Vauxhall Zafira keeps losing power and juddering

Car: Vauxhall Zafira
Variant: 1.8 elegance petrol
Model Year: 2001
Categories: Running Rough, Starting & Power Loss
hi wen i am driving my car will lose power and start juddering an i get a strong smell of petrol i have put new 02 sensors both new pistons new ingectors and rail bar coil pack throttle body any ideas as its doing my head right in now big time
Posted: Jul 2, 2014 (10 years ago)
Possible its getting too much fuel. Is everything standard?
No aftermarket fuel pressure regulators on?
Could be a sticking/leaking injector
Posted Jul 2, 2014 (10 years ago)
We have been through many ideas in a previous post of yours.
Did you do a compression test?
Does it misfire instantly or does it start ok then gradually get worse?
Does it start tapping the same time it starts to misfire.
Why did you fit new pistons?
We need to know these so I can try and help!
Posted Jul 2, 2014 (10 years ago)
its not miss firing any more i sorted that them the p0340 camsencer come on an wen i done the peddle test it was only that code i changed that an there is no codes at all coming up it starts perfect runs nice an smothe after about 5 min it will just lose power then start juddering it dosent tap it will i just get a bad strong smell of petrol then in will start juddering an am going to get that done in a min an its ad new injectors in so i dont think its them an i have swaped them over with a mates as well just to c and wen it happens a can smell petrol realy bad and dont no if its got a No aftermarket fuel pressure regulators on as not tuched that do u think it could b the fule pump lots of people have said it could b the ecu its doing my head right in an i changed them because someone droped a screw in were the injectors go wen i took them out and smashed one up an bent the vales so i put new ones in with a new head and vales
Posted Jul 2, 2014 (10 years ago)
Done the test its all gd no problems any other ideas
Posted Jul 2, 2014 (10 years ago)
Its difficult.

The engine ECU is a terrible swine on the zafiras but not as far as I know causes the issue you have. A strong smell of petrol means either too much is getting in or its not being burned.
If it didn't do it. Before I'm lost as to what it could be.

Google engine ECU zafira there's a couple of companies that repair them and list all the faults they present
Posted Jul 2, 2014 (10 years ago)
am gonna get my mate round tomoz an check all the wiring to c if there is a split if there isent it gotta b the ecu nothink else it can b wat u think an someone said it might b the ecu as it might b putting to much fule thru or telling the choke to come on something down them line an on my ecu it looks new as its deffo bin changed as its only got 4 numbers on if i get one of anoth car with the key an transporter thing will that fit straight on
Posted Jul 2, 2014 (10 years ago)
The engine ECU iirc is coded to the main ECU. And then the key etc etc.
Unless you can get the code wiped in the engine ECU you will have to get it recoded .

I'd speak to the engine ECU repairers and see how much they would charge to test yours. At least you would know for sure if that has gone
Posted Jul 2, 2014 (10 years ago)
Another thought.
If nothing electrical is at fault. What about a last hydraulic lifter?
That would give you a misfire and unburned fuel.
That would be related to bending valves and breaking a lifter at the same time.
Posted Jul 2, 2014 (10 years ago)
i will ring around an find some decent pricers and will ask me mate tomoz about the lifter thing wat u just said
Posted Jul 2, 2014 (10 years ago)
does it get worse as your fuel level gets lower?
Posted Jul 2, 2014 (10 years ago)
hi no its just the same weather i have a full tank or not it diving me insane now
Posted Jul 3, 2014 (10 years ago)
Yeah mention the hydraulic lifter. But usually it will tap if failing.
Posted Jul 3, 2014 (10 years ago)
I take it it is timed up properly?

Posted Jul 3, 2014 (10 years ago)
Have you checked your egr valve because it sounds like its getting clogged up with un-burnt carbon, an easy solution is to tap the egr valve with a hammer when the engine is idling it will loosen all the un-burnt carbon in the valve. i used to own a 2001 zaf with the same problem, i got the idea off an aa recovery tech who came out to my zaf, he tapped the egr valve with a hammer and it worked the engine ran smoothly after that. hope it works for you good luck
Posted Jul 4, 2014 (10 years ago)
Yes. A hammer will fix the egr.
But it would throw an egr fault if stuck.
The engine ECU controls the egr valve so get it checked
Solves all the wonders about if it works

I've been thru this with mine
Posted Jul 4, 2014 (10 years ago)
hi there is no tapping on it at all and yes all timed up perfect and there isent a egr vale on this so it not that its doing my ed right in now am going to change the crank sensor tomoz and some other stuff and will let use no were i am at
Posted Jul 4, 2014 (10 years ago)
How did you get on?

I doubt a crank senor would cause the unburned fuel issue tho.

It's an over fueling or compression/timing/valve issue

That's what I put my money on
Posted Jul 5, 2014 (10 years ago)
still not got to the bottom of it yet but wen i do i will let u no
Posted Jul 5, 2014 (10 years ago)
Ok. I am beginning to wonder if the engine ECU is a bit confused.
Posted Jul 6, 2014 (10 years ago)
i aint got a clue wat it is its doing my head right in now but i will get there
Posted Jul 7, 2014 (10 years ago)
Our zafira did too .
Posted Jul 7, 2014 (10 years ago)
i sorted that probleb out i had a leak in the manifold so all gd the this code came up P0340 Camshaft Position Sensor Circuit No Signal C-13
P0340 Camshaft Sensor Incorrect Signal and its a brand new one an wen i put the old one back on it says the same any ideas as its ****ing me right of now thanks for all the advice
Posted Jul 17, 2014 (10 years ago)
Anyone got a pic of a p0115 engine coolant temprature so i can chage it thats
Posted Jul 23, 2014 (10 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 Zafira

We have 143 problems and solutions in our database for this model year of the car.

View all Vauxhall Zafira Problems