Rotten eggs?

[Chunklamb]

Having a few problems with my car, its a 2007 1.9 CDTI 120 engine.

The car has suddenly started to smell like rotten eggs!

Its just had an MOT and passed on emissions so hoping its not the Cat Convertor and the EGR valve was also replaced under warranty just a few days ago.

If I leave it standing for more than 48 hours, its an absolute **** to start.

Could this be a sign that the battery is almost dead?

Does anyone know how to check an alternator or the life of a car battery?

Also, slightly off subject, the fuse for the front windscreen washer pump keeps blowing. It lasts a few day then "pop" the rear works no issues.

Any ideas? Thanks in advance!

[Rebellion]

I'm reasonably sure they don't test emissions on a diesel during an MOT, so there's no guarantee your cat is working. Rotten egg smell is usually caused by unburnt fuel reaching the exhaust.

[Critch]

Only a smoke test is performed on diesels.

You'll need a multimeter to check batt/ alt

Looking for 12.6v from battery and then 14.4v across batt when running to show alt is ok.

Washer fuse could have a short somewhere that shorts to ground every so often

[Chunklamb]

Thanks guys... Just checked the Battery, 12.5 and when running its at 14 volts.

Its become a right ****** to start after I had the EGR valve replaced... The confusing thing is the poor starting after 24-48hrs idle.

Starter motor??

I've also just put a fuel additive/treatment trough the tank, just at 3/4 full now.

[andrew e]

Rotten eggs can be a cell gone/going in the battery. The low level of acid boils itself and causes the "rotten eggs" gassing smell.

If you can top the battery up, you might find its below the level of the plates. (You might see the metal fins poking through the water - only add ionised water, supermarkets sell it with the stuff for Iorns) If not it might go pop (like below) it does happen, Ive replaced quite a few plant batteries (in the distant past!) where this has happened:

[Critch]

Leak off pipes maybe

[andrew e]

Leak off pipes maybe

Is the Vectra to sophisticated, to try starting with the old trick of removing the fuel filler cap, to cancel the vacuum effect?

[Chunklamb]

Leak off pipes maybe

The what? lol

This is my first derv car car so I dont know where to even start looking with this thing. Normally I'd look at spark plugs, fuel filter etc...

[andrew e]

The fuel pipes that return the unrequired diesel back to the tank.

[the-wizard]

The vec has 1 washer pump, it has 2 pipes fitted & the elec polarity changes to send water to the front or back, so not sure why it blows the fuse.