24th Jul 2003, 05:20

Vectra GLS 2.0.

Engine stalled whilst changing gear on a roundabout. Missed turning because of loss of power steering and managed to stop the vehicle 2 inches off the central reservation, blocking the exit completely.

Good luck in trying to get Vauxhall to recall these vehicles for this fault. I'm under the impression that it is cheaper for them to pay out for a few deaths caused by it than recall the entire fleet, or am I being too cynical?

Replaced IDLE AIR CONTROL VALVE, problem sorted.

From reading the above, I guess I'm going to be seeing this again soon. Hope I sell this death trap before me or my family are injured or killed through a known Vauxhall engine fault.

16th Feb 2004, 06:33

I too have had problems with the engine stalling, and similarly the solution was to fit the new Idle Control Valve and a new component fitted to the breather line. I had to pay for the new component in the breather line, about 6 months ago, and since then it hasn't done it again, although I'm sure it was worse in the summer. Regarding recalls etc, I was surprised that I had to pay for the filter on the breather line, since this would appear to be a modification, and not a repair!

Also, can anybody advise ref hot running engines? My Vectra engine always seems to be running hot, with full coolant levels. Even in cold weather, the cooling fan comes on with just a bit of heavy traffic. In hot weather, the cooling fans runs very frequently, much more so than in previous cars that I have owned. Is this a common problem, or am I just unlucky? Having had my second water pump done in 2.5 years, it sounds like the thermodynamic loads on the cooling system have been underestimated, leading (possibly?) to poor reliability of cooling related components.

28th Apr 2004, 06:34

I have a 98 1.8 vectra and had the same "cutting out problem when the clutch was dis-engaged approaching a junction. It is actually quite easy to rectify yourself, simply remove idle speed valve and clean with lots of wd40 and finish with a squirt of silicone spray. My car has never cut out since and only cost me half an hour of my time.

4th Oct 2007, 09:40

My heart is broken too. I have a 1996 Vectra 1.8LS which is immaculate condition. I have the idling problem in reverse. Mine tries to take off by itself sometimes and there's a delay between taking my foot off the accelerator and the engine revs reducing. Great fun in traffic.

I also have the added problem that the inlet manifold fills with oil and blows it through the exhaust with terrible grunting noises.

It used to only happen when I floored the accelerator, but now it does it during normal town driving and it's very embarrassing.

So far I have:

1. Changed the airflow meter.

2.Changed the pump on the inner wing and the compressor that activates it.

3. Totally stripped and rebuilt the engine with new rings, valve seals and big ends.

4. Split the inlet manifold which you're not meant to do, and cleaned it down to bare metal. (In the bath.. My better half was delighted).

I'm now looking at something called a purge valve.

The trouble is that none of the mechanics I know seem to understand these beasts. I live in Ireland now and the 1.8 is very unusual though I've found a scrapyard with a fairly complete 97, 1.8 Omega.

The step after that will be a second hand inlet manifold. A local mechanic is eager to know what's wrong with it should I ever find out. The trouble is I've already spent so much money on it, I need to get to the bottom of the problem.

WISH ME LUCK.

Keith (Getting old before my time)

28th Feb 2008, 05:07

Same problems as other comments above with my 2lt vectra re:engine light coming on. Had same prob with a 2lt Omega, after spending hundreds of pounds at the garage without the problem being solved it worked out cheaper to scrap the car and buy something else, which is what I intend doing with the vectra.

23rd Mar 2008, 08:57

Has anybody changed their spark plugs?

Vauxhall dealerships will not change them on a service, or inspect them until 100,000 miles or 10 years.

They don't change air filters until 60,000 miles.

I had some trouble at 50,000 miles. I changed air filter and spark plugs, replaced with Bosch twin electrode type, which cured it completely. The old plugs where absolutely worn out, with an 0.8mm gap.

The emissions light came on a week later due to the manifold breather valve sticking (due to it's changed parameters), but went off after 2 days. It can be dismantled to clean gunk off; if it does not cure itself, it is common after servicing.

10th Apr 2008, 05:09

I have an R-reg Vectra 1.8 16v, 110,000 miles with similar problems to those mentioned. I have had it for 6 months, and it has been nothing but trouble.

So far it has needed a new exhaust, steering rack, track rod end, gearbox, front brake discs, all brake pipes & a shock absorber.

Now I am getting an ECU warning light, and the engine stalling at low revs when setting off or when braking to a stop with the clutch down.

The ECU* advises there is a fault at the airflow sensor - I replaced this, but the fault hasn't been resolved and I've found after searching through many many forums, that there doesn't seem to be a definitive answer as to how to resolve this. Anyway, I'm going to try some of the suggestions given above, thanks.

* For those that don't know, you can actually check the ECU fault yourself using nothing more than a paperclip - see http://www.topbuzz.co.uk/info/fault_codes/fault_codes.htm

17th Feb 2009, 03:07

I have a 2.0 140 SRi Vectra and had the same problem with stalling. Took it to Vauxhall; they said it was the air intake was blocked. Cost me 95 quid!

Has been fine for about a month, but now it's started stalling again! By looking at other posts, I believe it is my idle control valve that needs fixing. The thing I can't understand is that if this is a common problem with the Vectra, surely Vauxhall would know how to fix this, so why charge me 90 quid for not even fixing the problem!!!

Does anyone know how much it will cost to replace the idle control valve?

9th Mar 2009, 07:32

Following on from the above comment. Just got my vectra fixed. Done it myself in the end. Went to 2 different garages, Vauxhall being 1 of them and yet they were unable to fix it. All I done was took off the throttle body and idle control valve, took them apart, gave them a good clean and put them back on. It is now running better then it ever has since iv had it. 30 min job. Only cost be 5 quid for a can of carb cleaner. Vectra...Done!