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[Taxi_Driver]

Unfortunately not an Omega but still a Vx

Vectra 1.8LS Dual Fuel Hatch

Its 3yo's infact its 3rd birthday is on Friday.
I hope the insurance cover note comes tomorrow, as its stting on the public highway with no tax on it   , if it does it means i can get tax on it, without having to bother to get an MOT (which i will need to get....but it will need a taxi MOT which takes a few days to arrange)

Its done 77k miles.....and a nice collection of stone chips on the front of the bonnet....so its done most of miles up and down motorways....a good sign.

It was a lease car before.....and i reckon i need AA's help  
Try to imagine a 3yo car thats never been cleaned b4 in its life!! Outside had been washed by auction house....but the inside....i spent an hour earlier just cleaning the plastics....got thro about 15 mr muscle wipes.....it needs heavy duty cleaning! Still got the carpets to clean and shampoo the seats.

Its also got the ecoflex service indicator on.....so does need looking at....i plan to get the oil/filter changed and change the air filter and plugs....the latter two i will do myself. (Just need to find out how to reset the service indicator   )

Oh and i waz gonna have the cambelt changed....full kit.....but looking at the history that came with it (usual with ex lease cars) it had the water pump changed at 65k.....so earlier i rang the vx dealer that changed the water pump....and after giving them the reg number...according to their computer it also had a full cambelt kit fitted as well at the same time.....so i reckon thats one job saved  

I drove it 40 miles yesterday back from auction......it handled fine....could do with a couple of new front tyres....no scrubing, evenly worn....but i'll get those b4 i get it MOT'd

Price i payed for it??.....have a guess if you like (NOT you Tunnie coz u know!) but i will say i payed book price...trade...for the same car if it wasnt a dual fuel  

One thing i will say about it and i guess you get used to it....whats that all about with the indicators???
Quick flick on the stalk and the indicators flash 3 times....hold it there for a while and indicators stay on until steering wheel is central again

Cheers

Ps other thing i noticed about it......its got auto tilt rear view mirror!!!  On a LS??? how come my CD meega aint got one   ....well it will have one soon....hopefully

[Auto Addict]

It was a lease car before.....and i reckon i need AA's help  

You couldn't afford me TD

[Taxi_Driver]

It was a lease car before.....and i reckon i need AA's help  

You couldn't afford me TD

I was told you were cheap AA  

[Auto Addict]

It was a lease car before.....and i reckon i need AA's help  

You couldn't afford me TD

I was told you were cheap AA  

I am, but not that cheap TD [smiley=laugh.gif]

[Taxi_Driver]

It was a lease car before.....and i reckon i need AA's help  

You couldn't afford me TD

I was told you were cheap AA  

I am, but not that cheap TD [smiley=laugh.gif]

Ohh well....spose i will have to finish cleaning it myself....with my mate mr muscle  

[Martin_1962]

It was a lease car before.....and i reckon i need AA's help  

You couldn't afford me TD

I was told you were cheap AA  

I am, but not that cheap TD [smiley=laugh.gif]

Ohh well....spose i will have to finish cleaning it myself....with my mate mr muscle  

SO that is who is on the advert

[tunnie]

Price i payed for it??.....have a guess if you like (NOT you Tunnie coz u know!) but i will say i payed book price...trade...for the same car if it wasnt a dual fuel  

Ermm was it    .....  

I can confirm it was a very good price at that age and with the LPG. All the best with your new purchase m8... [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

[TheBoy]

On many Vauxhalls, to reset service light, don't you switch on ignition with the ODO button pressed in, or something like that?

Remember, cheapo Tech2 wont interface to your new Veccy, as Vectra C is CAN bus based.

[Taxi_Driver]

Price i payed for it??.....have a guess if you like (NOT you Tunnie coz u know!) but i will say i payed book price...trade...for the same car if it wasnt a dual fuel  

Ermm was it    .....  

I can confirm it was a very good price at that age and with the LPG. All the best with your new purchase m8... [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

cheers tunnie  

[Taxi_Driver]

On many Vauxhalls, to reset service light, don't you switch on ignition with the ODO button pressed in, or something like that?

