Lack of power...

[lightfx]

A bit of a problem, I have a 1.9 CDTI Estate which has now started to drive
with only half power, it starts fine pulls fine for about 5 mins then the
spanner light comes on and it pulls with half power. I have put a code reader on but there are no codes listed. If I then stop switch the engine off restart
the light goes out and all is fine for 2-3 mins light comes back on and then
again drives with only half power.
I am not sure about this next bit, but I think it appears to be running hotter
than normal according to the temp guage... but you know what it's like you
start reading into things when you have a problem. Is there a sensor that
tells the engine to produce half power if things start to get hot?
Any help would be great.

[RichyA]

You could try checking the boost vacuum hoses and your turbo hose for any splits / perishing as a good start point as a split in either of these would severely reduce your car's performance.

HTH

[tigro]

Did you find the problem with your car? Having similar problems with my girls 2.2 dti, when revving it puts black soot on the floor too.

[RichyA]

You could also try checking the connection to your coolant temperature sensor that is located down the right side of your engine.

[mparks8590]

your running temp should be about 80-85

if you've got estate consider DPF....it might need regen

but in no particular order

also

check and clean egr, boost sensor, throttle body + MAF sensor

check hoses ( boost / intercooler )

Make sure you've had it serviced in terms of air filter / fuel filter....oil as well if your doing these anyway.

glowplugs can be a problem this time of year but normally they would show up on first key turn

How many miles on clock, what kind of diesel do you use? supermarket or premium?

[lightfx]

Thanks to everyone that responded and here is the latest, got the two
Gaskets to clean the EGR on the weekend, but Friday I did a 60 Mile
journey that I wasn't looking forward to, but to my suprise 40 miles in
the Spanner Light went out and all went back to normal and has been
ok since.

Richya you mention "coolant temperature sensor" is there a test procedure
for this and do you need to drain the coolant to change it?

The reason I ask is the temp gauge reading has certainly changed between
running fine and not, it only runs a fraction above the start line 70 and
may touch 80 but then drops very quickly to 70 ish. Allways been like this
and runs fine. During the problem it ran closer to 80 Degs.

It seemed to be this hover around the 80 Degs and that caused the Spanner light to come on. What are your thoughts?

Thanks again everyone

[mparks8590]

temp will depend on what your doing

mine runs 80-85 when on the go .....quickly

90 when in standing traffic after a fast run with lots or revs

70 - 75 or so, it can drop back that way if i take it really slow and keep revs low

[jonski]

Hiya I have same problem as you lightfx, and now its getting annoying, took it to a garage he put diagnostics machine on it and said it may need complete new fuel system, but surely if the fuel system was knackered my car wouldn't drive at all....... I keep hearing about the vacuum hoses but don't know which ones they are....does anybody have any piccys of them so I can check them please....

Cheers

Jonski

[RichyA]

Jonski - Have a read of this.....

http://www.vectra-c.com/forum/showth...ht=check+boost

I replaced mine for 4mm blue silicone tube off eBay and it works great.

Really easy to do too!

HTH

Lightfx - I changed the coolant temperature sensor a couple of weeks ago and is really easy to do.

Part only costs around £9 for the dealers.

Wait until your engine is cold with your car parked on a slight incline (To get coolant to run away from front of engine).

Remove the connector (Located down the right hand side of the engine).
Unscrew the coolant temp sensor and you lose a little bit of coolant (I wasn't bothered as it wasn't much and my car was getting Vx serviced shortly after anyway).

Screw in your new coolant temp sensor nice and tight and re-connect the connector.

All done.

Took around 10 - 15 mins in total.

HTH