Bren Posted February 24, 2017 Share Posted February 24, 2017 Our vectra has on several occasions illuminated the spanner light and suffered an alarming loss of power. Always above 60 mph and when accelerating in top. If you pull over, switch off and leave for a few minutes car is back to normal. As it is not an EML light no fault codes are stored - could it be a failed vacuum hose? Obviously if I have a collapsed hose with no visible faults then it may be something more sinister - turbo not working correctly? Opinions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bren Posted February 24, 2017 Author Share Posted February 24, 2017 Forgot to add it did it again tonight - on the steep bit of the A55 near St Asaph when I was going uphill. Not pleasant as the kids were with me - I felt like Dennis Weaver in duel.I ended up in the slow lane at 40 mph in 4th. Want to get it sorted now before it comes unstuck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_Rocket Posted February 24, 2017 Share Posted February 24, 2017 Don't think it will be a hose- the light signifies an electrical fault. Have you tried for any codes? I'm sure the spanner light and engine management light can both come on independently, for different things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiC Posted February 24, 2017 Share Posted February 24, 2017 What are you reading the codes with? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bren Posted February 24, 2017 Author Share Posted February 24, 2017 I was led to believe the spnner does not always signify a failure - it evebln says in the handbook it may come on occasionally! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pshome Posted February 24, 2017 Share Posted February 24, 2017 had he very same symptoms on Mrs. pshome Zafira. Showering the accelererator pedal pot in WD 40 cured it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_Rocket Posted February 24, 2017 Share Posted February 24, 2017 The spanner does/ can mean a fault. I had a 2005 Corsa that illuminated the spanner light only; I read the codes and it said fault with engine management light circuit !!! (which functioned perfectly...)I recommend OP-COM if you don't already have it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bren Posted February 24, 2017 Author Share Posted February 24, 2017 I have had a garage check but could find no faults - but they may have not used the OP COM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kiltox Posted February 24, 2017 Share Posted February 24, 2017 Needs a proper fault code reader on it - opcom, tech2 or Delphi ds150 will do it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wuvvum Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 When my old DTI Vectra FTP'd (turned out to be a dodgy crank sensor in the end), the AA contractor's code reader couldn't find any faults. Seems the more generalised code readers sometimes struggle to communicate with diesels. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave_Q Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 What engine? 1.9cdti? If so i think the turbo is vacuum actuated, leaks can cause over boost which would make it limp for safety. As vac hose is so cheap I would get a couple of metres and replace it all anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lacquer Peel Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 V6 CDTI time bomb I believe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bren Posted February 25, 2017 Author Share Posted February 25, 2017 A very kind member of vectra c forum came and connected opcom to the car. The following codes were stored - PO301 Cyl 1 misfire presentPO235 Boost pressure control circuit negative deviationP1900 Diesel particulate filter overloaded All have been erased abd have not appeared with the engine running - however the proof will be once the car goes for a run. Another anomaly was acvording to the data battery voltage was 6.9 V at tickover - I will check with my meter tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiC Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 Sounds like a error on the op-com live value. At 6.9v all the systems will be throwing warnings and I'd be surprised if the engine was even able to run. Boost pressure control error sounds like a split/pinhole/perished vac pipe from the bottom control valve to the turbo. Or from vac pump to boost control valve. Get some silicone pipe length from eBay and replace the lot. Cheers enough to buy and (usually) easy to do. While you're on eBay, get an op-com too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hooli Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 Negative boost is a good trick, is your turbo running backwards? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bren Posted February 25, 2017 Author Share Posted February 25, 2017 Negative boost is a good trick, is your turbo running backwards?Yes - it has made in Italy stamped on it djimbob 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigfella2 Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 Going by the middle fault code, I would wager that the vnt mech of the turbo is full of carbon and can't operate correctly putting it in limp home mode. That's if it has a vnt mechanism though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hooli Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 Yes - it has made in Italy stamped on it Makes sense it happens halfway along the trip too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigfella2 Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 Thinking about it a bit more, the third code is indicating that the dpf is full of carbon too, same as the turbo. I reckon the car has done plenty of short journeys and not much on motorway, or has been driven like miss daisy, I,e not taken to red line to burn carbon off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bren Posted February 25, 2017 Author Share Posted February 25, 2017 To be fair the car has seen plenty of motorway action since we bought it - it has regen'd a few times and I put dpf cleaner through it.If it is'nt pissing down I will look tomorrow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigfella2 Posted February 25, 2017 Share Posted February 25, 2017 I could be wrong as it's a modern derv so could be a multitude things that it could be. If you have any dpf cleaner left I would try that as it may burn carbon off in turbo if that's the problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bren Posted February 26, 2017 Author Share Posted February 26, 2017 Bit of an updateNo split hoses - no chafed wires.Sprayed some Egr cleaner in and took car for a blast.At 3000 rpm in 4th gear spanner light came on.I think the turbo is at fault.Not sure what to do now - I could spray snake oil through it but I would imagine only a replacement turbo will cure it completely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty_Rocket Posted February 26, 2017 Share Posted February 26, 2017 Do you think the VNT part of the turbo is sticking? There are quite a few fixes for this problem out there, it's common on Alfas, VAG, all of them really. I've heard people filling the housing with Mr Muscle! with good results..Do a good search, it doesn't automatically mean complete turbo replacement. For example- http://www.audi-sport.net/xf/threads/un-sticking-your-tdi-vnt-turbo-vanes.107121/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bren Posted February 26, 2017 Author Share Posted February 26, 2017 Yes I will give it a whirl. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bren Posted February 26, 2017 Author Share Posted February 26, 2017 I willhabe to remove the exhaust side of the turbo and put the cleaner in from there as I cannot see any other way of doing it - putting it in the inlet side seems pointless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noel Tidybeard Posted February 26, 2017 Share Posted February 26, 2017 i know one of the guys on the primevil forum spent alot of time on his turbotthe vnt gets sooted up and what can help is if you can get pliers on the control rod and try moving it in/out you can break the soot up enough for the vnt vanes to operate the car may be putting light on when going into limp mode so the turbot doesn't overspeed whilst in low pressure mode- this is what kills alot of vnt turbos why do they soot up? cos people think they need to be driven like miss daisy all the time Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SiC Posted February 26, 2017 Share Posted February 26, 2017 Some installations seems to be worse than others. Golf Mk5 seem especially prone to sooting up, no matter how they've been driven. Yet the 1.9ctdi in the Vectra/Saab doesn't seem to have the problem of turbos sooting up - just the EGRs! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pillock Posted February 26, 2017 Share Posted February 26, 2017 I'd still be concerned about the DPF error code, that needs sorting. If it's clogged, you'll get loads of back pressure at high revs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hooli Posted February 26, 2017 Share Posted February 26, 2017 I'd still be concerned about the DPF error code, that needs sorting. If it's clogged, you'll get loads of back pressure at high revs That could be stalling the turbo & causing the other issues. Years ago I bent the exhaust of a Disco around the back axle when failing a hill climb. It'd boost for a couple of seconds & then bog right down as the gasses couldn't get out. Might be a less extreme version of the same thing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigfella2 Posted February 26, 2017 Share Posted February 26, 2017 I don't know know how you will get on using Mr muscle with the dpf, I don't know if it will damage it or not. Your quite lucky that the lever for the vnt is so easy to get to, if you disconnect the vacuum hose off the actuator then try and move the vnt but don't force it, then atleast you'll know if that's your problem or not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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