Remember, cheapo Tech2 wont interface to your new Veccy, as Vectra C is CAN bus based.

I hadnt given the cheapo tech2 a thought tbh.....but ur right....it wont work  

CAN bus.....that'll explain the reason then on the service history...it went in to vx dealer for headlights not turning off! ....guess it has sensor for turning on lights when getting dark  :-/

As for the service indicator that sounds a bit simple.....on my merc you have to do ign on, then a quick fandango on a couple of buttons, then ign off then on again.....quick press again on buttons then sorted....i'll have to do a google and let you know  

cheers

[TheBoy]

CAN does seem a PITA. Fortunately, I have CANdi module for my Tech2, but you've got to get out schematics for car to understand it. For example, the display is the interface between 2 of the 3 CAN buses on Vectra C - faulty display module can lose a whole bus...

[Taxi_Driver]

On many Vauxhalls, to reset service light, don't you switch on ignition with the ODO button pressed in, or something like that?

Remember, cheapo Tech2 wont interface to your new Veccy, as Vectra C is CAN bus based.

Did a search on google......ummm came up with a link to vxon site!!

Had a peep and like you TheBoy it said ODO button pressed in/ign on/off etc....but it was said for veccy 99 onwards.....my 2001 veccy doesnt have service indicator.. :-/ so not sure....give it a go i guess

[tunnie]

On many Vauxhalls, to reset service light, don't you switch on ignition with the ODO button pressed in, or something like that?

Remember, cheapo Tech2 wont interface to your new Veccy, as Vectra C is CAN bus based.

Did a search on google......ummm came up with a link to vxon site!!

Had a peep and like you TheBoy it said ODO button pressed in/ign on/off etc....but it was said for veccy 99 onwards.....my 2001 veccy doesnt have service indicator.. :-/ so not sure....give it a go i guess

Thats usefull to know with my facelift if the light ever comes on...

[Taxi_Driver]

On many Vauxhalls, to reset service light, don't you switch on ignition with the ODO button pressed in, or something like that?

Remember, cheapo Tech2 wont interface to your new Veccy, as Vectra C is CAN bus based.

Did a search on google......ummm came up with a link to vxon site!!

Had a peep and like you TheBoy it said ODO button pressed in/ign on/off etc....but it was said for veccy 99 onwards.....my 2001 veccy doesnt have service indicator.. :-/ so not sure....give it a go i guess

Thats usefull to know with my facelift if the light ever comes on...

You havent got one tunnie....

[Taxi_Driver]

Jaime was correct...... [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Press the ODO button, keep it held and turn on ign.....wait for about 5 secs and 21000 flashed up on display....so i guess its now reset until another 21000 miles  

I was a bit suprised it was that simple as you could almost do the reset by accident  
My merc is quick succession of button presses.....unless you know the right order, no way in a million years could you do by accident....and even i sometimes have to have a few goes at it....not being fast enuf usually....part of the sequence is press a button twice within 1 second!

Still cleaning the inside......god was it dirty  

Then its plate time next week.....taxi mot etc

Get radio fitted for taxi work......then I can book my omega back into vx again EML on again   (changing the ecu made no difference   )

And use the veccy while vx have my omega

[TheBoy]

I was a bit suprised it was that simple as you could almost do the reset by accident  
My merc is quick succession of button presses.....unless you know the right order, no way in a million years could you do by accident....and even i sometimes have to have a few goes at it....not being fast enuf usually....part of the sequence is press a button twice within 1 second!

It has to be easy for most Vx monkeys to do

BTW, I have found a good Vx technician working in a dealer. Top bloke he is...

[Taxi_Driver]

Oh and forgot to mention.....oil/filter change plus air filter and new plugs.

I have some plugs and air filter that were supposed to go on my other veccy, but got missed when it came back last week.....im hoping they will be ok for this veccy.

Tried to buy fire extinguiser and first aid kit on Halfaulds trade card last week....they wernt having any of it  

[Taxi_Driver]

It has to be easy for most Vx monkeys to do

BTW, I have found a good Vx technician working in a dealer. Top bloke he is...

