2000 Vauxhall Corsa BAFFLED

Tiny
PORSHA
  • MEMBER
  • 2000 VAUXHALL CORSA
  • V12
  • AWD
  • MANUAL
  • 34,000 MILES
AFTER HAVING A DIAGNOSTIC COS OF POOR RUNNING IT SHOWED UP LAMBDA, A NEW 1 WAS PUT ON BUT NO DIFFERENCE SO THE MECHANIC CONTACTED THE MAIN DEALER WHO SAID IT WOULD NOT BE LAMBDA IT WOULD BE AIRFLO SENSOR SO A NEW 1 WAS FITTED AND STILL NO DIFFERENCE, MY ORIGINAL LAMBDA WAS SUPOSED TO BE PUT BACK ON BUT IT LOOKS AS IF IT WASNT COS IT LOOKS NEW. BUT NOW THE ECU LIGHT DID NOT COME ON BUT HAD POOR RUNNIG STILL.A WEEK LATER THE LIGHT HAS COME ON AGAIN SO A DIAGNOSTIC WHICH HAS NOW BEING DONE BY VAUXHALL IS SHOWING UP LAMBDA AGAIN BUT AFTER HAVING MY EMISSIONS CHECKED LAMBDA AND AIRFLO AND EVERYTHING ELSE ON THERE CAME OUT NORMAL READINGS. CAR STILL RUNNING POOR LUMPY LOSS OF POWER WHEN LIGHT COMES ON. THE LIGHT GOES OFF AFTER ABOUT 10 SECONDS. IT HAS BEEN SUGGESTED ITS THE EGR VALVE BUT IT AINT SHOWED UP ON THE DIAGNOSTIC. HELP EVERYONE IS PASSING ME AROUND AND SUGGESTING SOMETHING NEW EACH TIME AS WELL AS HAVING MY MONEY
Tuesday, November 4th, 2008 AT 7:14 AM

15 Replies

Tiny
DAVE H
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,384 POSTS
Unfortunately the diagnostic code only tells the mechanic where the fault was picked up, this does not mean the main fault was actually in the sensor that picked it up and desplayed the code? It is trial and error for most codes shown? You start at the
beginning and work back to solve the problem. I would bet your EGR valve is the problem even though no code has been displayed. The year of
car is a the beginning of diagnostic's being used and they have gradually over the years got bettter and better at pinpointing the actual exact fault at the outset. Knowing this model of vehicle first hand from being an RAC tech for years I wouldn't be surprised if your coil pack is not the actual real fault?
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Friday, November 7th, 2008 AT 10:03 AM
Tiny
PORSHA
  • MEMBER
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Hi dave H THANKS FOR YOUR FEEDBACK, IT WAS HEPLFUL TO KNOW HOW THE DIAGNOSTICS WORK BUT YOU WILL BE INTERESTED TO KNOW MY CAR HAS BEEN CHECKED AGAIN FOR AIR LEAKS WIRING AND ALL THE SENSORS THOUROUGHLY BY HAND AND BY MACHINE BUT ONLY THE FUNCTION OF MY LAMBDER WAS A BIT LAZY SO HE TOOK IT OUT AND CLEANED IT, THERE WAS A BIT OF DIRT ON IT BUT NOT MUCH BUT THIS SEEMDED TO MAKE THE READINGS OK AFTERWARDS, MY CAR WAS THEN ROAD TESTED AND REVVED VERY HIGH IN 2ND AND 3RD GEAR AND NO LIGHT HAS COME ON, HENCE NO CODES, WHETHER THIS HAS CURED THE PROBLEM I DONT KNOW. IT IS INTIMITANT AND I DONT HAVE ANT PROBLEM STARTING IT AT ALL ANYTIME. BY THE WAY ITS A VAUXHALL CORSA CLUB ECOTECH ENGINE 1LITER 3CYLINDERS, IT HAS 33000GENUINE MILES ON THE CLOCK, IV HAD IT FROM NEW AND ITS W REG 2OOO. THANKS
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Sunday, November 9th, 2008 AT 10:39 AM
Tiny
DAVE H
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,384 POSTS
The problems with the coil on this vehicle VAUXHALL CORSA CLUB ECOTECH ENGINE 1LITER 3CYLINDERS, they break down when hot. So if you have been running it around for a while. These may not be the fault. Hopefully your mechanic has cured the problem. Many thanks for the reply. If ya need help in the future please contact me on this forum.
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Sunday, November 9th, 2008 AT 10:52 AM
Tiny
PORSHA
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
HI THANKS FOR YOUR REPLY ON THE COIL PACK, IM AFRAID WHAT WE THOUGHT WAS SORTED IS NOW NOT. MY ENGINE MANAGEMENT LIGHT CAME BACK ON LAST NIGHT 3TIMES, HELP IM GOIN OUT OF MY HEAD WITH ALL OF THIS. PLEASE ANYONE SHED ANY LIGHT ON WHATS HAPPENING.
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Tuesday, November 11th, 2008 AT 12:10 AM
Tiny
DAVE H
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,384 POSTS
You are going to have to have the car read again i'm afraid. If you let me know the code we can take it from there. Bear in mind it might be the same code as before, ask the mechanic for the first code and the code showing now? If they are not the same. Some sensors are linked to each other and the sensor that pick's up the code is not necassarily where the actual fault lies. It is just in the general area of that system. If one of your cylinders is not firing at times ie. The coil is not generating a spark. Then the car is not burning fuel in that cylinder and throwing it out the exhaust. And this will pick up on the lambda sensor. Hence the code in that sensor. Do you see how things are related. You should really get a misfire code as well. But this is not alway's the case
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Tuesday, November 11th, 2008 AT 6:03 AM
Tiny
PORSHA
  • MEMBER
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Thanks dave ive read ot what you have told me to my mechanic so I will let you know. It goes to him on friday. Thanks again, im beginning to understand. Modern cars eh lol.
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Wednesday, November 12th, 2008 AT 1:40 AM
Tiny
DAVE H
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,384 POSTS
Ask him to try taking out the crankshaft position sensor and cleaning it then replacing it. Sometimes this gives a misfire in one cylinder if it is dirty?
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Wednesday, November 12th, 2008 AT 1:25 PM
Tiny
PORSHA
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
Hi dave before I go any further let me just tell you that my car does not misfire, it feels as if its goiin to misfire but it doesnt it hesitates then the light comes on the its ok again, but it only does it when the revs are dropped as in 2nd gear then you try buildin up say up a slight hill or under a bit of pressure puttin your foot down on the gas to get away. Once its built up it will cruise forever up hill or where ever without a problem, anyway my codes were read and again P0130 LAMBDA O2 MALFUNCTION SHOWED UP. Hope this helps cos I think you thought it was misfiring. It ticks over fine and starts fine it is only under load from low revs, any ideas cos even the mechanic is wondering now. Iv also heard a slight pinkin sound. Emissions showed fine. Help please im getting real desperate as my health depends on this car.
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Sunday, November 16th, 2008 AT 12:56 PM
Tiny
DAVE H
  • MECHANIC
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Now you have mentioned the ping. We are looking towards the EGR valve or hoses. It could be fuel filter or blockage in injector you could try using a fuel system cleaner in the tank and changeing the fuel filter? I would buy fuel cleaner first. See if it make's any difference?

