2.2 Direct,flat spot then spanner light

**johnmac** · 15th June 2009, 18:11

Going to work this morning with 4 adults in the car, gave it a bit of a 'burn' in 3rd (around 65mph). Major flat spot (almost like fuel starvation), then the light came on. Car drove fine and when I turned off the ignition and restarted, the fault cleared.

Dirty fuel filter? Car at 65k. Think it was done a the 40k service. If that is the case, any ideas how mauch for a new one and why it wont make it to 80k?

Thanks

**gibbon7000** · 15th June 2009, 18:26

High pressure fuel pump???

**Big Dave** · 15th June 2009, 19:55

Does the car/spanner light now remain lit until the engine is running? If so, there is a stored fault code waiting to be read out. Hope it's not P1191. That's what mine was - needs new fuel pump and regulator. Fuel pump alone is £375, excluding fitting. Lucky for me it's still under warranty - just.

**johnmac** · 15th June 2009, 20:19

Its not the pump. Already had 'that one'

My symptoms for that were zero acceleration when flooring it, which resulted in the emissions warning light coming on.

This was a flat spot at around 3-4k revs in 3rd gear. Car absolutely fine now and light went off after restarting the car. Just a one off, but wondering if this would be the symptoms of a clogged fuel pump or a pump that is showing signs of clogging?

**Flaninacupboard** · 15th June 2009, 21:24

Bing! HPFP. Try a hard burn in 3rd again, it will do the same thing.

**idobigmls** · 15th June 2009, 21:32

how olds the coil pack?

**johnmac** · 15th June 2009, 21:36

Well if it is that, i'd be gobsmacked as that would be the 2nd fail in around 15k miles and the replacement that is/was fitted should be an 'improved' part. I'll just not 'boot it' in 3rd as long as I have the car

Again, if it is that, then the car will be getting driven into the Clyde as I would be totally scunnered with it. I dont mind 'one off' faults or wear and tear, but ever known fault pops up and Vx seem to have no remedy for it - springs, high pressure fuel pump, sim module, erratic idle, timing chain, rear inner tyre wear etc,etc If you go through this forum, its the same faults time and time again

**johnmac** · 15th June 2009, 21:38

Coil pack? Think its the original. I changed the plugs approx 10k ago. As I said, the car is running fine now. When the fuel pump went the last time, I could not accelerate in any gear without the emmision light coming on. This scenario is totally different. It felt like fuel starvation to me, but I thought the filter would have been ok for another 10k or so. (but I've been wrong before

)

**Calamity Gian** · 16th June 2009, 12:52

FYI - I had 2 new fuel pumps and regulators go within 3k miles of one another. Apparently, from the new batch!

so it could be that.

Or it sounds like a Mass Airflow sensor problem (if vectra's suffer them?)

**johnmac** · 12th July 2009, 14:08

Hello again !!!

Still looking for any advice on this. I will try my best to explain this again. I had HPFP fail around 12k ago.These symptoms are nothing like the the issues I had then.At the moment, the car will have a major misfire when driven hard.After this,the spanner light will sometimes come on,sometimes it desnt.After which the car drives fine.If I stop,turn off and restart the engine, the spanner light goes off. When my HPFP went the last time, the car would not accelerate at all over 3k revs.It feels to me like a lack of fuel when accelerating hard.When building up speed on the motorway etc, it drives absolutely fine.

I am going to take out the plugs today,clean and refit (but dont expect to see anything).I have fitted a new air filter (for no reason in particular), I have ran my tank down and filled with Shell and added Redex in case I have a partially clogged injector (my local filling stations are Tesco and Morrisons).I also intend doing an oil and filter today and adding some X1.These things are mainly routine, but while I dont want to spend more money on my car (a complete lemon but has been great recently) I would like to resolve this.I cannot read the code using the How 2 as it is a 'Direct' and grudge spending £70 to get a Tech2 report telling me it 'might be' one thing or another.

Any ideas???