Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: omegaman on 07 January 2007, 19:16:22

Title: Odd electrical problem??
Post by: omegaman on 07 January 2007, 19:16:22
I have a 2.5 CDX 1996 model.

Last week its started to run a bit 'lumpy' for want of a better word. It starts first time, runs well until the engine gets a little warm and then feels.........LUMPY!!
The best way I can describe it is that it feels like an old car when you get a bit of water on the electrics/distributor cap and it splutters a bit and wont rev out properly. Its also lost a bit of power too :(

Also as I was driving home from work at about 55mph I noticed the speedo needle go right round to 160mph and then slowly came back to the correct speed.

Anyone got any ideas???

Cheers

Dave
Title: Re: Odd electrical problem??
Post by: Markjay on 07 January 2007, 19:27:24
Could be one of many things, and the erratic speedo definitely suggest some electric problem (but it could also be unrelated to the lumpy engine problem..). First thing would be checking for any stored fault codes using the Paperclip method describes elsewhere in this forum, then post the results and we’ll take it from there.

Title: Re: Odd electrical problem??
Post by: omegaman on 07 January 2007, 19:28:57
Quote
Could be one of many things, and the erratic speedo definitely suggest some electric problem (but it could also be unrelated to the lumpy engine problem..). First thing would be checking for any stored fault codes using the Paperclip method describes elsewhere in this forum, then post the results and we’ll take it from there.


Forgive my ignorance.....'Paperclip method'????

Can you point me in the direction of that thread???

Cheers mate
Title: Re: Odd electrical problem??
Post by: tunnie on 07 January 2007, 19:29:06
'Lumpy' feeling always points to blocked breathers & dirty Idle Control Valve.

There is a guide in the Maintenance section on how to do this, its most likely they have never been cleaned. Its straight forward to do yourself, buy a couple of tins of Carb cleaner and it will be smooth as silk again  :y
Title: Re: Odd electrical problem??
Post by: omegaman on 07 January 2007, 19:31:33
Quote
'Lumpy' feeling always points to blocked breathers & dirty Idle Control Valve.

There is a guide in the Maintenance section on how to do this, its most likely they have never been cleaned. Its straight forward to do yourself, buy a couple of tins of Carb cleaner and it will be smooth as silk again  :y

Thats great mate thanks for your help. I'm pretty hopeless when it comes to fixing stuff.....unless its a lawnmower  ;)

I shall check the maintenance section now

Thanks again

Dave
Title: Re: Odd electrical problem??
Post by: Markjay on 07 January 2007, 19:31:45
See here for paperclip test:

http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1152601768/


Title: Re: Odd electrical problem??
Post by: omegaman on 07 January 2007, 19:38:30
Quote
See here for paperclip test:

http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1152601768/


Excellent, thanks heaps!

Isnt it a bit risky jamming a paperclip into an electrical socket type thing though?? Can it go horribly wrong? Would it be better to take it to my local Vauxhall dealer?
Title: Re: Odd electrical problem??
Post by: iggy21uk on 07 January 2007, 19:47:13
Take it to the dealer start throwing ££££ notes at him.

Any where near The Boy" who has a Tech 2 same tool as VX dealer use?

His prices are much less

Paper clip check gives basic info
Title: Re: Odd electrical problem??
Post by: omegaman on 07 January 2007, 19:52:33
Quote
Take it to the dealer start throwing ££££ notes at him.

Any where near The Boy" who has a Tech 2 same tool as VX dealer use?

His prices are much less

Paper clip check gives basic info

I live on the border of england/Wales...not sure who he is or where he is from.

Knowing my luck if I start jamming paperclips into my fuse box the whole thing will go more horribly wrong than the England cricket teams defence of the Ashes  ;)
Title: Re: Odd electrical problem??
Post by: Markjay on 07 January 2007, 19:56:30
Quote
Isnt it a bit risky jamming a paperclip into an electrical socket type thing though?? Can it go horribly wrong?

Not if you make sure you insert the paperclip in the right pins sockets...

Quote
Would it be better to take it to my local Vauxhall dealer?

Taking it to your local Vauxhall dealer has the potential of making things go horribly wrong... only recommended if you know they are good. At any rate, expect to pay £40-£50 for fault code reading at a dealer - unless you actually go ahead with the reapir they propose.

On the other hand, if you are not inclined to do this yourself under any circumstances,  you could take it to a vauxhall dealer and then post here what you have been told/quoted etc, we may be able to advise if what they said makes sense... sadly it often doesn't.




Title: Re: Odd electrical problem??
Post by: omegaman on 07 January 2007, 20:01:25
Quote
Quote
Isnt it a bit risky jamming a paperclip into an electrical socket type thing though?? Can it go horribly wrong?

Not if you make sure you insert the paperclip in the right pins sockets...

Quote
Would it be better to take it to my local Vauxhall dealer?

Taking it to your local Vauxhall dealer has the potential of making things go horribly wrong... only recommended if you know they are good. At any rate, expect to pay £40-£50 for fault code reading at a dealer - unless you actually go ahead with the reapir they propose.

