Vectra Diesel 2.0 Starting problem

[Slick]

Hi,

I have a 97 Vectra B X20DTL and I have a starting problem. I will describe it:
It doesn`t want to start first try randomly. Sometimes it starts first try, other times it takes 6-7 tryes to start it... When it eventually starts, it starts imediately without holding the starter motor too much... It doesn`t seem to be affected by engine temperature or outside temperature... In the winter it soemtimes started on very cold days first try other times it didn`t... Now in very warm weather it sometimes starts sometimes doesn`t. It doesn`t matter if I leave it for a long time or a very very short time... Sometimes it starts first time in the morning after 24 hours siting other times if I drive it for 2 hours, stop and try to start it doesn`t start first time... I mounted a one-way valve on the diesel hose before the filter... I changed the leak-off pipes from the injectors... Nothing. I measured the curent going into the fuel injection pump (Bosch VP44) and it`s the same with ignition on when it starts and when it doesnt... Engine light never comes on and Tester doesn`t see any issues...

What can it be? If anyone knows anything or has any advice please let me know.

Thanks

[stuboy]

whats the connection for the fuel cut off like or is it the fuel cut off switch?? are the glow plugs new and or in good condition??

[johnnyboy]

glow plugs dont cut in on the vectra till its about minus 5. injector seals are bad for going on them pop the rocker cover off tighten down the injectors. might work or new seals may be needed

[Slick]

If there was air into the fuel system it should start first try 1000 times in a row if I only leave it for 2 seconds and try again. It doesn`t do that... Even after 2 hours driving, stopped and tried to start it and it wouldn`t start first try... so I concluded it`s not air...

[johnnyboy]

the one i had in the garage started first time run for a second then died. would not restart ony way was by towing it.any vaux mechanic will tell you the seals are a common fault on them but as you say might not be in this case

[Slick]

It never died and it never failed to start eventually...

[ChrisSRI]

injector seals are very common...car norm worse if parked on hill.
can do vac tests to diagnose more accurately.

more than likely seals.

[Slick]

and if it`s the seals why doesn`t it start after 2 seconds after I stopped it ? I can`t explain this. If it wouldn`t start after a while and started every time after I stopped it I would think like you but in this case I don`t...

[Astra Valva]

Is your car parked on a hill? i know with mine if i park it facing uphill it wont start it just turns over and over! but when i point it down hill it starts after turning it over for a while,

Silly i know but the vaux garage told me its a common thing with diesel vectras!

just an idea

[ChrisSRI]

and if it`s the seals why doesn`t it start after 2 seconds after I stopped it ? I can`t explain this. If it wouldn`t start after a while and started every time after I stopped it I would think like you but in this case I don`t...

depends where pistons settle on its final stroke, if it draws air back in...

ever turned a car over by hand and not quite turned enough on its stroke.... wants to go back ...

if u unsure etc, and cant do the vac tests take it somewhere that can pal.

[Slick]

Makes absolutely no difference parking uphill/downhill...

[TJVanman]

In also have a 98 2.0 Di, which has just started to play silly b**gers last week , wouldn't start, no Glow Plug lamp, so I called RAC, 2 hours later, they came and guess what it started first time.

Anyway they checked it out and told me I needed a new Glow Plug relay (£36.97) and guess what, still the same, only refuses to start at all now.

I have now gone and bought 4 new Glow plugs (£78), waiting to see if this works, as me battery is now totally flat, though I am still not convinced as to this being the only problem, as I still think that there is a cheeky little relay somewhere that has been playing me up.

So can anybody out there tell me the strategy for the glow plug/ ignition, or send me a decent wiring diagram.

By the way, where is the fuel cut-off switch??

Cheers

[cjss_supafly]

Hello cavweb users,

Unfortunatly I experienced this last friday night. The people at opel found no error codes on the ecu, the pre-heater fuses were ok and the crankshaft sensor was ok. So they took apart the Injector Pump and according to them, there was a pump (mechanical) malfunction in the injectors but they could be repared for the modest 1200€. Taking in account that a new one (at opel) costs 1700€, i'm like in a bind. I once found a store in london (websearch) that sells bosch spares and they even sent me a pricing for one of these units, but they were severely far away from the 1200€ offered for the repair.

Can anyone help?

Thanks and Merry Christmas to all

PS: Does a new pump have to be reprogrammed specifically for the Vectra 2.0 DTH?

[James Mc Bride]

i also have a very similar problem... are the injector seals easy to change?

[Ian P]

Sounds familiar to me, all the symtoms are the sames as my 2001 Diesel. Just had the injector feedback pipes and injector seals changed bu made little difference. I am going to have a look at the glow plugs over the next week or so, my friendly diesel specialist has offered to test them for me FOC if this is the problem I don't know what to do next

[sb1uk]

Slick. I have a 2.0 Dti vectra with the same problem . Starts ok one min and not the next. does not start even it temp is up to 22 deg its very strange.

This is what I have changed and still have the problem and no Tech 2 or bosch testers cant fin a thing. Been ito Vauxhall dealer and bosch dealers nobody knows.

Inlet manifolds inclu EGR
all vacuun Pipes
Injector seals
leak off pipes
ECU
Fuel Injection Pump


Ond the car is still the same.

Tell me does you heater plug light come on at all and up to what temp. Mine came on up to 18,5 deg thats when i change ECU.

The next thing to change is the injectors that is the only thing left to change there is nothing else. let me know your thoughts.

[micra man]

check www.bba-reman.co.uk injector pump faliure is very common on these engines using the bosch vp44 pump.
only other area worth checking is the manual bleed bellows and the fuel filter housing for air leaks as this is very common.
the bosch pumnp dosent like low fuel pressure/level or being used to bleed the system after the car has been run dry.
it seems to kill the lift pump inside the injector pump.

[sb1uk]

Further to my last thread.

Also changed heater glow plugs
Filter housing.
The only thing to change now is injectors if that does not work and then the engine.

[stu3000]

Had this problem a year or two ago with a friends Vectra, I found that if you put a hand pump in the fuel lines ( I used the rubber inline hand primer off a Peugeot) and pressurised the pump it would start instantly. I then fitted an in line electric fuel pump ( used on petrol LDV vans ) and wired it into the main ignition supply to the ABS pump. The pump runs as soon as the ignition is switched on, primes the fuel pump and the car now starts every time. The fuel pump is designed to run all the time and therefore is still going today and taking the supply before the ABS has caused no problems either....

[freddy]

hi list users,
i have a vectra 2.0dti, year 2002,
Recently when I have tried starting up it won't start straight away.
It is as if I have no diesel,
if i turn it over for a very long time
it starts eventually without any throttle.
If i try to throttle it too soon it cuts out.
I haven't let it run out of diesel at all.
Once it has started it drives perfect.
any idea of parts prices etc

Any help or suggestions would be appreciated
based in scarborough yorkshire
Freddy@eastcoastpromotions.net