hello to all, just bought my first vectra c 2.0tdi.

[hgvdriverpeter]

can anyone please offer advise on the following problem, glow plugs dont stay on long enough, get short period of grey smoke (big cloud) on start up. i have changed glow plug relay, had glow plugs checked and had egr valve removed and cleaned, none of the above work has resolved my problem regarding cloud of smoke on start up. HELP

[richy1974]

I think vauxhall do a ecu up date but its a bout £100 quid

[Legion84]

Welcome peter, hope you get it sorted

[hgvdriverpeter]

thanks mate but would like to try cheap options first..cheers

[bobssignum]

Its a DTi they all smoke to a varieing degree , mine is exactly the same , things to try .
1 clean boost sensor
2 clean upper inlet manifold
3 put about half a bottle of stp diesel injector cleaner in with your next fill up

[Legion84]

Yeah you could try what bob has suggested, my old vectra didn't smoke but it had twice as less miles on clock, this one smokes on start up when it first fires up get a white puff of smoke and then clears straight after, still a little bit of black smoke on heavy acceleration but up to now not using oil and runs fine, I couldn't get the manifold spotless but opened the airways on it and cleaned swirl bars best I could took about 5 hours 90mins of cleaning included, if you do decide while your going to get air into the fuel system might be an idea to change fuel filter, and to bleed use the method of loosening nuts on the injector pipes into the engine worked a treat gettin air out of it, I tried everything else... lol

[John LE]

Its a DTi they all smoke to a varieing degree , mine is exactly the same , things to try .
1 clean boost sensor
2 clean upper inlet manifold
3 put about half a bottle of stp diesel injector cleaner in with your next fill up

all diesels will give a puff of smoke when they start.

Is the car taking a while to fire though? If so it may be worth checking the leak off pipes as they can perish (and the t-pieces can crack) which allows diesel to drain back into the fuel tank.

As the DTi does not have a lift pump in the tank it has to use the engine fuel pump to pump diesel from the tank every time before firing

[hgvdriverpeter]

Thanks to all for response`s, there hasn`t been any issues starting the car (yet), just the large cloud on start up, recently stayed at a b&b in York, couple of guests outside having a cig had to go back in because i started my car. (embarrasing to say the least). Not sure of location of boost sensor on 2.0tdi. Do i need to purchase any gaskets to do upper inlet manifold?.

[bobssignum]

DTI engine layout 2.jpgpic 1.jpgThe upper inlet manifold has just a metal gasket under the 4fixing bolts , usually just a clean and replace will suffice.
Pic enclosed is off a 2.0 DTi but it shows you where the boost sensor is and other bits, some you will have and some you wont
The second pic shows you the vacuum hose connectors its worth checking these as they are a regular source of problems with the DTi s mainly due to perishing /cracking .
Follow these hoses around the engine checking each one for cracks .
what is usually done on here is we buy 3 meters of 3mm silicione tubing off e- bay and then cut to size the replacement pipe
cost,s about £7 or £8 on e bay. as opposd to £30 for the rubber connectors from a stealer

[hgvdriverpeter]

thanks very much for the in depth info, i will check all as you described, cheers mate.