On the other hand, if you are not inclined to do this yourself under any circumstances,  you could take it to a vauxhall dealer and then post here what you have been told/quoted etc, we may be able to advise if what they said makes sense... sadly it often doesn't.





I've never visited a Vauxhall dealer....but if they are anything like the Holden dealers back in Oz they will charge like a wounded bull and be about as much use as an ashtray on a motorbike.

So they charge you £40/50 just to plug your car into their machine....????
 :'(
Title: Re: Odd electrical problem??
Post by: iggy21uk on 07 January 2007, 20:13:01
The socket is next to the fuse box

'The Boy' is in  Brackley on the Bucks/Oxon/Northants border

So not that near 2U.
Title: Re: Odd electrical problem??
Post by: TheBoy on 07 January 2007, 21:01:25
Don't worry too much about doing paperclip test - its simple and it works.

I am concerned about your erratic speedo - can you measure battery voltage with engine off, and when revving at 2500rpm?
Title: Re: Odd electrical problem??
Post by: omegaman on 08 January 2007, 11:32:21
Quote
Don't worry too much about doing paperclip test - its simple and it works.

I am concerned about your erratic speedo - can you measure battery voltage with engine off, and when revving at 2500rpm?

Hi mate......I dont really have much idea about vehicle electrics sadly, so I have no way of doing a voltage test.

I'm just changing my coolant following the helpful guide on the tech page on this site.....this is a great site thanks to all for your help!

ps I've booked my car in with my local Vauxhall garage, they hopefully will be able to sort all the other problems out....at a cost I'm sure!!!!! :(
Title: Re: Odd electrical problem??
Post by: Ghosts in my machine on 08 January 2007, 12:04:57
If you're worried about using the paperclip method, just go to Halfords and they'll sell you a code reader for £15-20 that is just a paperclip in a fancy plastic case! [smiley=grin.gif]

Wish I could use the same method for mine, unfortunatley it's a facelift and the paperclip doesn't do anything (probably would fry the electrics on mine!)
Title: Re: Odd electrical problem??
Post by: TheBoy on 08 January 2007, 17:59:48
Quote
Quote
Don't worry too much about doing paperclip test - its simple and it works.

I am concerned about your erratic speedo - can you measure battery voltage with engine off, and when revving at 2500rpm?

Hi mate......I dont really have much idea about vehicle electrics sadly, so I have no way of doing a voltage test.

I'm just changing my coolant following the helpful guide on the tech page on this site.....this is a great site thanks to all for your help!

ps I've booked my car in with my local Vauxhall garage, they hopefully will be able to sort all the other problems out....at a cost I'm sure!!!!! :(

The paperclip test is worth doing before you even contemplate using garage or dealer.  It really is simple. If you have the time, someone here will guide you through it if you are not quite sure on something :)

As for the battery voltage, got any mats or work collegues who will have a multimeter?
Title: Re: Odd electrical problem??
Post by: omegaman on 10 January 2007, 15:05:50
I took the cowards way out and took it to my local Vauxhall dealer. I had an oil leak that wanted sorting too.

They couldnt find anything wrong with the electrics which is either great news...or bad news if they dont know what they are doing! I suspect it was water on the electrics somehow...it was throwing it down that particular day.

They say the oil leak is from the camshaft seals at the front....they reckon its going to be quite a labour intensive job but it wants doing as you can smell oil quite heavily in the car when you stop. Also the pool of oil is growing on my drive and my wife is bending my ear about it. So its worth getting it done for a quiet life if nothing else. I thought it might have been the rocker cover gaskets leaking but they were only done a few months ago.

Thanks for all your help guys its much appreciated
Title: Re: Odd electrical problem??
Post by: Jimbob on 10 January 2007, 15:09:35
Quote
Quote
Take it to the dealer start throwing ££££ notes at him.

Any where near The Boy" who has a Tech 2 same tool as VX dealer use?

His prices are much less

Paper clip check gives basic info

I live on the border of england/Wales...not sure who he is or where he is from.

Knowing my luck if I start jamming paperclips into my fuse box the whole thing will go more horribly wrong than the England cricket teams defence of the Ashes  ;)

If you are a bit more specific as to where you are, can maybe recommend some local places for a fraction of the price.
Title: Re: Odd electrical problem??
Post by: omegaman on 10 January 2007, 15:11:38
I'm in Hereford...I've booked it in with the local Vauxhall dealer now for this job, but if you know of anywhere decent for any future jobs I would appreciate it :)
Title: Re: Odd electrical problem??
Post by: Jimbob on 10 January 2007, 15:13:33
Sorry no, Bit to far south for me,
Im the very north east corner of wales.

Few local garages around here have the tech2 readers, and charge £15-£25 a go
maybe worth ring around and seeing what they have near you, could save you money for next time.
Title: Re: Odd electrical problem??
Post by: omegaman on 10 January 2007, 15:17:17
Thanks mate I will shop around a bit next time....hopefully not much will go wrong with it in future but you never know!!!!