 

and

  or is there a pun to follow??  :-/

[Martin_1962]

EML or emmisions light?

[Taxi_Driver]

EML......funny thing is emissions has been on most of the week.....that went out and EML came on....and stayed on.....back to vx me thinks.....its reporting all the same codes as before they changed the ECU

[Martin_1962]

My emmisions light came on near Helston first day of holiday - not yet gone out, I know it is runing lean - I need to get it checked soon

[Taxi_Driver]

I wouldnt worry about emissions light Martin.....mine comes on and off.....tho its normally is off if i fill at countrywide sites....other places tends to put it on...then after a few refills at countrywide it goes off again.....filled it up a week or so ago at BP garage....and blooming 49ppl  ....but after a few refils at countrywide its gone off again  

[Martin_1962]

Thats odd - I filled up at BP, Jet and Flogas while on holiday - light still on

[Taxi_Driver]

Can someone tell me TC price for new thermostat for my new veccy 1.8 2003

I paid about £38+vat for the last one I changed on my other Veccy.

This is deffo duff as well   Takes blooming ages to get warm .....like 2 miles through traffic before the temp gauge even starts to moves.....it will get upto 90C but take it on a run an it drops back down to 70C

Just wondering if its worth waiting until I get my TC card

Cheers

[Taxi_Driver]

Yesterday it passed its Taxi MOT......got it plated for work and had a radio fitted.

So today (as vx had my meega) i gave it a good workout

Its got a couple of issues  

It keeps switching to petrol when plodding about town.....
I went Brizzle airport this afternon....and giving it stick down the m4/m32....it was fine, ran on lpg all the time.....just doesnt like low revs it seems

Other prob is, this morning it decided to turn the headlights on.....they've been on all day, wont turn off unless you turn the engine off, then come back on again as soon as you start.  

Dunno if Martin has any ideas about the lpg prob? Pressure prob maybe?  :-/

[Martin_1962]

Yesterday it passed its Taxi MOT......got it plated for work and had a radio fitted.

So today (as vx had my meega) i gave it a good workout

Its got a couple of issues  

It keeps switching to petrol when plodding about town.....
I went Brizzle airport this afternon....and giving it stick down the m4/m32....it was fine, ran on lpg all the time.....just doesnt like low revs it seems

Other prob is, this morning it decided to turn the headlights on.....they've been on all day, wont turn off unless you turn the engine off, then come back on again as soon as you start.  

Dunno if Martin has any ideas about the lpg prob? Pressure prob maybe?  :-/

Lets have a think

They switch to petrol at low pressure, low temperature, or can't open injectors enough

Check one - do you have an LPG filter if so please clean
Check two - can you check vacuum pipes to evaporator

Personaly I would expect the other way round!

[Martin_1962]

One other thing to check - the crank sensor - is it losing RPM signal

What system is it?

I can email RISN if needed

[Taxi_Driver]

Yesterday it passed its Taxi MOT......got it plated for work and had a radio fitted.

So today (as vx had my meega) i gave it a good workout

Its got a couple of issues  

It keeps switching to petrol when plodding about town.....
I went Brizzle airport this afternon....and giving it stick down the m4/m32....it was fine, ran on lpg all the time.....just doesnt like low revs it seems

Other prob is, this morning it decided to turn the headlights on.....they've been on all day, wont turn off unless you turn the engine off, then come back on again as soon as you start.  

Dunno if Martin has any ideas about the lpg prob? Pressure prob maybe?  :-/

Lets have a think

They switch to petrol at low pressure, low temperature, or can't open injectors enough

Check one - do you have an LPG filter if so please clean
Check two - can you check vacuum pipes to evaporator

Personaly I would expect the other way round!

Thanks for the reply Martin.....yes i would have expected the other way round too....
i drove it up a steep hill earlier 50mph in 2nd .....not even a miss.....pulled up at the top....let it idle for a min or two and it switched to petrol  :-?

Dont know about LPG filter....but maybe yes..coz it says this in LPG guide for the car....

every 60k miles...

check and adjust gas pressures
replace regulator shut off filter
replace splitter filter

I will have a look at the evaporator vacuum pipe...

