SRI 150bhp CDTi Engine - EGR Valve
Discussion
Ladies and Gents
I have a March 06 plate Zafira 150bhp cdti. I love it to bits.
But - in the last 12 months, I've had THREE EGR valves fitted by my local dealer (under warranty, of course). I collected it this afternoon after having the 3rd one fitted and was told that I'm not driving it fast enough.
After getting the young lady to explain what she meant, it turns out that I am not driving it aggresively enough. It needs to be "thrashed", and I need to "make it smoke" "about once per week".
Furthermore, if the EGR becomes faulty again, Vauxhall "may" refuse to replace it due to "driver error".
Now then - I think it's fair to say, i'm not exactly a Sunday driver. I don't thrash it round all over the place. It's a 7 seater family vehicle at the end of the day. However, if i'm on my own, on my way to work on the motorway, i'll push it a fair bit rev-wise.
Has anyone got any experience of the EGR valve failing, or, indeed - receiving similar advice from Vauxhall?
Thanks in advance
adam
I have a March 06 plate Zafira 150bhp cdti. I love it to bits.
But - in the last 12 months, I've had THREE EGR valves fitted by my local dealer (under warranty, of course). I collected it this afternoon after having the 3rd one fitted and was told that I'm not driving it fast enough.
After getting the young lady to explain what she meant, it turns out that I am not driving it aggresively enough. It needs to be "thrashed", and I need to "make it smoke" "about once per week".
Furthermore, if the EGR becomes faulty again, Vauxhall "may" refuse to replace it due to "driver error".
Now then - I think it's fair to say, i'm not exactly a Sunday driver. I don't thrash it round all over the place. It's a 7 seater family vehicle at the end of the day. However, if i'm on my own, on my way to work on the motorway, i'll push it a fair bit rev-wise.
Has anyone got any experience of the EGR valve failing, or, indeed - receiving similar advice from Vauxhall?
Thanks in advance
adam
Might be worth an ask here as well: http://www.vectra-c.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=1...
What with the Vectra running the same engine.
What with the Vectra running the same engine.
It's been a while since I was on that site. Just found this thread 1.9 CDTi - Have you had a problem with this engine or not?: http://www.vectra-c.com/forum/showthread.php?t=300...
Sounds like a number of people are not so impressed with the CDTi engine. Seems to be all sorts of different problems though.
Sounds like a number of people are not so impressed with the CDTi engine. Seems to be all sorts of different problems though.
Munter said:
It's been a while since I was on that site. Just found this thread 1.9 CDTi - Have you had a problem with this engine or not?: http://www.vectra-c.com/forum/showthread.php?t=300...
Sounds like a number of people are not so impressed with the CDTi engine. Seems to be all sorts of different problems though.
I love the engine. I think (bearing in mind it's a 7 seater) it's power is superb. It goes like the clappers and upsets a lot of other drivers at times.Sounds like a number of people are not so impressed with the CDTi engine. Seems to be all sorts of different problems though.
The downside is the fact that i'm very close to having my own parking bay at my local VX dealer due to constant EGR faults and most recently Swirl Valves. ALL my problems with it are to do with that part of the engine. I don't notice any degradation in it's power when the EGR "fails", other than the bloody engine management killing the power and limiting me to 3000rpm. Even then, after a mile or so, the engine management decides that all is well, and it resumes normal service for a random amount of time.
I love it and hate it all at the same time. I've got 4 months of warranty left and i'm seriously considering getting something else, but I really really don't want to have to. I just want this to work.
Given Quotes like "Here we go again..... egr valve at 34, now it's gone again at 40K. This time, it's the new manifold / swirl set up too. Well out of warranty of course, so over £700! How can they justify that when it's a design fault?" from that thread. Unless they are doing more than simply swapping out parts and replacing with the same. I'd want to get shot before the Warrenty runs out. Mind you. You take the depreciation hit then...
Munter said:
Given Quotes like "Here we go again..... egr valve at 34, now it's gone again at 40K. This time, it's the new manifold / swirl set up too. Well out of warranty of course, so over £700! How can they justify that when it's a design fault?" from that thread. Unless they are doing more than simply swapping out parts and replacing with the same. I'd want to get shot before the Warrenty runs out. Mind you. You take the depreciation hit then...
Isn't this the same part fitted to Saab 9-3 Tid's?just to throw in a suggestion, if you are cruising right on the boost on / boost off threshold and this is a on/off EGR valve maybe thats why it is getting stuck, as exhaust material (soot) starts to hang around in the half open position and not get blown through. Pity the VX service guy didnt say "avoid 1800-1900 rpm for example" (im not saying that is the range), information is power. Sad really in other respects that is a sweet engine.
No excuse tho, the engine should be tested for this of course.
No excuse tho, the engine should be tested for this of course.
WN3 said:
Bugger.
Ok - i'm coming to terms with letting it go, now.
If I went for a petrol Zafira, preferably a 2.2, but 1.8 at a push, am I likely to experience any EGR type problems there? Basically, are there any similar repetative "faults" that occur with the petrol injection engines?
I wouldn't want to think you are changing a car just based on some blokes on a forum. Ben appears to have a good suggestion above. Might be worth looking into where that engine comes on boost and avoid crusing in that range...Ok - i'm coming to terms with letting it go, now.
If I went for a petrol Zafira, preferably a 2.2, but 1.8 at a push, am I likely to experience any EGR type problems there? Basically, are there any similar repetative "faults" that occur with the petrol injection engines?
Munter said:
WN3 said:
Bugger.
Ok - i'm coming to terms with letting it go, now.
