03 vectra 1.8 emissions light and rough idle

[likeit40]

MY 03 VECTRA 1.8 IS 'LUMPY ON IDLE BUT SEEMS TO RUN OK ON LONG RUNS TO SCOTLAND 2x A MONTH. EMISSIONS LIGHT IS ON ALL THE TIME.

Any advice welcome - I am thinking of cleaning out the EGR valve.

'blink code' methods indicate

1405 -DPFE sensor upstream hose off or plugged
0170 fuel trim malfunction (bank 1)

Thank you in advance

Ian G

[danBoy]

The Vectra C 1.8 doesn't have an EGR valve, its all controlled by the throttle body.

[Birchy63]

Lambda sensor?

[likeit40]

No EGR eh? I was charged £200 3 years ago for a diagnostic and a new gas return valve.

No wonder I am loathe to go back to a garage.

Would a faulty lambda sensor cause engine to idle/tick over erraticly?

[Big Sig]

The Vectra C 1.8 doesn't have an EGR valve, its all controlled by the throttle body.

Yes it does, 95% sure its on the front offside. Metal can type affair. I believe we cleaned Payneys at PVS.

[likeit40]

Yes it does, 95% sure its on the front offside. Metal can type affair. I believe we cleaned Payneys at PVS.

Thanks Big Sig

[Birchy63]

Would a faulty lambda sensor cause engine to idle/tick over erraticly?

Yes, very much so.... The ECU can't work out the fuel/air mixture because it's getting wrong emissions info from the sensor. As it gets worse it'll get to the point where the engine tries to stall at every junction.
Generally speaking it would either cause over fueling or lean running, over fueling will eventually damage the piston rings (due to dilution of the engine oil) while lean running will cause overheating (but nothing the cooling system can't handle).

I "lost" a lambda sensor on my last car and 3 different garages couldn't work out what the problem was, one "recommended" chap even told me my exhaust must blocked (because it was getting far too hot).... Nothing to do of course with the engine running lean

If it's the lambda sensor, then the ECU will have recorded a faulty condition flag..... I would be inclined to get it checked out by VX.

[carpet]

1.8s DO have an EGR valve, open bonnet, remove engine cover, look at right hand end of engine by the battery cover, small dustbin like object with a connector on top, this the ERG valve. Held on by two screws.

[tridley]

My 03 reg 1.8ls doesn't have one, I read somewhere the 1.8 engine does not require one as it easily meets the emmissions regs. Vaux may have fitted one on later models though.

[badgerb]

Likeit - did you mange to get this sorted, this evening my car has flagged up exactly that same errors as yours P Codes 0170 and 1405.