HELP! Vauxhall Vectra Engine Management Light

dixie06

Hi, I'm having a bit of a do with my 2003 Vauxhall Vectra.....

First of all a light came on and in the manual it says its to warn me the brake pads are wearing thin. Had it in the garage (well 2 but thats a whole other story!!) and they told me brake pads are all OK had all the wheels off and had a look. They're going to have it in again for an ECU?? Whats that??

Then....when it was peeing it down the other day I went out in the car and went thru several very large and fairly deep puddles (nothing unusual in that have done before with no probs) got in the car again later and a little light that usually lights up and goes away again on start-up stayed lit up. In the manual it says something to do with exhaust gases and the emissions?? The exhaust is also kind of making a chugging noise. Engine running fine took it for a run and exceleration as normal just the exhaust seems a bit funny.

Its in the garage tomorrow for this ECU but anyone got any ideas do I need to prepare myself for a large bill :eek:

Cheers

colin79666

If all they do is reset the ECU then it shouldn't be expensive

if the ECU is needing replaced then it will be expensive
my mum had to have hers replaced (Citroen C3) - cost £800 inc labour although Citroen did pay half the cost of the part as it was not long out of warranty.

Lorian

dixie06 wrote: »

Hi, I'm having a bit of a do with my 2003 Vauxhall Vectra.....

Yes, you are.

dixie06 wrote: »

First of all a light came on and in the manual it says its to warn me the brake pads are wearing thin. Had it in the garage (well 2 but thats a whole other story!!) and they told me brake pads are all OK had all the wheels off and had a look. They're going to have it in again for an ECU?? Whats that??

Talk about jump to conclusions. I wouldn't be replacing the ECU for a pad light. It's more likely an ALB sensor failure or wiring issue. Replacing the ECU is a £££ job.

dixie06 wrote: »

Then....when it was peeing it down the other day I went out in the car and went thru several very large and fairly deep puddles (nothing unusual in that have done before with no probs) got in the car again later and a little light that usually lights up and goes away again on start-up stayed lit up. In the manual it says something to do with exhaust gases and the emissions??

The light that looks like an engine in amber? That could be cuased by allsorts (I dont know if the 2003 Veccy has a diagnotic port, but you need to find the error codes to know the problem for sure). Anyway if it REALLY did come on when going though water then I's guess it's water in the wiring of one of the engine sensors.

dixie06 wrote: »

The exhaust is also kind of making a chugging noise. Engine running fine took it for a run and exceleration as normal just the exhaust seems a bit funny.

Maybe there is a small hole and its "blowing". Check the airfilter box clips are on though, as this can cause a similar noise toward the front of the car.

dixie06 wrote: »

Its in the garage tomorrow for this ECU but anyone got any ideas do I need to prepare myself for a large bill :eek:

for GOODNESS SAKE get a quote first, ESPECIALLY if this a Vauxhall delaer. They wanted £150+ to replace just a sensor on my Vectra. It cost me £10 from ebay (new) and took 30 minutes to fit....

Lorian

30111987 wrote: »

If all they do is reset the ECU then it shouldn't be expensive
.

You can reset the ECU for free. Just turn the ignition on and off twenty time. )waitinh for the ECU to initialise each time)

dixie06

Hi,

they're not replacing and ECU might have even got it wrong. They're going to plug it into some sort of computer or another that will tell them what wrong with the car i thought they called it an ECU test?? Costing £35 same test at Vauxhall £65 :eek:

I already know the bit about shopping around - took it to a garage last week they "looked" at the brakes pads and said they were worn out and replacement would be nigh on £100. Phoned around for quote got it at half the price elsewhere so booked it in and the guy at the garage called me back and said "theres nowt wrong with your brake pads they're almost brand new" good job I didn't just trust the first garage I went to.

Anyway will let them have a look tomorrow and see whats what. With regard to buying parts and doing it myself ..... not possible as you can tell I don't have the foggiest idea about cars other than I turn a key and off I go!!!

dixie06

Lorian wrote: »

The light that looks like an engine in amber? That could be cuased by allsorts (I dont know if the 2003 Veccy has a diagnotic port, but you need to find the error codes to know the problem for sure). Anyway if it REALLY did come on when going though water then I's guess it's water in the wiring of one of the engine sensors.

Yes it does the exhaust noise started at the same time this light came on after the rain and big puddles.

dieselsqueezer

I have a 02 vectra 1.8SXi and after its service about a year ago the "money light" (engine management light) came on. It would go out on the odd occassion and would come on again after a period of driving. I took it to the dealer who plugged it in and said that there is a fuel problem and to book it in. As the cars performance was not troubled by this light and being a lazy so and so I didn't do anything about it. I also heard horror stories about being charged a fortune to replace bits and pieces that really didn't need to be replaced.

To cut a long story short I called an independent diagnostics guy who plugged in his machine and said that there is a problem with the fuel metering. He popped the bonnet and tightened the air inlet clip around the hose above the air inlet on the engine. Total cost £35.00

He said that the dealer when changing the air filter at the service may have disturbed the clip and that the engine was probably passing air at this connection bypassing the air metering sensor.

I would hate to think what the dealer would have charged......

harveybobbles

Vectra + Engine light = Cam/Crank sensor is the most common fault.

Take it to a local friendly garage and ask them to reset it. then carry on driving till it comes back on. then get the light "read" to find the fault......

miller75_2

My crank sensor had gone on my Vectra, vent to the local dealer and asked for a quote £196.00 + VAT. Bought the sensor from there parts department £30.00 +VAT (ish, can’t remember the exact price) It took me less than 15 minutes to fit it. By my reckoning that £664 per hour labour, I know they have a business to run but if I can do it in less than 15 minutes how long should it take a Vauxhall mechanic?

harveybobbles

Welcome Miller75...

miller75_2

Thanks harveybobbles