Any ideas - intermitent power loss from car!

JMB2024

Hello all,

I'm hoping someone might have some insight.  A few weeks ago, pulling out of a junction, my car (Astra Diesel 2011) wouldn't accellerate past 10mph and no revs either.  500yds later, power returned.  I took it to a garage and they suggested changing the filters so I agreed to this.  

All fine until this morning and the same thing has happened.  I did a pedal test to look for a fault code but nothing.

Of course, I'll go back to the garage but does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks
Steve

MattMattMattUK

JMB2024 said:

Hello all,

I'm hoping someone might have some insight.  A few weeks ago, pulling out of a junction, my car (Astra Diesel 2011) wouldn't accellerate past 10mph and no revs either.  500yds later, power returned.  I took it to a garage and they suggested changing the filters so I agreed to this.  

All fine until this morning and the same thing has happened.  I did a pedal test to look for a fault code but nothing.

Of course, I'll go back to the garage but does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks
Steve

What do you mean by pedal test? Do you have an OBDII dongle?

JMB2024

Sorry, with an Astra you can press the accelerator and brake in ignition to get a current fault code (worked for me in the past). I don't have anything more sophisticated though. 

Goudy

It's likely detected a fuelling issue and cut the turbo boost to protect the engine.

If so it would probably have flashed a fuelling/injection system warning light as it happened, then returned to normal again for a while without actually setting a main ECU diagnostic trouble code.

That is quite normal for these types fuelling faults on a modern diesel, they generally need to detect the same problem a few times in the same drive cycle.
If you can imagine trying to pin point a fault via sensors that would normally read anywhere from nothing (ignition on engine off) all the way up to full throttle.

It might have set a "pending" code and be waiting to see if the issue returns again, but these usually clear with an engine restart.

As it's happening on a pull away, when demand for fuel increases sharply from low at idle, I suspect there's something causing a rail pressure issue.
This could be anything from a clogged fuel filter (or even a cheap non genuine one, some engines just don't like them)
Or
A leak in the fuel system.
Or
Injector is leaking off too much fuel.
Or
A problem with the HP pump. (The 1.7 cdti can suffer a problem with the duff SCV on the HP pump).

You could do with some specialist diesel checks and not all garages are set up for that.
I would suggest finding a local diesel injection specialist that should be able to perform these checks fairly easily and pin point your issue.

JMB2024

Thanks. I'll try and get it scanned this afternoon/tomorrow morning.  Another thing I've noticed is occassional fluctuation of the rpm when it's idling (the needle bounces but not always).  I wondered whether that was connected to the issue.  

Goudy

Yes, it sounds like the SCV is duff.

Vauxhall (Opel) Zafira B 2011 Surge control valve replacement A17DTJ 1.7cdti Bosch

Vauxhall Astra Diesel 1.7 TDCi Stalling and Surging

Just a few from hundreds of videos.
Posts on forums run into the thousands.

Quite often owners take the valve out, turn it 180 degree and refit it.
It's not a long term fix but if the surging/stuttering/stalling improves, it's likely it needs a new SCV.

The valve is a Denso one, if it is at fault don't fit cheap copies only genuine Denso.

Mr.Generous

EGR valve needs cleaning, not part of any service schedule but needs doing. Can be done as a DIY job with carb cleaner. It will be filthy!!

JMB2024

Dear all,

Thanks for the help with this and sorry not to have updated (manic Xmas).  Drove 200 miles in it today but the engine light came on near the end (yellow car with spanner). So, now I have a fault code.  It's ECM 10052.  Does this tally with the suggestions above?
Thanks

Mildly_Miffed

"ECM10052" is not an eOBD fault code.

EVERY petrol car sold new anywhere in Europe after 2001, diesel after 2004, van after 2007 must have proper eOBD diagnostics.

A proper eOBD fault code reader is *dirt*cheap.
A fiver from eBay for a bluetooth dongle, and a free smartphone app - I use Scanmaster on Android, there's a choice.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/266958934610 (and a million other sellers)

If your reaction to car issues is any more involved than "I'll phone the garage and get them to collect it", then you really should have one.

tedted

That's a pedal test code  and should relate to the maf sensor or circuit

JMB2024

Yes, sorry, should have made clear: as above by tedted, this was a code I read from the odometer after doing a pedal test.  I don't have an eOBD reader but should probably get one. OK, maf sensor or circuit - thanks. Can I ask, is this alright to keep driving until I can get it looked at, which would probably be next week given the time of year?