Help my 2.2 beast is driving like a 0.6 dog!!!!!!

reptilezoo

Hi,
New to this site, I am used reading up about my FTO know that engine inside out.
My wife's 2.2 Edition 100 astra coupe has a problem.
In the five years we have had it other than servicing it is the only problem she has ever had with the car.
Hence need help with this one.
Could be a common problem you all know about.
Car starts but for the past 4 weeks has been idling all over the place.
Drove okay but sometimes stalled when in neutral at traffic lights.
Last week, drove car and suddenly started to drive really bad(the car not me!!!!) no power at any revs, vibrations in the engine.
Pulled over when the engine light came on on the dashboard. Had a quick look and nothing obvious so started to limp home.
3minutes later everything was okay light still on but car drove fine.
Light still came on then two days later the light went off on the dash.

Then today the problem has started again. no power feels like running on three pots, smells a bit funky too. notsure.gif

Any ideas, seems to be intermitent problem so I was thinking something electrical?????
But you guys know these engines wso would really appreciate some input.

Regards
Steve (from Hull)

Sjdickso

Sounds like it could be the EGR valve. Very common problem could also be worth cleaning out the throttle body. Lots of threads about this just do a search.

Johnny has just blocked his off on SC'd vectra

viewtopic.php?f=108&p=1126925#p1126925

Hope this helps.

You can block them off and get a blanking plate for about £3 from Vaux and leave it 50 / 50 or buy a EGR cheater from this site £10.

dodger

i also could be your coil pack breaking down under load

BTW Welcome to the forum

reptilezoo

Will have a look at that, one more thing I noticed on the front right top of the block there is some oil does not look like topping up spillage.

Read a bit on the site about the Egr valve but most are saying it affects performance over 60mph can it really cause issues this severe through the full rev range.

Sorry for being ignorant, what does the Egr valve do. Apart from being a pain in the arse by the sounds of it.

Sjdickso

EGR can cause all sorts or running issues more when idling then anything else. As said could be coil pack. Then other avenues to look at are o2 Sensor / CAT / CTS or air leak?

Sounds like you may need a new rocker cover gasket.

dodger

reptilezoo said:
Sorry for being ignorant, what does the Egr valve do. Apart from being a pain in the arse by the sounds of it.

have a read of this http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Exhaust_gas_recirculation

reptilezoo

Just been out to have another look the oil is not leaking from the rocker cover.

It is coming from the air inlet manifold?!?!?!?!?!?
Where the pipe which comes from the air filter and joins the inlet manifold and then down from this area has quite a bit of oil on it.

MikeS

not uncommon on 1.8 & 2ltr ecotec engines however first time i have heard of a z22se breathing heavy enough for it to seep down the side of the throttle body

start her up and check how much smoke is coming out of the dipstick

then inspect your spark plugs for discolouration

any mayo in the oil [check dispstick] also coolant expansion tank

could be something simple such as build of oil crud & carbon on throttle body knocking out the throttle position sensor

reptilezoo

when I checked the engine the other day one thing I did notice was smoke coming out when I removed the oil filler cap forgot to mention that one!!!!! panic at first thought it was the head gasket gone but then when the problem "cured" itself I put that idea of my head.

reptilezoo

Also no mayo in the oil or expansion tank.

MikeS

when u take off the oil filler cap u will get a gush of fumes coming out then it should settle down and hardly see anything

u need to get the codes read m8 and go from there buddy

vocky

Sjdickso said:
EGR can cause all sorts or running issues more when idling then anything else. As said could be coil pack. Then other avenues to look at are upper O2 Sensor / Catalytic convertor blocked/ Coolant Temp Sensor or air leak?

some good advice :thumbup:

also worth cleaning the throttle body

markoneswift

I did all sorts with mine for a very similar problem - the only thing that cured it was to fork out for a new coil pack, after which it drove like it never drove before :-)