vauxhall vactra sri keeps cutting out

Honest John Back Room » Technical matters
View Threaded
Sat 10 Mar 2007 17:41
vauxhall vactra sri keeps cutting out - fiona
my vectra keeps cutting out when i change down to second or when in first just cuts out to the piont where i have to start the car again....when in second gear i can sometimes catch it on the clutch....the abs & tc lights are on all the time and my speedo doesn't work....i have been to three different garages where they have put the car on a diagnotics machine but because the speedo isn't working the car cann't be read....has anybody got any ideas apart from blowing it up....thanks fiona
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 10 Mar 2007 18:12
vauxhall vactra sri keeps cutting out - Screwloose
three different garages have put the car
on a diagnotics machine but because the speedo isn't working the
car can not be read..


That's utter baloney. A simple failed front wheel ABS speed sensor could be the cause all of this - it's all networked together. Find a garage that knows how to use their scanning equipment and they can scan the ABS ECU and refute/confirm that. Or try a diagnostic specialist.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 10 Mar 2007 19:11
vauxhall vectra sri keeps cutting out - fiona
thanks for your reply...one garage man looked for brake sensors and couldn't find any as he thought this was the problem so he contacted vauxhall and they said this make vectra doesn't have abs sensors....then another garage i took it too said it maybe the abs pump module this is apprentley a sealed unit that you can buy reconditioned this would cost £600.00 or more not sure weather to take the gamble or not as he said it could be this...
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 10 Mar 2007 19:49
vauxhall vectra sri keeps cutting out - Screwloose
fiona

Well it's given me another good laugh anyway. So the ABS light is on and it doesn't have ABS wheel sensors - that's a hoot! How would it know that a wheel's locked up without 'em?

Depending on year; it's probably got active sensors that read off embedded magnets in the wheel bearing's oil seal. The Kelsey-Hayes systems fitted to earlier models did suffer from ECU/pump failures; the later Bosch ones [with TC] generally don't. What year is yours?
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 10 Mar 2007 19:58
vauxhall vectra sri keeps cutting out - fiona
hi, i thought that about the light thing.... anyway it's a w reg 2000? and the garage did mention a bosch make....
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 10 Mar 2007 20:40
vauxhall vectra sri keeps cutting out - Screwloose
fiona

Accepting then that it's likely a Bosch 5.3 ABS/TC system; even if the ABS ECU has failed and won't talk, then there's no reason why they can't scan the engine ECU and confirm a loss of speed info.

The fact that the garage can't even tell if it's got wheel sensors[!] leads me to doubt the validity of anything they say. You really do need the services of a good diagnostic centre; maybe find a local Bosch Autocentre or LSUK. The ABS ECU can always be sent off and tested before repair/replacement - if needed.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 10 Mar 2007 21:00
vauxhall vectra sri keeps cutting out - fiona
Thanks for that i will try the places you mentioned....hopefully i will resolve my problems...
thanks again fiona
Reply | Report as offensive | Link
Sat 10 Mar 2007 21:01
vauxhall vectra sri keeps cutting out - LeePower
I doubt very much its the ABS ECU faulty, most likely just a sensor gone down.

Find a decent garage / person with the correct kit that can scan the ABS system.

The fact that you have lost the speedo, the ABS & TC warning lights are coming on & the engine cuts out on approaching junctions doesn't take a genius to work out whats wrong & what to do next.

Loss of speed sensor info wont on most cars normally store a engine ECU fault code but if its the later type system that has done away with the speed sensor on top of the gearbox it will log a fault code in the ABS system.
Reply | Report as offensive | Link