vauxhall vectra idle control valve

shelene

Hi... some help/advice please

I have a 98 reg vectra and it keeps cutting out, now the AA came out a couple of months ago and cleaned the idle control valve out and it was running great again - but started happening again now.

Im going to attempt to clean it out myself to see if this helps, i did get a quote for replacing it from a garage and they said £165.00! which seems a bit steep as the AA fella said it wasnt a big job - anyone any idea of how much an idle control valve costs for this car???

I rung my local scrap dealer and was quoted £60 for it 2nd hand!

Any ideas??

Burlesque_Babe

Does seem steep. I had this problem a few years back with a 93 Carlton (used to stall on corners/roundabouts mostly!). Found a way of doing the diagnostic test myself with a paperclip in the fuse box and writing down the 'signals' which flashed through the dashboard and then matching them to a list online rather than a garage hooking it up to a machine !! OH cleaned the idle sensor valve but it only lasted about 3 weeks. A mate in a garage said it was best to get it changed as cleaning it would never solve it permanently but sadly had to scrap the car before I got the job done.

flang

why not just clean it out again is it somthing you could do easily every few weeks.
does it stall or just idle bad?

MDE

Euro Car Parts list an Idle Control Valve for a 1.8 98 Vectra at either £98.64 for the VDO which I think was original fit, or £33.25 for a Vemo one, which I suspect is aftermarket, i.e. not original fit. I think it is the same part for other engine sizes too. That said, they are both new, both warranteed. I have had many aftermarket parts from ECP without issue.

www.eurocarparts.com and just type in your registration number to identify your car, then search "idle".

shelene

Thanks for your replies

In the end me and my hubby (well mostly the hubby!) managed to get it of and give it a proper clean, its now running great! Although the bottom allen bolt was tricky to get on and off.
Dont know how long this will last for though, but thumbs up!:T

I dont really want to spend to much on this car as depending on what MOT brings up decides if we get rid or not, so hoping to make the car last another 6/7 months without having to outlay on it;)

Now for the small oil leak i have noticed hmmm.... lol

Rolandtheroadie

I had this problem too and after a good clean, it never happened again.

To find out how to self diagnose in future, go here...

http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/omega_owners

Join this group, then search their files for the fault code pdf. It tells you where to put the paperclip for whatever engine you have and lists the fault codes.
Think it works in any pre 2000 vauxhall, after that I believe you'll blow a fuse for the diagnostic socket.