Help! Bought a car with issues....Smoking on start up....EGR blanking plate - worth doing?

[cardiffgareth]

I've owned my new shiney motor since last Saturday and in them 10 days I've had it for 3 as its been back and forth the garage!

Just to add, my car is a 120bhp 8v CDTi

This is a timeline of what's happened!

Picked the car up last Saturday and there is a terrible knocking from the suspension and also the fuel gauge wasn't working. We didn't want to drive it as the knocking was so loud so it remained outside the house all Saturday and Sunday.
Monday the car goes in and I'm given a courtesy car to drive around in. Tuesday I have a phone call saying all is fixed and to collect it so down I pop. Apparently they changed the temperature sensor and the drop link arms. Driving the car home and the knocking has gone but no fuel gauge still. I drove it for 20 miles and idled it for ages but nothing. Calling the garage on the Wednesday and I'm told that its normal because the weather is cold and Vectra's normally run with the temp needle on nothing! CRAP I tell them and I point out I researched it and its a fault so back it goes in Thursday. Since they changed the temp sensor or should I say since they had it in their possession the car smokes badly with white / light blueish smoke on start up when cold only!
So Thursday! It goes in and they say they'll look at it Friday morning to see the cold start smoke. Friday - no phone call so I call them Saturday and they say it's all done and to come and collect it. I again pop down and I make sure the sales person sees me start it up - smokes like crazy again. What's weird is that it idles terrible when cold and with a bit of right foot (nothing excessive) the car smokes like crazy and then it clears after 10 seconds or so and idles lovely.
So he says to take the car away as it might clear itself as its been stood on the forecourt and to call back Monday. So I drive off and YES!!! the temperature gauge works! It sits between 80 and 90 on the dial when warm BUT I now have a new issue! No power! Under 2000 / 2500 rpm the car is now gutless. It used to be real pokey and now it has nothing. I don't know what they have done to fix the tempreture gauge as the mechanic isn't there till tomorrow, I'm hoping they have changed the thermostat but until I call them tomorrow to again book the car in for further work I'm in the dark.

Do you think the car smoking and the lack of power are linked and if so what can I do to fix it?

My dad has seen a EGR valve blanking plate that has holes in it so the engine management light doesn't come on. Are they recommended or not? Also do you think the EGR valve is my fault?

Any help is most appreciated.

[Critch]

Possible egr valve needs cleaning

also maybe a glow plug causing the smoke.

Does it start ok?

probably best to ask them to draft in an indepadeant inspection ie RAC

To get vehicle fully checked. Before owning it too much longer

[tony-1977]

Smoking on cold start - Glow plugs

Lack of power - Clean the EGR and Boost sensor

HTH

[merikiito]

I would be taking the car back and getting my money back, no point in messing about with a faulty car.

I for one would be putting opcom/tech 2 on this car and checking for fault codes and to see if the mileage is correct

[cardiffgareth]

Thanks both. The car is on finance so giving it back is not an option as the T&C's state that I can end the agreement early but I have to replay the full £2500 back to do so!

Yes it starts fine, starts fast so its not turning over excessively before starting.

I've been reading on here (BTW what a great bank of information this site it!) about fiat gaskets. What are these and why are they better than the Vauxhall ones? Is this the only mod you would recommend as I read here about the dangers of blanking the EGR valve off?

[tony-1977]

The car is on finance

If the garage won't sort it, get the finance company involved. They'll help

[cardiffgareth]

I would be taking the car back and getting my money back, no point in messing about with a faulty car.

I for one would be putting opcom/tech 2 on this car and checking for fault codes and to see if the mileage is correct

Sorry, the posts over lapped! It's on HP and I can't give the car back as the car finance T&C's (Blackhorse) state its not an option unless I want to settle the amount of credit in full, plus 88p a day interest charges.

I do have every one of the past MOT certificates and the mileage is correct. The service history also ties in the mileage.

[cardiffgareth]

If the garage won't sort it, get the finance company involved. They'll help

I'll call them tomorrow and see what they recommend

[alcutler]

Thanks both. The car is on finance so giving it back is not an option as the T&C's state that I can end the agreement early but I have to replay the full £2500 back to do so!

Yes it starts fine, starts fast so its not turning over excessively before starting.

I've been reading on here (BTW what a great bank of information this site it!) about fiat gaskets. What are these and why are they better than the Vauxhall ones? Is this the only mod you would recommend as I read here about the dangers of blanking the EGR valve off?

Fiat designed this engine and fit it in certain Fiat models - they were experiencing a lot of problems with the EGRs on these cars and designed the three hole gasket as a modification and they can be bought from Fiat dealers. There is a How2 showing how to make one on this site.

[merikiito]

Before I went down the route of fitting fiat gaskets I would get the car running correctly first. Is the car an automatic?