Spanner light now stays on, them EML light!(1.9 150)

[adamf]

I've got that sinking feeling! I have a 1.9 CDTi (55 plate) with 63k on the clock - I've had it about 9 months and most of the time when starting from cold I get the spanner light on for about 5 minutes but it disappears during the journey, it's been fine for months. Today I've picked the car up from the Body Shop Repairers (don't ask!) and instead of the usual "spanner light on for a while then going out" I get "spanner light on the whole way home".

I tried stopping and starting my engine which normally clears it but it came back on and stayed on . I popped out earlier to go get some milk and bread, as you do, and then shock horror - the dreaded EML light
Nooooooo!!!!! I have no CANBUS code reader but luckly I'm booked in for a service tomorrow at my garrage so hopefully I can get it fixed for not too much $$$. At the moment I'm suspicious of this body shop repair place as the car was running fine when it went in and they should not have gone anywhere near the engine.

I've been reading up on the 1.9CDTi engine and can see it has it's flaws but I still love it - I'll ask my mechanic to check my diesel fuel filter for water, test all my glow plugs and maybe clean my EGR valve and boost sensor. The car has not had any modifications and is 100% stock (as far as i'm aware) so no third injector re-wiring work or modifed air filter changes have been made (although I do plan on getting this new inlet manifold at around the 100k miles mark )

When I get it sorted I'll post up the findings and hopefully it will help one of you guys who may be having this issue

[GazVXLINE170]

I would be inclined to say glow plugs. Maybe all are goosed now.

If the car is running fine then I wouldn't worry too much.

Gazza4

[mozzer99]

If I were to place a bet it would be the EGR sticking. The solenoid part needs to be cleaned and freed up, not just the actuator bit you can easily see. There is a 'how 2' - but I can't find it.
Beware a garage will probably just renew the unit for £100+ labour?

[japeye86]

Hi i posted yesterday about the same problem! my spanner light comes on for about 3 mins then goes off, i also have a 1.9 cdti, im was told its glow plugs but it starts first time with no struggle,

[mparks8590]

you can check glow plugs by taking each one out in sequence and then use 12v battery to wire up, they will get very hot mind so be careful

so short term start up spanner light most likely glow plugs

if its on longer then I'd say egr ( + boost sensor ) would be my first port of call

I'd change my fuel filter in any case as it can only help to draw clean fuel throught the system

cheers

[felixx]

I would be inclined to say glow plugs. Maybe all are goosed now.

If the car is running fine then I wouldn't worry too much.

Gazza4

I am inclined to agree as if it were your EGR,you would be/have symptoms associated with the failure of,or problems with that unit.If it's just been the spanner light then nothing after start up,then you will probably find that they diagnose the glow plugs.Has it been ok after it's initial start up?,ie,no spanner light etc,etc?. FELIXX.

[mozzer99]

incorrect post

[GazVXLINE170]

incorrect post

[adamf]

Hello, thanks for the replies my mechanic said the engine management light is my EGR valve so it looks like Mozzer99 was right, spot on mate thanks for the reply. He said he could get me a price on a new EGR or if I find one and buy it he'll fit it for me for £30 which sounds good. My EML is still on but the car drives fine, no loss of power, no smoke, and starts to pull hard from 1500 revs all the way with no issues.

He told me to give a blast on the Motorway every now and then and hold the revs which should help. I managed to find the how2 guide for cleaning the EGR valves, and even better someone has compiled it into a downloadable PDF so nuff thanks to "cdti150SRI 54est" for this it will be useful to a lot of us!

http://www.vectra-c.com/forum/showth...ing+EGR&page=4

If I can't find a new one cheap enough I'll get it cleaned up I think, I did read somewhere a bloke bought a GM one on ebay for £45

[adamf]

Hi felixx just re-read your post! No the spanner light would come on only when starting from cold, it would stay light when the engine started and go out after driving for about 5 minutes. It would sometimes clear if you stop and start the engine which was the norm for about 8-9 months. I just noticed yeasterday that the spanner light would not clear and remained lit which was out of the norm - it stayed on during a journed of about 20 minutes. I left the car and went to go out later that day and got the dreaded EML

I'm competent when it comes to fuses, relays or anything technical but I prefer to leave engine components to people who know their stuff! (and have the tools)

P.S I've figured out how to upoad attachments so you can find the EGR cleaning PDF from 'cdti150SRI 54est'