1.9 cdti turns over but fails to start

**swifty776** · 1st January 2010, 19:37

Hi, i'm having a lousy new year, my Veccy 1.9 cdti 150's alternator failed on boxing day, had to be towed home..great.

Changed the alternator and started car. It started but felt guttless and a bit rough, not wanting to rev (The "car/spanner" light was on). I left it about 10 seconds, on idle, when suddenly the revs slowly dropped and it died. Now the car will only turn over but won't start up. The "car/spanner" light stays on.

Battery tested and charged... no change

RAC called....scratched his head....no fault codes found

Next stop is an expensive garage bill, hence post.
Anybody had or heard of these symptoms?
Happy new year

**cerbrious** · 1st January 2010, 19:53

the car spanner light being on means there is a stored fault code somewhere the equipment the rac use is very limited and cannot access all units withing the car you will need to get her on either a tech2, op-com or vaux com

there is a thread with names of members willing to help along with there locations i have the equip but im a 4 hour drive away from you someone more local should help you out

**signum03** · 1st January 2010, 19:55

could well be glow plugs bud? easy change on yours.

**swifty776** · 2nd January 2010, 10:35

Cheers guys
The glow plug light comes on briefly and extinguishes as normal....could it still be glow plugs?
I'm going to try the free code check as described on another thread, but don't hold out much hope as it doesn't seem to work on cdti's.
Cars dead, so getting it to a code reader means: garage....means: start of the bill!!

**cerbrious** · 2nd January 2010, 11:48

read this thread pick a menber near you and send them a private message

http://www.vectra-c.com/forum/showthread.php?t=96936

**swifty776** · 5th January 2010, 22:15

Took it to the garage, an independant, he found a code refering to an out of alignment with cams and fly wheel. Basically, the timing had gone out. How? i've no idea. It wil now start and idle, but there appears to be no compression as it wont rev up.
This points to valves and god knows what else damaged. The bill? How does around £1500 to £2500 sound?
I've decided to take it off and do it myself, I only hope vauxhall don't have any surprises for me.
This is definitly the last Vauxhall i will ever buy and probably the last car over £3000 as i'll need all my spare cash for repairs either way!
Can't even set fire to it, as my MOT's expired!!!!
My advise to anyone considering buying Vauxhall is to search the forums as hard as you can, because the information is out there folks, you just have to look.
Thanks for all the help at Vectra-c.com, much appreciated support.

**GazVXLINE170** · 6th January 2010, 01:23

THe belt may have 'jumped' a tooth.

**JouniBoy** · 9th January 2010, 11:40

I am just wondering is 120 HP version 8 valve construction,in that case maybe no damages only new belt is needed?

**swifty776** · 9th January 2010, 22:57

Unfortunatly no. Its the 150 bhp 16v version. Yes, the jumped tooth idea sounds about right, the only question now is, what caused it to jump?
I just hope i don't change the head and it does it again straight away.
I'll change the cam belt, waterpump, any damaged stems/guides and hope for the best.
I'll keep the forum updated, might help someone else in the future.
First step, compression check to see which cylinders are knackered.