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T-reg Vectra engine hesitating
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AshWhite13
New User
Jun 10, 2009, 4:41 AM
Post #1 of 4
(2684 views)
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T-reg Vectra engine hesitating
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Hi,
I have an issue with my T reg vauxhall vectra estate (1.8l) It has done around 100K miles and was serviced last year by Vauxhall.
The problem started off as intermittent and has grown over around 10 weeks. When I try to accelerate at a reasonable rate or change gear up at revs less than 4k, the engine starts hesitating / holding back and the car shakes.
I have replaced the plugs, air and fuel filters. The ignition is on a low tension system so I can't change HT leads or distributor cap. The AA have looked at it to no avail.
The issue can just about be avoided by making sure the revs are over 4k when changing gear and keeping them high when releasing the clutch into the new gear, and by accelerating at the lowest possible rate.
When in neutral, the engine revs up with no problems at all, the issue only presents it self when travelling.
The engine computer has not logged any issues; the AA do not have this on the common fault list for the car.
Any advice anyone can give as to what the potential causes could be would be greatly appreciated. I am capable of doing most repairs/ checking that do not involve specialist tools but am currently unemployed due to the recession so am not able to put the car in a garage for them to locate the fault.
Many thanks in advance
Ash
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Loren Champlain Sr
Veteran
/ Moderator
Jun 10, 2009, 1:25 PM
Post #2 of 4
(2675 views)
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Re: T-reg Vectra engine hesitating
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Ash; What year is the Vauxhaul? If it's '96 or newer, it should have an OBDII series computer system. And, should have misfire detection. The symptoms sound to me like a misfire. At higher rpms you won't notice as much as at lower rpms. Could also be a faulty throttle position sensor, but that's just a wild guess. I don't understand about the 'low tension system' or 'HT leads'. Surely, just terminology? LOL. If this is the type that the coil bolts directly onto the spark plug, it is common for the insulators that connect the coil and spark plug to fail and should be replaced at the same time as the plugs. If this has a distributor cap, are the wires permanently fixed to the cap? If so, they must be replaced as a cap/wires assembly. If you could post a picture of the ignition system, may help us. Vauxhauls aren't sold in the U.S. to my knowledge, and I have no specs or parts information for me to 'look up'.
Loren
SW Washington
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Guest
Anonymous Poster
Jun 12, 2009, 9:55 AM
Post #3 of 4
(2663 views)
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Re: T-reg Vectra engine hesitating
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Loren - thanks for your reply. The year is 1999. The problem does not present itself while in neutral and revving the engine, so do you still think this could be a mis-fire?
My low tension I mean there are coils on top of the spark plugs as opposed to a distributor caps and what we call 'HT' (high tension) leads in the UK.
Additionally, this problem is intermittent. My (limited) understanding of ignition systems is that if the system is mis-firing then this would occur all the time rather than intermittently? If I'm wrong please correct me - from what you are saying it may well be the coil system that needs replacing. However, again my understanding is that the engine computer should pick this up as a fault and log it?
thanks again for your help and advice -anything else you can offer would be greatly appreciated.
Ash
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Loren Champlain Sr
Veteran
/ Moderator
Jun 12, 2009, 4:49 PM
Post #4 of 4
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Re: T-reg Vectra engine hesitating
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Ash; Yes, a secondary misfire can be intermittent. Spark plug, coil, insulator, ect. And, yes, the computer (if it's OBDII) (onboard diagnostics, series 2) should store and record which cylinder misfired and how many times. With that said, I know that any vehicles sold in the U.S. after 1996 must have this system. I don't know if the Vauxhaul would apply as it isn't imported as far as I know. You may want to pull the spark plugs and carefully examine each plug, insulator, and coil. Look for a carbon track on the porcelain part of the plugs and inside the insulators where they attach the plug and coils. I don't have any way of looking up resistance specs on the coils, though. See if you can have the computer scanned for any trouble codes. If it has that capability, it should tell you which cylinder is affected. (crossing fingers for good luck). You might as well replace the plugs while you've got them out. If the insulators aren't too expensive, those too. We do run across bad coils once in a while, but you won't want to replace them unless you are sure.
Loren
SW Washington
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