Vectra auto choke stall problem

[inconsistant]

Hello all, after your thoughts on a running problem... my sister runs an S reg Vectra B, automatic, she’s having a problem with it and I said I’d ask here…

 

 

From cold, when the auto choke is doing it’s thing all is OK, but when the auto choke goes off the engine stalls. The only way she can drive it OK is keeping the revs up by going through the gears by selecting 1-2-3 on the auto box. It’s recently passed it’s MOT with flying colours, and is generally a low mileage, reliable well kept example.

 

I know that's fairly vague but any thoughts/ideas?

[mrbenn]

I'd suggest cleaning the idle control valve and throttle body as a first port of call, having a look at the vacuum pipes while you're down there particularly if it has started playing up very suddenly.

 

What engine btw?

[Split_Pin]

100% the above. Clean the TB with petrol. Cleaning the ICVhas a limited effect, I would buy a new one from ebay.

[inconsistant]

What engine btw?

 

It's either 1.6 or 1.8

[twosmoke300]

There is a tiny little vacuum hole in the throttle body on these that blocks and causes weird running issues

[DSdriver]

AFAIK the standard procedure for any auto-choke problems is to convert it to manual operation. Unless, of course, this is the last remaining example of a car with an automatic choke because of standard procedures.

However, this may not be an auto-choke problem as the choke is doing it's bit for cold start motoring and tis only when it declares that it's job is done that the problems start.

[outlaw118]

I concur - possible gunking, but i'd also suggest an Italian Tune-Up before buggering about and getting your paws grubby.

[Rusty_Rocket]

No choke on these or any possible conversion as they are multi-point fuel injected.

 

As the others have said, it'll almost certainly be the Idle speed control valve.

However, it's significant that you know if it's a 1600 or 1800.  The 1.8 has an easy-to-get-at ISCV, the 1.6 has one that's buried deep underneath that torturous inlet manifold!

If it's a 1800 (square cam cover) then clear the throttle body and that small drilling like twosmoke says and also check the breathers- they fill with clag and then crumble to dust!  I have had success cleaning the idle valve on these.

If it's a 1600 (rounded cam cover and inlet that looks like a walnut whip- well it does to me!), then I hope you have small hands 

[Stanky]

do you have a code reader that could check the TB for issues? I had a mk3 golf yonks ago which had a bad throttle body so it was in 'hot engine' mode all the time. This meant that starting from cold it'd fire but stall when it came off the auto-choke.

 

Until it was diagnoised and fixed with a replacement TB, it required the accelerator to remain slightly depressed when at idle - I became very adept at using the handbrake to slow down while keeping the revs up using the accelerator and the clutch down - despite much practice I never managed to control all three pedals with two feet.

 

I suspect a warranty TB will be unde £40 on ebay, mine was about £25 10 years ago and instantly fixed the problem. They are a sinch to replace on a golf, don;t see why it would be any harder on a vectra B

[twosmoke300]

Oh its injection so its not on auto choke . Sorry it was bugging me !

[inconsistant]

Thanks all for replies. Will find out of it's 1.6 or 1.8 and report back.

[inconsistant]

Apparently it's a 1.6LS