Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Markie on 28 April 2007, 15:14:40

Title: Vectra v6 - Will it start....
Post by: Markie on 28 April 2007, 15:14:40
Yes !

But - its not right. If i can think aloud and see if anyone agrees.....

Main Points

Started first time no worrying noises but revving at 1200rpm and not slowing down ( revs not lumpy and are consistant)
Also feels good revving to 3000rpm no hesitation and a nice growl but it always comes back to 1200 or so..
"Check coolant" warning on dash
"Spanner" light on
"Tc " light on

Remember car brought to me non running on a trailer so i dont know if spanner and TC are new issues.....


Other Observations

Switched it off after 4minutes - felt like it was getting too warm under bonnet and a burning smell...( hoping its down to lack of circulation from colant system)
When refilling coolant it took 1 watering can of fluid untill it was at top of expansion tank
(remembering still showing check coolant)
No sign of temp guage going up.


So i am thinking obviously theres a block in the coolant system - bottom hose when squeezed appears to have no water and theres no surge in the expansion tank
Radiator is stone cold
Cooland water is stone cold in expansion tank

Engine and engine oil is too hot too touch......


So i am hoping changing the radiator will sort most of the isses out but not sure about the TC light on and the spanner light....

Also that rather quick and consistant rpm....Thoughts?


Title: Re: Vectra v6 - Will it start....
Post by: Markie on 28 April 2007, 15:15:51
should say this is a 2.6 ( as in same engine as 2,6 omega)

And thermostat /water pump/ oil cooler etc etc all changed and brand new vx parts - also has brand new vx semi synth in it and new filter etc....
Title: Re: Vectra v6 - Will it start....
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 28 April 2007, 15:41:03
Congratulations on getting it running.

The RPM... Have you got an air leak anywhere, or vaccum hoses off / badly routed? ICV in ok? All plenum O rings in place?

The burning smell and bits of steam/smoke - totally normal after any major engine work, just fluids, greasy fingerprints etc all burning off, might do it for half hour or more. just watch v closely.

Coolant issue could be an airlock rather than a blockage. Did you renew the stat?

Do another flush to be sure.. Bottom hose will be clear, if the stat hasn't opened there won't be an awful lot of coolant flow in that area, and the system wont' have pressured much

Temp gauge - it may not have warmed up yet? If not.. check the spade connector on the coolant bridge...

Title: Re: Vectra v6 - Will it start....
Post by: Markie on 28 April 2007, 15:45:51
Quote
Congratulations on getting it running.

The RPM... Have you got an air leak anywhere, or vaccum hoses off / badly routed? ICV in ok? All plenum O rings in place?

The burning smell and bits of steam/smoke - totally normal after any major engine work, just fluids, greasy fingerprints etc all burning off, might do it for half hour or more. just watch v closely.

Coolant issue could be an airlock rather than a blockage. Did you renew the stat?

Do another flush to be sure.. Bottom hose will be clear, if the stat hasn't opened there won't be an awful lot of coolant flow in that area, and the system wont' have pressured much

Temp gauge - it may not have warmed up yet? If not.. check the spade connector on the coolant bridge...

thanks for your input James :y

It now sounds sooo sweet - a few gaps here and there now tightened up air intake wise and its now starting perfectly and sitting about 600rpm rock steady. That unmistakable v6 noise is there  :)

TC and Spanner lights have mysteriously disappeared  :-/

So remaining issue is the coolant......radiator stone cold.....both rad hoses stone cold and i really dont think theres much fluid in them.....thermostat was renewed.

going to crack open a beer and have another look at the coolant system.... :y
Title: Re: Vectra v6 - Will it start....
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 28 April 2007, 16:04:28
Quote
Quote
Congratulations on getting it running.

The RPM... Have you got an air leak anywhere, or vaccum hoses off / badly routed? ICV in ok? All plenum O rings in place?

The burning smell and bits of steam/smoke - totally normal after any major engine work, just fluids, greasy fingerprints etc all burning off, might do it for half hour or more. just watch v closely.

Coolant issue could be an airlock rather than a blockage. Did you renew the stat?

Do another flush to be sure.. Bottom hose will be clear, if the stat hasn't opened there won't be an awful lot of coolant flow in that area, and the system wont' have pressured much

Temp gauge - it may not have warmed up yet? If not.. check the spade connector on the coolant bridge...

thanks for your input James :y

It now sounds sooo sweet - a few gaps here and there now tightened up air intake wise and its now starting perfectly and sitting about 600rpm rock steady. That unmistakable v6 noise is there  :)

TC and Spanner lights have mysteriously disappeared  :-/



So remaining issue is the coolant......radiator stone cold.....both rad hoses stone cold and i really dont think theres much fluid in them.....thermostat was renewed.

going to crack open a beer and have another look at the coolant system.... :y

Feel the top hose from cold, as the engine warms up..

