Shaking violently and raw fuel smell

Tiny
PANICATTHEASTRA
  • MEMBER
  • 2008 VAUXHALL ASTRA
  • 1.4L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 87,000 MILES
Hi,
I’ve got a Vauxhall Astra Mk5 (H) 2008
Breeze edition, 5dr, 1.4l, petrol, manual

The car seems okay for the first 5-10 minutes of the drive, but then:
>The car shakes quite violently, inc. Steering wheel, doors, gear stick, and with the bonnet up the engine is shaking.

>The car feels like it wants to stall when:
* In 1st gear at any point, especially when bringing it up to the bite
* In 2nd gear when travelling at 20 mph+, 3rd gear when travelling 30 mph+ etc.

>I can’t really get above 1-2 mph in first gear, and the car throws itself back and forward as if it’s going to stall even when I’ve got my foot on the accelerator.

>If I start the car within 5 minutes of turning it off, the issues are instantly present, it’s almost as if they occur once it’s ‘warmed up’.

>I’ve had it in the mechanic, and he’s replaced the temperature sensor and a leaking oil filter.
He couldn’t figure out why it was doing it either.

>I’ve also tightened the jubilee clips on the air intake pipe as they were very loose, but the issues still seem present.

>The engine management light sometimes comes on but it only reports P0170, hence why I checked the air intake pipe.

>The estimated miles remaining went from 90 down to 72 on a 2.5 mile drive into work this morning.

Any help would be appreciated!
Thanks!
Friday, July 19th, 2019 AT 1:33 AM

1 Reply

Tiny
JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • MECHANIC
  • 108,205 POSTS
Welcome to 2CarPros.

That is a big drop in MPG. What I recommend starting with is the fuel pressure and regulator. Have you noticed any fuel smell or gray / black smoke from the exhaust? If so, start with pressure. Here is a link that shows how it's checked:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-fuel-system-pressure-and-regulator

If the pressure is good, next confirm the catalytic converter isn't plugged. Here are links that discusses the converter, symptoms, and how to check one:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/bad-catalytic-converter-symptoms

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-test-a-catalytic-converter

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/catalytic-converter-replacement

Let me know what you find.

Take care,

Joe
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Saturday, July 20th, 2019 AT 9:53 PM

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