Mega early bank holiday collection!

[Heidel_Kakao]

Oil lack! Could they just not have put oil low? It makes it look like they misspelled the word leak.

[Jim Bell]

Theres an old saying about all Vauxhalls but I cant remember how it goes.........

 

Bad luck comes in threes man so hopefully thats them all out of the way now. Forever.

[3VOM]

At least you don't need to "back to black" the rear bumper.

[Supernaut]

How many motorcyclists are now dead in your area?

 

Don't worry, there's a HBOL for an Omega winging* its way to you via 2nd class Royal Fail.

[fatharris]

So, yesterday was my 27th birthday, so the Omega was far from my mind. MrsH and I went to Royal Cornwall Hospital to have her second scan of Bean, which was in good health, which far outweighed anything else in importance.

 

 

Decided not to find out the gender.

 

After that, more baby shopping ensued, although MrsH treated me to a fancy sausage sandwich in a posh art gallery cafe before we started. I also got treated to a Pizza Hut lunch buffet before heading home.

 

Once home, I felt refreshed enough to begin work. I'd parked the Omega nose down on the slope overnight to minimise air leaks into the system, the pool of diesel in No1 injector well very much apparent.

 

 

This didn't even need diagnosing, as when the engine was running, you could see a steady flow of fuel eminating from the leak off pipe. Concerning because the sellers made a point of mentioning that they changed the leak off pipes recently.

 

 

Oh well. At least this'll be a cheap fix.

 

 

I bought enough pipe to do all 6 so I may just do that at a later date. Still down on power and runs like shit though. May clear up.

 

Still, the injector well was now free of leaks. Huzzah! Onto the next one.

 

 

This is the only photo I took of the job. The seller told me they dropped the tank to clean it out and cleaned the in tank pump pick up sock too, so I guessed that the seal had become displaced, like it had done on my Xantia many years ago.

 

My diagnosis was correct, the seal had fallen in on a third of it, Vauxhall however do not manufacture these seals any more and it took my attempts, but it was eventually refitted and properly tightened down. May have to come back up soon as I couldn't hear the in-tank pump operate when the ignition is on. Could explain the piss-poor cold starting.

 

 

As a bonus, I was scrabbling under the rear seats trying to find the tank access panel when I came across this little fellow. He'll be staying somewhere in the car now.

 

Finally, the end cap disappeared from the end of the flat wiper blade. This in turn cause the rubber blade insert to slowly but surely depart the blade and make a break for freedom.

 

They're also pricey as balls to replace and they were working fine otherwise, so they've been professionally* repaired. Result, doesn't slip out, and I know I can just buy replacement rubber inserts next time to save some cash.

 

 

Still not sure about this power loss thing though, it feels like the turbo boost doesn't kick in until around 3k rpm, as opposed to the usual 2k rpm. Also hesitates when revving in neutral around 1500 rpm.

 

Any ideas?

 

Cheers!

[Heidel_Kakao]

https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=973pb0101#T=C&C=1

 

That Octan Race torso was only produced between 1996-1999 so depending on when he was lost it could have been there for nearly 20 years

 

He could do with a cap or helmet though!

[andy18s]

Haven't read the whole thread so excuse my ignorance

Any timing chain noise at all?

It only takes a small amount of wear to put the pump timing out enough to mess with the running

It can be sorted by rotating the pump slightly

There also a vacuum pipe that runs from the pump that ages badly and leaks,breaks or blocks

Plenty of info out there,especially on the various P38 pages....

[Supernaut]

Haven't read the whole thread so excuse my ignorance

Any timing chain noise at all?

It only takes a small amount of wear to put the pump timing out enough to mess with the running

It can be sorted by rotating the pump slightly

There also a vacuum pipe that runs from the pump that ages badly and leaks,breaks or blocks

Plenty of info out there,especially on the various P38 pages....

From a chat on facebook, Mr Harris did mention to me he intends to do the timing chain (or get it done) as it is slightly stretched.

Seems he's aware of this already, then, but that could explain the issues rearing their heads!

[Dave_Q]

Pretty sure the turbo wastegate is fully mechanical on this, ie a flap held closed by a spring, so I don't think it could give the symptoms you're getting.

 

What is very common on these is injection pump woes, the track in the quantity adjuster gets worn and sometimes it cuts the power because it doesn't know where it is.

 

Suggestions:

1. The Omega forum recommend Diesel Magic fuel system cleaner, get a new fuel filter and put the whole bottle in and run it neat to try and clean shit out.

2. You can check for fault codes by shorting out 2 pins somewhere with a paperclip and counting flashes, Google it.

3. Might be worth taking it to a proper old school diesel place, they will be able to sort you out.

 

Don't mean to be a negative nelly but I weighed in my R plate Omega because a new pump is the best part of a grand fitted and all the second hand ones are fucked too.

 

The good news is they'll normally soldier on forever if you just drive around it.

 

Nice car by the way, hope it turns out to be a simple fix.

[fatharris]

Should mention this has had a replacement diesel injector pump fitted last year, but yeah, there's some stretch in the timing chain.

 

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

[fatharris]

Huh, odd. Yesterday, I didn't take photos but I took off all the air ducting around the turbo, including the MAF. I gave it a spray with electrical contact cleaner because why not whilst I was in the area?