Does it get hot suddenly, or gradually?

Also, set heater controls to hot, and run with the cap off the header tank for a bit
Title: Re: Vectra v6 - Will it start....
Post by: Markie on 28 April 2007, 16:47:14
[/quote]

Feel the top hose from cold, as the engine warms up..

Does it get hot suddenly, or gradually?

Also, set heater controls to hot, and run with the cap off the header tank for a bit
[/quote]


ok - seemed to gradually get warm then quite suddenly get very very warm - in tangent with this some bubbling started in header tank...then whoose a yucky gunky mess shot over the top of the filler neck.....

Car now also showing temperature guage going up but dont think fan is kicking in as it was 96 or so before i switched it off... Hose at bottom still feels rather empty and radiator is now hot and gurgling  :o

Title: Re: Vectra v6 - Will it start....
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 28 April 2007, 17:38:19
Quote

Feel the top hose from cold, as the engine warms up..

Does it get hot suddenly, or gradually?

Also, set heater controls to hot, and run with the cap off the header tank for a bit
[/quote]


ok - seemed to gradually get warm then quite suddenly get very very warm - in tangent with this some bubbling started in header tank...then whoose a yucky gunky mess shot over the top of the filler neck.....

Car now also showing temperature guage going up but dont think fan is kicking in as it was 96 or so before i switched it off... Hose at bottom still feels rather empty and radiator is now hot and gurgling  :o

[/quote]

It's all good... let it cool, then flush, flush, and flush.... ;D
Title: Re: Vectra v6 - Will it start....
Post by: Markie on 28 April 2007, 18:12:01
Thanks James..... :y

after it shot lots of mayo back out the level seemed to go down as did the low coolant warning.....cleared an air lock ?  :-/

It doesnt sound quite right to me engine wise.....yet....just a wee bit tappety - but i guess untill it gets a run and perhaps another oil change and also the coolant is right i cant really do much.....

Other thing is a very faint high pitch noise from...somewhere in the engine bay.....ust cant pinpoint it ... so faint that the wife didnt know what i was talking about... ::)
Title: Re: Vectra v6 - Will it start....
Post by: TheBoy on 28 April 2007, 20:41:32
Yes, lots of flushing.  Maybe a bit of degreaser as well?  Once it starts coming out clean, try 1/2 litre of screenwash and run for 30mins or so - screenwash apperently is good for shifting stubborn oily stuff.  Also, apparently, Forte do a special coolant cleaner for cleaning up after failed oil coolers....
Title: Re: Vectra v6 - Will it start....
Post by: Markie on 28 April 2007, 21:44:32
took it out garage for first time this year....something amiss....

very rattly from aux belt area.....but as we all know thats also timing belt area...
wasnt doing it when originally started.

So need to retrace my steps a bit tomorrow and check belt / condition / that its right way on and that i tightened all the bolts....

After that.. :o

Title: Re: Vectra v6 - Will it start....
Post by: Markie on 28 April 2007, 21:47:45
here she is all polished and spending her first night out this year

(http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n54/markiec23/DSCF3188.jpg)
Title: Re: Vectra v6 - Will it start....
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 28 April 2007, 21:48:12
Quote
took it out garage for first time this year....something amiss....

very rattly from aux belt area.....but as we all know thats also timing belt area...
wasnt doing it when originally started.

So need to retrace my steps a bit tomorrow and check belt / condition / that its right way on and that i tightened all the bolts....

After that.. :o


What did you do about that suspect idler pulley?


Title: Re: Vectra v6 - Will it start....
Post by: Markie on 28 April 2007, 21:51:37
Quote
Quote
took it out garage for first time this year....something amiss....

very rattly from aux belt area.....but as we all know thats also timing belt area...
wasnt doing it when originally started.

So need to retrace my steps a bit tomorrow and check belt / condition / that its right way on and that i tightened all the bolts....

After that.. :o


What did you do about that suspect idler pulley?



after a bit of consultation nothing..

Play in belt has gone and pully seems new albeit wrong one. Was all for tackling a full timing belt change but CANT get the crank pulley off ( 2 bolts rounded) so one the coolant issue is sorted its going a mile or so donw the road to my mates garage to get cambelt/ pulley change ( or maybe even the crank plate removed and i will do it)
Title: Re: Vectra v6 - Will it start....
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 28 April 2007, 21:53:33
seriously, that car is too nice to ruin because it's got the wrong cambelt kit on!!