Acceleration Ping/Knock

Faulty EGR System. Check EGR Valve and Hoses
Poor Knock Sensor Signal. Test Knock Sensor/Circuit
Poor Baro Sensor Signal. Test Baro Sensor/Circuit
Improper Ignition Timing. Adjust Timing
Engine Overheating. Check Cooling System
Poor Quality Fuel. Use Different Fuel
Carbon Build-Up. Decarbon Engine

Poor Acceleration

Weak Fuel Pump. Replace Fuel Pump
Dirty Fuel Injectors. Clean/Replace Injectors
Excessive Intake Valve Deposits. Clean Intake System

Poor High Speed Operation

Low Fuel Pump Volume. Faulty Fuel Pump/Filter
Poor MAP Sensor Signal. Test Speed Sensor/Circuit
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Sunday, November 16th, 2008 AT 3:17 PM
Tiny
PORSHA
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Hi tried the fuel cleaner and filter but still lambda showin up so iv replaced it with a genuine one and still the same problem but gettin a pinking on accelaration when its on straight run if you know what I mean
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Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008 AT 4:45 AM
Tiny
DAVE H
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You need now to check EGR valve and hoses. It could be a slight leak in hose?
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Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008 AT 4:22 PM
Tiny
PORSHA
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
Can the egr valve be checked if its ok before replacing it incase it aint that? I thought the egr valve had a code of its own on the diaognostics? It aint running bad all the time in fact I know how to avoid the problem happening now and how to bring it on its that controllable now. Surely something would have blown up or gone bust by now as its been goin on since augustwhat do you think its just my thoughts. Thanks only had 12 nervouse break downs now, ha ha. Carole
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Thursday, December 4th, 2008 AT 5:40 AM
Tiny
DAVE H
  • MECHANIC
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The egr can bring up it's own code. Could be that the lambda sensor is a bit more sensative at picking up on faults. And the egr is worn. You said you can make the car's light come on? And avoid it happening. How do you do this?
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Thursday, December 4th, 2008 AT 6:55 PM
Tiny
PORSHA
  • MEMBER
  • 11 POSTS
The way I avoid the light comin on is that when usually I would accelerate to say overtake something on a duel carriageway or say just put a bit of pressure on building up from low revs 2nd gear.I feel it a little bit hesitant and if I continue to put my foot down a bit more the light will come on so what I do is change down the gear so it takes a lot longer to build up speed but it stops the light coming on. Not sure if im explaining it well enough for you to understand, I have it down to a fine art now to avoid it comin on but if I need it to for the mechanic I can do it.
This pinking that has now started, I believe is usuallt timing is that right? Could that be the cause of the whole issue? When I take my foot off the gas the pinking stops, put it back on and it starts, it does it mostly in top gear on a run. Wheras the other problem is fine once im in top gear it will go up hills overtake anything you want it to do.
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Tuesday, December 9th, 2008 AT 2:18 PM
Tiny
DAVE H
  • MECHANIC
  • 13,384 POSTS
I will be honest I never liked this model. The 3 cylinders was never gonna work it lack's power altogether. It alway's sounded to me like it was missing or had a leak at exhaust. Ha ha. They went back to 4 cylinder's on later model's thank god. Ha. Try really cleaning MAF sensor (mass airflow). This could bring about the symptom's your getting and very rarely bring's a light on? It will let engine run rich/lean (fuel) this symptom will bring about other fault codes.
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Wednesday, December 10th, 2008 AT 8:04 AM

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