If I went for a petrol Zafira, preferably a 2.2, but 1.8 at a push, am I likely to experience any EGR type problems there? Basically, are there any similar repetative "faults" that occur with the petrol injection engines?
I wouldn't want to think you are changing a car just based on some blokes on a forum. Ben appears to have a good suggestion above. Might be worth looking into where that engine comes on boost and avoid crusing in that range...Ok - i'm coming to terms with letting it go, now.
If I went for a petrol Zafira, preferably a 2.2, but 1.8 at a push, am I likely to experience any EGR type problems there? Basically, are there any similar repetative "faults" that occur with the petrol injection engines?
I think I will initially write to VX customer services and see if they supply me with information. It seems a bit far fetched to me that because I haven't been wellying the car up and down motorways, I am responsible for the demise of 3 EGR' valves in 12 months. I mean - how do pensioners get on with them?? Light-hearted, yes, but a fair question all the same.
Not having any technical knowledge of the engine, I hadn't considered about the correlation between cruising rev's and the boost. I'm off out in it this morning for a 100+ mile round trip so i'll see how it fairs and report back tonight (7-7 night shift tonight
).Again - thanks.
Finally had a chance to speak to my dealer (VX dealer - that is!). I am taking the car in to them at a convenient time for me at which point they will check the on-board computer for fault codes.
If it reports an EGR failure (as we both suspect it will), they will contact VX and arrange with them for the vechicle to be checked over by them.
My laymans opinion is that the on-board computer is a bit flakey. Anyone ever hear of that sort of thing happening?
If it reports an EGR failure (as we both suspect it will), they will contact VX and arrange with them for the vechicle to be checked over by them.
My laymans opinion is that the on-board computer is a bit flakey. Anyone ever hear of that sort of thing happening?
WN3 said:
...
I collected it this afternoon after having the 3rd one fitted and was told that I'm not driving it fast enough.
After getting the young lady to explain what she meant, it turns out that I am not driving it aggresively enough. It needs to be "thrashed", and I need to "make it smoke" "about once per week".
Furthermore, if the EGR becomes faulty again, Vauxhall "may" refuse to replace it due to "driver error".
Firstly, what the bint on service reception told you is absolute codswallop. She's clearly got no idea what the EGR valve is or does. What she's describing - badly - is third-hand advice about the DPF (which is fitted to some CDTi engines but not others) which should regenerate regularly but sometimes needs a nudge to clean itself. No engine needs to be thrashed. And diesel engines smoke anyway - that's just what they do!I collected it this afternoon after having the 3rd one fitted and was told that I'm not driving it fast enough.
After getting the young lady to explain what she meant, it turns out that I am not driving it aggresively enough. It needs to be "thrashed", and I need to "make it smoke" "about once per week".
Furthermore, if the EGR becomes faulty again, Vauxhall "may" refuse to replace it due to "driver error".
Secondly, they simply cannot refuse to honour a warranty based on their idea of how you drive
they'd be dragged through court so fast their feet wouldn't touch the floor.What I suspect has happened is that instead of replacing your EGR, they've made a half-hearted attempt at cleaning it each time (cheaper option seeing as they're footing the bill), with the result that it's sooted up again.
Keep taking it back to them under warranty. And perhaps a strongly worded letter to Vx customer services before the warranty runs out wouldn't go amiss either - even if they don't do anything directly, you'll have better grounds should you have any problems when the warranty expires.
Edited by parapaul on Friday 26th December 02:43
Wot 'e said--^^. I believe (anecdotally I must add) the issue was the wrong type of metal used in a large batch of EGR valves - and the issue is not limited to Vauxhall diesels as the same valve is used on many different manufacturers' engines.
What I can say is that several mates have had the valve replaced under warranty and I'd recommend trying another Vauxhall dealership if you get no joy from this one.
I've got the engine in an 07 astra SRi with 38k on the clock and no probs so far so looking likely to have one of the later batches of valve. Absolutely cracking engine for a daily driver that I can also have a bit of fun in at the weekends!
What I can say is that several mates have had the valve replaced under warranty and I'd recommend trying another Vauxhall dealership if you get no joy from this one.
I've got the engine in an 07 astra SRi with 38k on the clock and no probs so far so looking likely to have one of the later batches of valve. Absolutely cracking engine for a daily driver that I can also have a bit of fun in at the weekends!
Edited by alphadog on Saturday 27th December 18:38
I have just got rid of a saab 93 1.9 tid 150bhp 54 plate same engine as the zafira, the egr valve went on that also wasn't told to drive it harder by the saab dealer.
Swapped it for a zafira sri 1.9 cdti 57 plate (Brill car)just a bit concerned about some smoke coming from engine bay have you experienced at any time? seams fine now.
Thanks
Swapped it for a zafira sri 1.9 cdti 57 plate (Brill car)just a bit concerned about some smoke coming from engine bay have you experienced at any time? seams fine now.
Thanks
I am having very similiar problems at the moment in my Vectra with the same engine.
I keep getting the Engine Management light on and the car goes in Limp Home mode which is a bit dangerous when your on the motorway doing 70mph!!
I do thrash mine about. I generally take it upto atleast 70mph every working day on way to work and once a week give it a good run at 3,500rpm.
Its going back to the stealers today after they "fixed" it yesterday. Ive got Vauxhall HQ involved now also.
I keep getting the Engine Management light on and the car goes in Limp Home mode which is a bit dangerous when your on the motorway doing 70mph!!
I do thrash mine about. I generally take it upto atleast 70mph every working day on way to work and once a week give it a good run at 3,500rpm.
Its going back to the stealers today after they "fixed" it yesterday. Ive got Vauxhall HQ involved now also.
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