Problems starting after refueling

**stripey** · 21st October 2022, 12:29

(new thread as suggested).

Every time I fill up, I have to crank for a while to get her started. Never an issue other than first time after filling up.

A suggestion was made about air getting into the system - remember I'm a dunce where engines are concerned but I don't understand why that wouldn't cause problems at other times?

**northpole** · 21st October 2022, 13:43

because it seeps in overtime when the car isn't running... it takes a while for air to be enough that it causes the fuel to return to the tank... so since you have no clue, I suggest you take it to a garage to have them look at the problem. As it could also be something else. But in my experience if the car only has hard starting after it has been left over night (or for a considerable amount of hours) than it usually is an air leak, and with your car having a petrol engine 2.8t it could also be the fuel rail that looses pressure.

You could put in a non return valve in the fuel return line to see if that stops it, but if it does it just means you've by-passed the problem. In that case you know the problem is in that fuel line and i would replace it the whole fuel line...

Another test ( that is completely free) is to park the car with the engine facing down hill that means the fuel has to climb it's way up to return to the fuel tank and with gravity being the way it is it'll be a lot harder for it and should stop it from happening. If it stops you deffo have an air leak.

Nothing special, it happens seals, fuel lines and valves can perish overtime.

there are a few other things that can cause hard starts in the morning, one being a very dirty intake valve or very dirty intake (you can thank the EGR system for that providing it's still active). The other is a blocked PCV valve but that would come with lots of white smoke coming from the exhaust and that would be there all day long.

**northpole** · 21st October 2022, 16:39

And after re-reading your problem it might just be that the tank ventilation valve isn't working as it should.

Another thing that isn't a big problem or hard to sortout.

**Dog_Book** · 21st October 2022, 19:21

Oh no @stripey another rebuke time, you've been on the forum longer than me and you don't know what it is? I knew before I even had a 2.8t and you didn't even read my write up with pictures on how to change it with the pn

https://www.vectra-c.com/forum/showt...=1#post2472917
@northpole bad girl! The 2.8t does not have an EGR.

And both bad girls for not googling, its one of the biggest common problems for the 2.8t.
And that's the bottom line.

**northpole** · 21st October 2022, 19:28

You could've just said: replace the evap valve. But hey some people enjoy gloating. No probs. Now give the man the part number so he can get it himself.

**Dog_Book** · 21st October 2022, 19:34

Originally Posted by northpole

You could've just said: replace the evap valve. But hey some people enjoy gloating. No probs. Now give the man the part number so he can get it himself.

I already did, and I've showed him how to do it, back in 2017.

**northpole** · 22nd October 2022, 09:53

Originally Posted by Dog_Book

I already did, and I've showed him how to do it, back in 2017.

So you went out of your way to dig into your diary, found the page ot was on copied the link, instead of just copying the part number, yeah call me a bad girl.. but just for that, welcome to the club.

Well here is the part number GM 12611801

**Dog_Book** · 22nd October 2022, 10:47

Originally Posted by northpole

So you went out of your way to dig into your diary, found the page ot was on copied the link, instead of just copying the part number, yeah call me a bad girl.. but just for that, welcome to the club.

Well here is the part number GM 12611801

But alas, as Stripey says he’s not good with cars so you have given him the pn if he couldn’t be bothered to read the post but not showed him how to get to it to swap it unlike how I did.

Maybe I’ll just keep quiet in the future and let people struggle despite already showing them 4 years ago eh?

**northpole** · 22nd October 2022, 11:03

That idea you got that people automatically will read diaries is just wrong. You need to stop that. Just answer the question or don't bother. Also I looked at said page, it doesn't mention the replacement in detail. In other words, he will ask questions. And since you've done it years ago... well we are waiting for instructions.

**JagRigger** · 24th October 2022, 07:24

As an aside, mine's obviously been reading this thread and also started not to fire first crank unless you let it prime. New fuel pump and filter fitted, no obvious leaks. Z18XER don't have any fancy valves as far as I'm aware. Never done it before.....