Signum 3Ltr cdti goes into limp home mode

**kev666** · 24th May 2010, 10:03

Hi guys,
It has been a LONG time since i posted on here but here goes.
Had the Signum for around 3yrs+ now and all has been fine.
My local Vauxhall dealer has serviced the car at the specified schedules, although they are a right bunch of T***s down there. Always very off and dont give a T*ss sort of attitude? I can only imagine that this is because i wont be fobbed off, and had a right run in with there service manager after they did the cambelt and service together just after Xmas. They didnt secure the undertray properly and it dropped down and got smashed to bits. Service manager tried to blame me and said it wasnt needed and they took it off completely. All without even consulting me. Anyway that is all another story.

A week ago i was on my way home after going up the motorway and back into normal town driving. I had the radio on and whilst creeping upto a roundabout in traffic the car/spanner symbol came on on the dash. No power and i suspected limp home mode. Parked up at the shops there, switched off and locked up. Came back from the shops and it had cleared.

On my way back from Lancaster last night, same thing. After being on the motorway I was back to urban driving and waiting in traffic at the lights. Light came on dash and limp home mode again. Managed to get home as i was only 5mins away. Turned her off and locked it up. Left her for 10 mins and when i fired it up it was clear again. Drove to work this morning (approx 25miles, 50% 50% urban and motorway) all is fine and no problem.

I am a bit reluctant to go back to vauxhall and this fault REALLY concerns me. No warranty and i certainly cant afford any 1K bills. I would chop the car in right now if i could afford to but...........

What would your thoughts be about this fault??

The car does have a tuning box fitted, which is being removed when i get home. Are there any common causes of such behaviour??

I look forward to any help as it is worrying me to death at the mo

Regards

Kev

**merikiito** · 24th May 2010, 10:25

Run it without the tuning box. IMHO I would never use a tuning box as I prefer a remap instead.
See what happens once you take off the box

**Big Sig** · 24th May 2010, 13:09

Mine did it a couple of times, gave a map sensor fault but it just seemed to go away after a while.

Really without the fault codes it could be a number of things.

**kev666** · 24th May 2010, 13:58

Ok on the drive home it did it again. Again it was in the urban low speed driving at low revs. Just about to take the tuning box off to see how it goes.
Is there a good fault code reader on the market these days OR a way to read the codes etc?
Its been a while since i had to get under the hood. I am a rusty mech these days

Just haven't had the time, but now i have

Regards

Kev

PS i found these guys TalkToMyCar

**kev666** · 24th May 2010, 18:57

Bit of an update:

Removed the tuning box and the fault had cleared. Went for a drive and within 1mile the car/ spanner came up in the center of the dash. That flickered and went off and then an engine light came on on the right side of the dash. Parked up and switched off for 10mins, then fired her up. Car is now running fine again but the engine symbol is still on the right side of dash permanent so i took her home.

Looks like i have no choice now but a trip to the dealer first thing in the morning

That is unless anyone can recommend anyone that is a good garage rather than M******d Motors Blackpool?

Cheers

Kev

**BigLad** · 24th May 2010, 19:35

Don't know if it will help but have you disconnected your battery for 15-20 mins to reset the ECU after taking the tuning box off? Might be worth a try.

**m8internet** · 24th May 2010, 19:53

Originally Posted by kev666

they did the cambelt and service together just after Xmas. They didnt secure the undertray properly and it dropped down and got smashed to bits. Service manager tried to blame me and said it wasnt needed and they took it off completely. All without even consulting me

As far as I am aware the dealership has to refit parts exactly as they were fitted when the vehicle was presented, unless those parts are found to be faulty or damaged
I would have gone to town on them, to supply and fit a replacement undertray (the subsequent damage was a result of their neglegence)

Therefore, avoid this dealership
Phone others and ask how much they would charge for a TEC2 diagnosis and what their labour rate is
It might cost you some extra money in getting to/from this alternative
Equally, look for something locally to keep you entertained (my "local" has a cinema nearby, but this dealership is not nearest to me)

**Celes** · 24th May 2010, 23:24

Sounds like an EGR fault to me. I still have one home if you have a prefacelift

Try the pedal trick to get a fault code or get the car Tech2'd.

**kev666** · 25th May 2010, 11:40

Ok disconected the battery for an hour and still the engine light to the right of dash is illuminated. Car runs fine though.

@ Celes I do have a pre facelift as it is a 2003

What do i need to do to try the pedal trick? I know i have read about that somewhere but cant find it now

Regards

kev

Its ok i just found the peddal trick and a list of codes here

**m8internet** · 25th May 2010, 12:21

I tried the pedal trick on my 2005MY, it doesn't work
I removed the MAF sensor so that EMS warning light came on and retried it, nothing
I was later advised it won't work on any of the Y30DT as the main ECU is specific to this engine