Vauxhall Vectra engine wont start when it does its pouring with smoke

Car: Vauxhall Vectra
Variant: 2.0 dti
Model Year: 2001
Categories: Running Rough, Starting & Power Loss
hi im new to the site,the problem:i have a 51 reg vauxhall vectra 2litre dti estate,which was running fine but inevitably has started giving problems which have just got serious.when started the car misfires and judders all over and there is little/no response from the accelerator and it smokes real bad which smells like pure diesel,my guess is the injector pump has given up,have had it on the comp and changed the crank sensor,airflow meter and all the other little valve things and the egr,any help/advice would be appreciated
Posted: May 16, 2010 (14 years ago)
check the condition of fuel going to the injectors,if you disconnect the injector leak off pipe the fuel should be clear,if there is any oily residue it could be your injector seals leaking,common problem on this engine,what is the mileage,could be a worn injection pump.is your oil level ok,it may be that its oil thats being burnt causing the smoke which could be caused by a number of things
Posted May 16, 2010 (14 years ago)
ive just changed the leak off pipes as well,it all looks clear and ok oil level is fine mileage is 197k
Posted May 16, 2010 (14 years ago)
is there any warning lights on.if so have you had a diagnostic done to read any dtc`swhen its running does it rev smoothly if you take the revs up?
Posted May 16, 2010 (14 years ago)
yeah engine management light on all the time now,it was coming on and off for a while,as said above its been on the computer and at that time it needed the crankshaft sensor changed which was done,when you take the revs up it just judders and misfires like mad then cuts out
Posted May 16, 2010 (14 years ago)
since you had the crank sensor changed have you had the fault codes read,if so what codes are you getting?
Posted May 16, 2010 (14 years ago)
no codes since then as everytime i went to get them read the light was out by the time i got there and they said they cant read them without the management light being on so had to hope that i could get there with it on never worked though.cant take it now as it just wont run/stay running long enough to get anywhere,im gonna try and get in touch with a mate who has one of them computers and see if he will come and read it at my house.
Posted May 16, 2010 (14 years ago)
even if the light comes on and then goes off the fault codes will still be stored in the memory,let us know what codes you have stored
Posted May 17, 2010 (14 years ago)
will do,hopefully my mate will get round to putting on the comp. soon
Posted May 17, 2010 (14 years ago)
ok took it and got it onto the comp. today,according to what they say it comes up with critical fault but wouldnt give me a code,they say most likely the pump,but today when i got home it appeared to be running better and now doesnt misfire or smoke half as bad as it was yesterday,i cant understand it at all,im wondering if its maybe the turbo thats at fault and not the pump?
Posted May 18, 2010 (14 years ago)
oh and engine managment light is off when i start it but comes on after you rev it,the noise from the exhaust sometimes is very loud like a big wooshing sound when you get the revs up
Posted May 18, 2010 (14 years ago)
sounds like it could be the turbo bearings are worn.disconnect the intake pipe from the turbo and check the rotor for excess play,is there any oily residue in any of the intake pipes.make sure the intake pipes are in good condition.eg no splits or holes and that they are all secure,also check the vacuum pipes that control the wastegate and check the intercooler has no oil in it.when you drive it is there any lack of power
Posted May 19, 2010 (14 years ago)
all pipes have been checked and double checked and are ok the wastegate seems to be working ok ie opening and shutting,there is a flat spot at the top of the throttle just after you start accelerating then it clears,ive had it out for a run last night and today again and its going like a rocket for some reason,surely if it was the pump it wouldnt be going this well?it just seemed yesterday that the turbo wasnt always working just now and then and the management light is off now.could it have been a blockage in a fuel line that has since cleared itself?
Posted May 20, 2010 (14 years ago)
well whatever it was we will never know,thats the trouble sometimes,you get a problem which can come and go.just keep an eye on it and let us know if you get any more problems
Posted May 22, 2010 (14 years ago)

This problem is archived

If you're having a similar problem please click below to re-post this problem, you can then customise it to suit your situation.

Join the community
Got a question? Can you answer other questions here? If so please...
More problems with the 2001 model year Vauxhall Vectra

We have 95 problems and solutions in our database for this model year of the car.

View all Vauxhall Vectra Problems