As for the system it has fitted it looks a lot like a Romano type like my Omega...

Evaporator looks very similar....tho i guess they all look much the same
I can see the lpg feed rail.....its a metal tube with pipes off it to the injectors (on my omega the rail is plastic....tho guess it does the same)

Other thing is on the service history at 60k mile service it had all the lpg injectors changed.....doesnt say why?

Cheers

[Martin_1962]

If my little suggestions fail looks like you may need it professionally looked at.

Either the evaporator is not sending enough gas (too cold or not enough vacuum to it), or it is getting a bad RPM signal, or there is a strange setup - find the ECU and see what it is.

[Taxi_Driver]

If my little suggestions fail looks like you may need it professionally looked at.

Either the evaporator is not sending enough gas (too cold or not enough vacuum to it), or it is getting a bad RPM signal, or there is a strange setup - find the ECU and see what it is.

Found the ECU.....only prob is there nothing written on it.....not on the visible sides.....tho' as this is a 'dual fuel' jobby it wont have a seperate ECU for the lpg, will it?

Havent a clue where to look for the filters  

Checked the vacuum too ....seems to be attached ok.

I am suspecting low gas pressure......reason...i remembered when i first bought my other dual fuel Vectra....this too had a problem on lpg.....it use to miss badly if you treated it gently and be fine if you floored it....this was traced to low gas pressure and has been fine since they upped the pressure.

I was going to book it in with vx dealer, as they sorted the prob on the other Vectra, but apparently their lpg setup machine has broken and dont intend getting it fixed.....so wont look at the car  

So Ive booked in it with lpg installer that converted my Omega for tuesday.....hopefully it will just need tweaking.

[Martin_1962]

Dual Fuel is LPG conversion.

There will be an extra ECU - just like the 2.2 conversion.

As to gas pressure - thats why I mentioned the filter and the vacuum hoses.

Booking it in - best idea

[Taxi_Driver]

Dual Fuel is LPG conversion.

There will be an extra ECU - just like the 2.2 conversion.

As to gas pressure - thats why I mentioned the filter and the vacuum hoses.

Booking it in - best idea

Oh rite....as it was factory done, i assumed the main ecu was just programmed to say its an lpg car.

When it goes in Tues....i'll ask them where the lpg ecu is and the filters.....so i'll know for future reference

Cheers  

[Martin_1962]

Dual Fuel is LPG conversion.

There will be an extra ECU - just like the 2.2 conversion.

As to gas pressure - thats why I mentioned the filter and the vacuum hoses.

Booking it in - best idea

Oh rite....as it was factory done, i assumed the main ecu was just programmed to say its an lpg car.

When it goes in Tues....i'll ask them where the lpg ecu is and the filters.....so i'll know for future reference

Cheers  

Factory fitted is a misnomer, the Vauxhalls were converted after manufacture but before sale, found this out on the LPG news group

http://groups.google.co.uk/group/uk.rec.cars.fuel.lpg/browse_thread/thread/e1f18a761156b6c/c6dac052c66c6020?lnk=st&q=factory+fitted+lpg+vauxhall&rnum=5&hl=en#c6dac052c66c6020

Some details here

[Taxi_Driver]

Dual Fuel is LPG conversion.

There will be an extra ECU - just like the 2.2 conversion.

As to gas pressure - thats why I mentioned the filter and the vacuum hoses.

Booking it in - best idea

Oh rite....as it was factory done, i assumed the main ecu was just programmed to say its an lpg car.

When it goes in Tues....i'll ask them where the lpg ecu is and the filters.....so i'll know for future reference

Cheers  

Factory fitted is a misnomer, the Vauxhalls were converted after manufacture but before sale, found this out on the LPG news group

http://groups.google.co.uk/group/uk.rec.cars.fuel.lpg/browse_thread/thread/e1f18a761156b6c/c6dac052c66c6020?lnk=st&q=factory+fitted+lpg+vauxhall&rnum=5&hl=en#c6dac052c66c6020

Some details here

Cheers Martin  [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

[Taxi_Driver]

Rite decided today to have a go at changing the thermostat and finding out way the headlights are on all the time.

