Vectra diesel engine light and losing power
Discussion
My tow car is a 2001 Vectra MK1 2.0 DTI. It's cheap to run and has been incredibly reliable if dull.
When on light throttle openings the orange engine warning light often comes on and it loses power (though is still capable of 70+ cruising and acceleration). If you put your foot down it eventually (normally 5 to 10 seconds) goes out and normal power returns.
It never has a problem while already accelerating briskly; drive it hard and it works. Towing my Locost up and down the hills round Cadwell park it behaved perfectly. Amble through the villages and the light comes on.
The Vauxhall dealers have tried changing the airflow sensor and it's not that.
I was wondering if it could be a split in a vacuum pipe or similar but haven't checked.
Any suggestions would be welcome.
When on light throttle openings the orange engine warning light often comes on and it loses power (though is still capable of 70+ cruising and acceleration). If you put your foot down it eventually (normally 5 to 10 seconds) goes out and normal power returns.
It never has a problem while already accelerating briskly; drive it hard and it works. Towing my Locost up and down the hills round Cadwell park it behaved perfectly. Amble through the villages and the light comes on.
The Vauxhall dealers have tried changing the airflow sensor and it's not that.
I was wondering if it could be a split in a vacuum pipe or similar but haven't checked.
Any suggestions would be welcome.
Check the intercooler for splits or the associated pipework to & from it.
For some reason, Vauxhall seem to be good at flagging up MAF faults when in fact the MAF is fine, but the intake is at fault.
Basically, the MAF works by heating a small wire to (for instance) 75 deg C and measures the votage required to keep the wire at that temp. Air flowing through the MAF will pull the temperature down, so the ECU compensates by upping the voltage to the heated wire.
They don't all work exactly like that, but most do. There is an air temp measuring sensor too.
So if there is an air leak somewhere along the system, the air flowing through the MAF will be reduced and fool the ECU into thinking the MAF is faulty seeing how the engine is still getting it's full compliment of intake air.
So, look for an air leak
For some reason, Vauxhall seem to be good at flagging up MAF faults when in fact the MAF is fine, but the intake is at fault.
Basically, the MAF works by heating a small wire to (for instance) 75 deg C and measures the votage required to keep the wire at that temp. Air flowing through the MAF will pull the temperature down, so the ECU compensates by upping the voltage to the heated wire.
They don't all work exactly like that, but most do. There is an air temp measuring sensor too.
So if there is an air leak somewhere along the system, the air flowing through the MAF will be reduced and fool the ECU into thinking the MAF is faulty seeing how the engine is still getting it's full compliment of intake air.
So, look for an air leak
as said before check intercooler pipe's
also check the boost presure switch as recently had this problem and turned out to be that , fault code was showing maf/afm but unplugged it and same running had it plugged in at main dealer they come back with boost presure switch , sleared all the fault codes .
i purchased i new boost presure switch but ever since they had it on computer and cleared the codes it has not dont it again so not changed it .
also check the boost presure switch as recently had this problem and turned out to be that , fault code was showing maf/afm but unplugged it and same running had it plugged in at main dealer they come back with boost presure switch , sleared all the fault codes .
i purchased i new boost presure switch but ever since they had it on computer and cleared the codes it has not dont it again so not changed it .
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