 

Took it out for the first drive since I reassembled it and whilst it was still shite to start from cold, it's running a lot, lot better. Much more responsive and quicker too.

 

So, a small win, let's see how long that lasts.

 

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

[Lacquer Peel]

The poor running could be a combination of the in tank pump not working, hard and cracked fuel lines, air ingress.

[fatharris]

I'm inclined to agree. Went wibble again earlier.

 

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

[fatharris]

Okay, another couple of hours spent doing fault diagnosis. Replaced the remaining injector leak off pipes and I had spare pipe left over so replaced from the inlet to a sensor in the engine bay.

 

Also checked power to the pump. Interestingly, there is power to the ignition is turned on when the engine is cold, but the pump power is only applied whilst cranking when the engine is warm, no pre-crank pumping.

 

I also found one of the fuel pipes held together with some cable ties because the securing clip had broken, and it had slipped out slightly so I've reseated it and resecured it with new cable ties until a new pipe can be sourced.

 

Ah well, left it for a couple of hours to get stone cold and it fired up straight away. Took it for a blast earlier and the power seems to be back for now. Big test will be tomorrow evening when I head back to work 220 miles away.

[fatharris]

Drive back to work was successful, average at the end was an indicated 35.2MPG at an average of 70 and gentle acceleration, the on board computer seems to constantly under-read by around 4, so approx 39.

 

The power loss did make itself evident at times of sustained 70mph driving, but dipping the clutch to idle the engine for a couple of seconds seemed to cure it every time.

 

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

[fatharris]

After filling up after that drive with a few short journeys thrown in, the tank average was 41mpg. Dead chuffed.

 

On arrival at home after a week away at work, I was greeted with a parcel from Supernaut:

 

 

The cheeky bastard!

 

 

A most excellent packing tape.

 

 

Top bloke sent it to me at no charge.

 

Car has been running well this week, I'm starting to get an understanding of all the little niggles so it's becoming a lot more enjoyable to own.

 

Stereo is due for replacement soon though as it doesn't play CD-Rs, despite the model name CDR500.

 

Sent from my SM-G900F using Tapatalk

[Jim Bell]

Thems better numbers!

[fatharris]

Stereo has now been replaced, picked it up for a crate of beer from a mate, so far repairs and upgrades to this car have cost me around £28.

 

[fatharris]

Also, annoyingly, the remote central locking has decided it doesn't want to lock any more, the unlock function works fine and when the lock button is pressed, the LED lights up. Bah.

[fatharris]

The Omega hit a milestone this week. Now due an oil change.

 

The engine does seem to have freed up over the last 3500+ miles quite nicely, but it could do with a bit more poke. Will investigate my options soon.

[Supernaut]

it could do with a bit more poke. Will investigate my options soon.

[320touring]

The Omega hit a milestone this week. Now due an oil change.

 

The engine does seem to have freed up over the last 3500+ miles quite nicely, but it could do with a bit more poke. Will investigate my options soon.

Research the EVRY mod - basically ups the fuelling to the injectors. Uses a variable resistor.

 

The m51 can suffer from head cracking / top end trouble over 200ish bhp iirc

[fatharris]

Well sadly, 520 miles from the big 200,000 mile target, bad things happened. It's on a truck now.

 

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk

[fatharris]

Finally home, battled snow on the way too!

 

Will investigate further in the coming days. All cars on the driveway are broken in some way, and BabyH is due in less than four weeks. Time to pull my finger out.

 

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk

[rantingYoof]

if you do need an estate at short notice and/or help with collecting something miles away give us a shout.

 

Poor Omega, but fingers crossed it can be resurrected.

[Supernaut]

[Sigmund Fraud]

All cars on the driveway are broken in some way, and BabyH is due in less than four weeks. Time to buy another car.

 

EFA

[fatharris]

Everyone is so dismissive did I didn't at least have a go at finding the fault then I'd be doing the car a disservice.

 

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk

[fatharris]

Right, I had a look today.

 

First thing I did was put the battery on charge, then I changed the fuel filter.

 

The filter isn't filling with fuel when the ignition is on but the lift pump has 12v to it so I can safely assume that needs investigation.

 

What's more concerning is the engine will not turn over on the starter at all, even with a brand new battery on. The solenoid is working, but no turning over. Did before but not now. Can't even roll it in gear (whole engine appears to turn on its mounts.)

 

So, do we reckon it's majorly ballbagged then? With LittleHarris due in less than 4 weeks, I need to have something on the road besides my mates' Insignia and the Rover that has developed a leak since the screen was changed.

 

Sent from my ONEPLUS A3003 using Tapatalk

[Dave_Q]

Yo, I had one of these heaps once upon a time. It FTP when a bit of grit or something got stuck in the lift pump.

 

You can get the lift pump out through the inspection hole which is either under the seat or in the boot, can't quite recall.

 

Anyway I got it out and connected it to a battery both ways, one way it just buzzed, the other way it ran and spat out this grit, was grand after that.

 

Its a stinky job because you'll get diesel everywhere, but testing the lift pump like that will cost £0, and these do need the lift pump to run.