First problem, even tho vx delears computer reckoned they had 2 thermostats in stock....parts guy couldnt find them   So i had to order one....be in on Wednesday.

Ok next was the headlights prob.....after taking apart 1/2 the dash....then discovered you didnt need to....to get the switch out (anybody with a VectraC and needs to get the switch out....ask me the 'secret' way i discovered and its a 2sec job)

So got the switch out and took it to vx dealer to ask for a new one ( i decided it must be the switch faulty as the car had had this prob before and vx dealer changed the switch)

Vx dealer didnt have one in stock so i had to order that as well....£47.50 +vat  

This afternoon I went out in the Veccy minus its headlight switch and noticed the headlights were still on .....hmmm i suddenly wasnt convinced it was the switch after all.

Plugged the switch back in and still as b4, switch does nowt and headlights are on all the time

I decided to check the fuses......pulled all the fuses one at a time.....in the fuse panel at the end of the dash passenger side.....all ok....but plugging them back in, some of them, i got beeping noises.

Some of the fuses where for various control modules according to the handbook...

And guess what ....headlight switch now works ok  :-?

I guess I reset summat when unplugging the fuses....good news  

CAN bus got it knickers in a twist  :-/

But when I phone vx dealer on Tuesday to cancel order of switch....i bet i will get charged summat for cancellation  

[Taxi_Driver]

It went in yesterday to lpg installer.....
They reckon they found the fault with it keep switching back to petrol.
A vacuum pipe going to the evaporator was loose, the same blooming pipe Martin said to look at, and i did but thought it was ok  
So a cable tie on the pipe holding it on and 52 squid lighter.....but 10 miles over running about town and its behaving itself....so looks like problem solved  

Cheers

[Taxi_Driver]

Its still not working as it should  
I havent driven it since garage 'fixed' it.
I changed the thermostat and air filter in it this morning.....so afterwards thought it take it a drive about to check new thermostat and not loosing coolant.
After a few miles it switched back to petrol again   and kept doing it  

So i called in at installers who looked at earlier in the week....they said it would be trial an error to find the prob and changing the lpg filters would be next step.....as Martin had said  

So off i went to vx dealer to order them.....guy on the parts desk was very helpful and had the parts book out for dual fuel vectraC's but the only filter mentioned in his book was the filter between the evaporator and the injection rail....couldnt find any mention of filters for the liquid lpg between the tank and the evaporator.....so dunno i would have thought it would have one  :-/
So just ordered the one in his parts book.

Funny thing happened next......guy on service desk had been earwigging the conversation and piped up 'why dont you take it to our other garage, they'll fix it for you' I said I've already phoned them a  week ago....they wont look at it as its lpg.....he said 'yes they will, i'll phone them now for you' so he did and said to me they will book it in monday for you....and passed me the phone.....so i gave them the details.....then got asked what was wrong...told em....then ahhhh....dual fuel eh....we wont look at them....so i said would you like to tell the guy that just phoned you....'yeah sure'......so gave the phone back and after a few words he came of the phone.....saying they never tell me anything  

So anyway.....if changing the lpg filter doesnt fix it......ive found a vx dealer in Chippenham...about 20 miles away....that can look at it  

[Martin_1962]

It went in yesterday to lpg installer.....
They reckon they found the fault with it keep switching back to petrol.
A vacuum pipe going to the evaporator was loose, the same blooming pipe Martin said to look at, and i did but thought it was ok  
So a cable tie on the pipe holding it on and 52 squid lighter.....but 10 miles over running about town and its behaving itself....so looks like problem solved  

Cheers

Glad to help - it's amazing what you can learn

[Taxi_Driver]

It went in yesterday to lpg installer.....
They reckon they found the fault with it keep switching back to petrol.
A vacuum pipe going to the evaporator was loose, the same blooming pipe Martin said to look at, and i did but thought it was ok  
So a cable tie on the pipe holding it on and 52 squid lighter.....but 10 miles over running about town and its behaving itself....so looks like problem solved  

Cheers

Glad to help - it's amazing what you can learn

Good info Martin   but it didnt fix it