well. You'd have to check the early vette throttle is the same as yours. You may be able to swop out the servo's? Either way, substitution may be your best course of action.

crisisjez

9,209 posts

228 months

Wednesday 22nd October 2008
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Throttle connectors are a little `loose` TBO.
Had the same trouble with mine and it stops the car dead in its tracks.
10 mins later it`s right as rain.
Monkfish found the problem and sorted it quicker than a quick thing on a quick day.

rmmackfc

365 posts

222 months

Thursday 23rd October 2008
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If it's cutting out randomly, then it possibly could be grounding ie a wiring as suggested