Please, pleasee treat it to a new cambelt kit!
Title: Re: Vectra v6 - Will it start....
Post by: Markie on 28 April 2007, 21:57:05
Quote
seriously, that car is too nice to ruin because it's got the wrong cambelt kit on!!

Please, pleasee treat it to a new cambelt kit!

i will, i am  :y i may keep that car  :-/

But i have no way of doing it where it is and it wont be driven apart from garage - untill its done....
Title: Re: Vectra v6 - Will it start....
Post by: Markie on 29 April 2007, 12:44:34
update - especially for our caring James  :y

retraced a few steps today and eradicated the horrible noise by tightening up bolts holding water pump ( i obviously didnt fully tighten them after putting belt back on) noise now gone......so it wasnt timing related and yes i will be getting it done...

I get mates rates on such things and im sure i will get 80% of the cost back in the sale price of the car ( being able to show reciept of it being done)

Now just got a slight high pitch noise from the same area.....am i going mad or have i heard of the phrase belt whine before.? :-/
Title: Re: Vectra v6 - Will it start....
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 29 April 2007, 13:15:01
Quote
update - especially for our caring James  :y

retraced a few steps today and eradicated the horrible noise by tightening up bolts holding water pump ( i obviously didnt fully tighten them after putting belt back on) noise now gone......so it wasnt timing related and yes i will be getting it done...

I get mates rates on such things and im sure i will get 80% of the cost back in the sale price of the car ( being able to show reciept of it being done)

Now just got a slight high pitch noise from the same area.....am i going mad or have i heard of the phrase belt whine before.? :-/

Markie... if you can do the oil cooler, then the timing belt is a peice of childs play!!

Do you want me to come and go through a belt change with you?

Once you've seen it done you just can't go wrong  :y

Title: Re: Vectra v6 - Will it start....
Post by: Markie on 29 April 2007, 13:52:33
Quote
Quote
update - especially for our caring James  :y

retraced a few steps today and eradicated the horrible noise by tightening up bolts holding water pump ( i obviously didnt fully tighten them after putting belt back on) noise now gone......so it wasnt timing related and yes i will be getting it done...

I get mates rates on such things and im sure i will get 80% of the cost back in the sale price of the car ( being able to show reciept of it being done)

Now just got a slight high pitch noise from the same area.....am i going mad or have i heard of the phrase belt whine before.? :-/

Markie... if you can do the oil cooler, then the timing belt is a peice of childs play!!

Do you want me to come and go through a belt change with you?

Once you've seen it done you just can't go wrong  :y


 ;D ;D ;D remember i am in scotland  ;)

ts not the belt that is the issue its getting the blody crank pulley off to remove the belt  :(
Title: Re: Vectra v6 - Will it start....
Post by: JamesV6CDX on 29 April 2007, 14:10:13
Quote
Quote
Quote
update - especially for our caring James  :y

retraced a few steps today and eradicated the horrible noise by tightening up bolts holding water pump ( i obviously didnt fully tighten them after putting belt back on) noise now gone......so it wasnt timing related and yes i will be getting it done...

I get mates rates on such things and im sure i will get 80% of the cost back in the sale price of the car ( being able to show reciept of it being done)

Now just got a slight high pitch noise from the same area.....am i going mad or have i heard of the phrase belt whine before.? :-/

Markie... if you can do the oil cooler, then the timing belt is a peice of childs play!!

Do you want me to come and go through a belt change with you?

Once you've seen it done you just can't go wrong  :y


 ;D ;D ;D remember i am in scotland  ;)

ts not the belt that is the issue its getting the blody crank pulley off to remove the belt  :(

I'm flying to Scoootland in May for a few Omega jobs ;D
Title: Re: Vectra v6 - Will it start....
Post by: Paul M on 29 April 2007, 23:31:50
Quote

I'm flying to Scoootland in May for a few Omega jobs ;D

Fancy helicoiling a spark plug thread?  ::)  :D
Title: Re: Vectra v6 - Will it start....
Post by: Markie on 29 April 2007, 23:35:31
Quote
Quote

I'm flying to Scoootland in May for a few Omega jobs ;D

Fancy helicoiling a spark plug thread?  ::)  :D

 ;D no frther forward Paul.....helicoil seems ideal for your issue.... :y
Title: Re: Vectra v6 - Will it start....
Post by: STMO123 on 30 April 2007, 07:37:45
Been watching this thread with interest Markie, as the one before (idler). Get a cambelt done mate, that car is well worth it :y