Vauxhall Vectra B 1998 1.8 Petrol - Electrical Problem

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Fri 21 Jun 2013 17:46
Vauxhall Vectra B 1998 1.8 Petrol - Electrical Problem - Gandalfs Dad

Been working on Son-in-Laws Vectra. Poorly maintained but runs well. Recently engine light coming on and staying on. Error code comes back as faulty cam sensor. Replaced twice, still registers same fault. If fault was cam sensor would expect car to run but badly. Car runs like a dream, sweet smooth, acelerates well, seems desperate to get up into high 70's when being driven, revs don't seem to be restricted. BUT! for no reason and seemingly at random, engine just stops as though key turned off. Wait a few seconds starts fine, pulls away fine accelerates fine then Revs just drop off counter. Been round cars all my life but never come across anything like this. Is it possible imobiliser chip in key or sender / receiver breaking down?? Get no error codes but have no way of monitoring it in transit. So far have spent large sums of money with garage & auto electrician. So far everything they have told me was wrong.

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Sun 23 Jun 2013 14:03
Vauxhall Vectra B 1998 1.8 Petrol - Electrical Problem - John Boy

Have you tried on the Vauxhall-only forum below?

www.vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk/index.php

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Mon 24 Jun 2013 10:56
Vauxhall Vectra B 1998 1.8 Petrol - Electrical Problem - Archie
Had exactly the same problem on mine, random cutting out with engine management light on, then starting fine. I found the the insulation on the crank sensor had chafed not far from the sensor itself, allowing it to earth. I wrapped some tape around the break, all ok. Never got around to changing the sensor, ran fine for another 6 years.
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Mon 24 Jun 2013 13:35
Vauxhall Vectra B 1998 1.8 Petrol - Electrical Problem - Gandalfs Dad

Hi Archie

Well this is just the last problem in a long ongoing saga. Car is actually my son-in-law's Kept breaking down, asked to tow it in have a look etc. Battery-Cat and Crank sensor well b*****ed. Local garage did computer check picked up on first two but insisted it was Cam-sensor. Replaced all three, gave car back with engine light still on, having replaced Cam sensor twice but still getting fault light. But they HAD NOT changed Crank sensor which had burned out cables and shot insulation, on grounds computer said crank sensor not at fault. Eventually they replaced that as well. Got car back, still had engine light on but still said problem CAM sensor, car ran OK for a short while, but they had installed new crank sensor with cable up against exhaust, it melted and shorted out. They washed their hands of whole thing (still grasping £400.) I fitted new Crank sensor, cleaned carb, all plugs, checked all cables etc. Car runs like a song, sweet as anything except out of the blue it is as though it switches itself off. Revs just drop off clock. If you turn key off and back on car will bump start itself off own momentum, if you stop car, switch key off back on will start fine. But if you just try starting again WITHOUT turning off (reseting key/imobiliser?) car will not start. It has to be turned off, then back on. Confused as it seems to be on Imobilisor--key--ECU Line. But get no error messages except Cam sensor fault, which would make car run badly (it runs fine) but not switch it off.

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Tue 25 Jun 2013 16:43
Vauxhall Vectra B 1998 1.8 Petrol - Electrical Problem - Gandalfs Dad

Well I suppose it might have been something else, but once I became convinced it was on ECU / Imobilisor line, checking around, Auto leccie check up & Re-flashing key around £80, or otherwise replace ECU, Key reader transponder and chip £50 second hand delivered. replacing ECU took around 1Hr. all told. Car seems to be running fine.

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