Corsa Problem

millsymuttleylaugh

Hello, there seems to be a problem with my Corsa. We took it to the garage about it and they couldn't find nothing to fix and pretty much aren't interested until its totally conked out, so I thought I'd ask here to see if anyone has any ideas what it could be, or even if they have the same problem with a Corsa.

My Corsa is a P reg, 1.2 petrol model, its generally been a good runner, very reliable and economical, but for about the last two months, some times when you slow down or come to a stop like at roundabouts, junctions, traffic lights etc, once you want to start moving off it doesn't do nothing, even if you are in gear and pressing the accelerator right down to the floor, its like theres no power in it. My mum has had to stop the car and sit with the flashers on to allow it time to recover.

A work colleague suggested it could be something to do with spark plugs (we have no idea about cars really, total novices) so we bought some new spark plugs, and my dad changed them. It seemed ok for a week or so but now the problem has started to appear again but not as regularly.

I've also noticed it seems to be getting through fuel quite fast, my mum commutes everyday, a journey of about 10 miles, she put £10 in on Wednesday and it was pretty much empty last night, £10 would usually last a week. There also seems to be quite a strong petrol smell around the car once you get out, but I'm not sure whether this is just fumes (other car is a diesel 4x4 and never had a petrol car before)

So basically, I was just wondering if anyone has ever experienced the same problem with a corsa (mines done over 80k miles now) or if anyone knew what it could be related with.

My dad suggested it could be a fuel filter or something like that, but wouldn't know where to find it, and if he could change it.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

w.dws

Friend had a similar problem to this on his 1.2 corsa P reg after several trips to the garage an several parts being replaced (plugs, leads, filters etc) turned out to be a problem with the EGR valve, didn't replace the EGR valve as these can cost anything from £80 - £200 instead fitted a blanking plate problem solved.

millsymuttleylaugh

Without sounding stupid, whats a blanking plate?

I just did looked up EGR valve and it seems to be the same sort of thing

Thanks

colino

A blanking plate is made up to cover the hole that the redundant EGR came from. It can be cut from a flattened out bean tin and as long as its a good flat fit (the outer shape doesn't have to be perfect, it will do the job.

vikingaero

Look underneath the rear of the car and see if the petrol tank is "damp/wet" or dripping fuel. Most Corsas of this age will have the steel fuel tank starting to rot.

w.dws

Blanking plate is a flat piece of metal that will cover up the hole made from removing the EGR valve, search something like EGR blanking plate on Ebay should throw up some results if buying one get on with a gasket which will give a proper seal.

girlypink

:j
This seems ever so similar to whats been happening to my corsa, did you try the plate???

millsymuttleylaugh

Strangely enough the corsa seems to be ok if the fuel is at a certain level? No idea whats going on. I read up about blanking plates and that its possible to clean the EGR valve, just not got a clue where to find it, so at the moment just bearing with it.

It seems to behave most of the time