Sudden loss of power

**aaronfenwick** · 23rd May 2009, 23:50

Bought a CDTI 120 05 Plate a few months back.

All in all very pleased with it. But. I have a bit of an issue, hoping you guys can help.

I drove my mum and my daughter down to bournemouth (from Reading) for a beach day out, and about 10 miles out of bournemouth I noticed a real sudden loss of power, and alight appeared on the dash (under the tacho dial) thats looks like a car shape and an f'ing great spanner in front of it.

This is the second time its happened. The first time I put it down as a one off, as its not happened for about 3 months since. If I turn the ignition off and fire up again, the light goes away and power is restored. (on both occasions)

Any ideas people??

Thanks for any input in advance....

Aaron

**aaronfenwick** · 23rd May 2009, 23:52

btw - I'm worried its the turbo...?

**gibbon7000** · 23rd May 2009, 23:54

was there any blue smoke? How much power did you lose?

**aaronfenwick** · 24th May 2009, 00:12

if i'm honest, i didn't notice any. If there was it must of been sutble.

Lots, it felt like driving a 1.2!

**m8internet** · 24th May 2009, 00:16

It was probably the crankshaft sensor, nearing failure, and putting the car in safe mode
3 months is a long time, so I'd wait until the problem happens more often, say every second or third trip
By then the fault code should be available to diagnosed quickly and correctly

**aaronfenwick** · 24th May 2009, 00:19

Right'o.

Is that personal experience, or professional ?

Thanks for the input mate...
Aaron

**m8internet** · 24th May 2009, 08:54

Previous experience on EMS warnings and general reporting faults to dealerships

The GM engines tend to eat camshaft and crankshaft sensors
Typically, they last between 18 and 36 months
Equally, they tend to fail at around the same time
I learnt that from experience
When my warranty ran out on my last Vectra I ran with the failed camshaft sensor for about 6 months, but when the crankshaft sensor failed the engine goes into safe mode, and then had both changed

Another point to note is that if you take your Vectra for diagnosis the fault code has to either be fresh (ignition not turned on more than 5 times) or so common that it has been stored permanently
If a fault is only happening once every few months, then as you've done; stop the car, remove the key, wait 60 seconds, restart, and compare