Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: omegaman on 18 January 2007, 20:55:38

Title: General lack of power :-(
Post by: omegaman on 18 January 2007, 20:55:38
Anyone got any ideas with this?

My 2.5 1996 CDX auto seems a bit........flat!

I havent had it long but when I got it, it went like a rocket. Its been well serviced etc etc

The main problem is that when you accelerate and the kick down comes in it just sort of feels.......flat.

Also it sounds lumpy when its idling, especially when its in 'D' and you are at traffic lights with your foot on the brake. When you select park or neutral it seems a bit better but still runs a bit 'lumpy'

I've just had new spark plugs and new leads (fitted at Vauxhall dealer)

could it be injectors blocked?
I've tried a few shots of 'Redex' but to no avail

HELP!
Title: Re: General lack of power :-(
Post by: Auto Addict on 18 January 2007, 21:00:24
Breathers and throttle body?
Title: Re: General lack of power :-(
Post by: TheBoy on 18 January 2007, 21:01:35
Any EML?

Also, check multiram operation.
Title: Re: General lack of power :-(
Post by: omegaman on 18 January 2007, 21:04:10
Thanks for the prompt replies guys but I'm no mechanic........whats an EML??? How would I check the mulitram operation??? And more to the point what is it?!!!!! And how might the breathers not be operational??


sorry to sound thick  :-[
Title: Re: General lack of power :-(
Post by: TheBoy on 18 January 2007, 21:06:23
EML = engine mgmt light
Multiram is the air intake that dynamically adjusts to provide a flat torque curve, and consists of a couple of vacuum operated valves...

Where are you?
Title: Re: General lack of power :-(
Post by: omegaman on 18 January 2007, 21:08:15
Quote
EML = engine mgmt light
Multiram is the air intake that dynamically adjusts to provide a flat torque curve, and consists of a couple of vacuum operated valves...

Where are you?


aaaah right....no the EML is fine in that case!

Could be the multiram then....is it easy to check????

I'm in Hereford
Title: Re: General lack of power :-(
Post by: Auto Addict on 18 January 2007, 21:08:29
There's a how to on breathers here http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1152598350 but unfortunately the pictures are missing.
Title: Re: General lack of power :-(
Post by: TheBoy on 18 January 2007, 21:10:43
Quote
Quote
EML = engine mgmt light
Multiram is the air intake that dynamically adjusts to provide a flat torque curve, and consists of a couple of vacuum operated valves...

Where are you?


aaaah right....no the EML is fine in that case!

Could be the multiram then....is it easy to check????

I'm in Hereford
Does the eml come on with ignition, and extinguish once started (ie, is the bulb ok)?

The multiram valves you can see move by revving in certain ways - hopefully someone has a piccy with locations...
Title: Re: General lack of power :-(
Post by: omegaman on 18 January 2007, 21:11:59
Quote
There's a how to on breathers here http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1152598350 but unfortunately the pictures are missing.

Thats interesting....I've just had the rocker cover gasket done today....I noticed the previous owner had it done just a few months ago.........

Reckon thats the problem?
Title: Re: General lack of power :-(
Post by: omegaman on 18 January 2007, 21:13:01
Quote
Quote
Quote
EML = engine mgmt light
Multiram is the air intake that dynamically adjusts to provide a flat torque curve, and consists of a couple of vacuum operated valves...

Where are you?


aaaah right....no the EML is fine in that case!

Could be the multiram then....is it easy to check????

I'm in Hereford
Does the eml come on with ignition, and extinguish once started (ie, is the bulb ok)?

The multiram valves you can see move by revving in certain ways - hopefully someone has a piccy with locations...

Yes it does come on...as soon as you press the brake pedal it goes off
Title: Re: General lack of power :-(
Post by: TheBoy on 18 January 2007, 21:13:27
Blocked breathers will causes rocker gaskets to fail ;)

Has this flatness happened since you did rocker gaskets, or was it same before?
Title: Re: General lack of power :-(
Post by: omegaman on 18 January 2007, 21:18:40
Quote
Blocked breathers will causes rocker gaskets to fail ;)

Has this flatness happened since you did rocker gaskets, or was it same before?

I got the car about.......maybe 6 weeks ago

When i got it, it was fine, no problems with power. Then I noticed oil under it and a strong oil smell in the cabin after a run. This got worse and recently you could see oil running out of the left hand side of the engine and dripping down. The lack of power and the poor running came a few weeks later. The garage said oil had got down into the plugs and they replaced them together with the leads. (they said one lead was faulty)

So they did the rocker cover gaskets and whilst it certainly runs better and doesnt leak oil anymore it just doesnt have that power it had before :(
Title: Re: General lack of power :-(
Post by: TheBoy on 18 January 2007, 21:24:22
OK, double check no oil in plug wells, in case they didn't clean out very well.

Also, the leads don't like being baked in hot oil.


Does it miss, esp under load, or just feel flat.  Does the power improve at different revs?
Title: Re: General lack of power :-(
Post by: omegaman on 18 January 2007, 21:31:00
Quote
OK, double check no oil in plug wells, in case they didn't clean out very well.

Also, the leads don't like being baked in hot oil.


Does it miss, esp under load, or just feel flat.  Does the power improve at different revs?

Its really that it just feels flat....I did notice a slight oil smell again but as you say maybe its some oil in the plug wells they didnt clean out??? I'm off on a run tomorrow so maybe that will burn it off???

Its hard to explain it on here.....you know when you drive over those annoying rumble strips on a road??? it just feels like that....sort of 'Choppy'!!!!!!!!

I think the higher the revs the better it gets ....but its getting it there!!!!

Sorry for the crap explanation :P
Title: Re: General lack of power :-(
Post by: TheBoy on 18 January 2007, 21:34:20
Quote
Quote
OK, double check no oil in plug wells, in case they didn't clean out very well.

Also, the leads don't like being baked in hot oil.


Does it miss, esp under load, or just feel flat.  Does the power improve at different revs?

Its really that it just feels flat....I did notice a slight oil smell again but as you say maybe its some oil in the plug wells they didnt clean out??? I'm off on a run tomorrow so maybe that will burn it off???

Its hard to explain it on here.....you know when you drive over those annoying rumble strips on a road??? it just feels like that....sort of 'Choppy'!!!!!!!!

I think the higher the revs the better it gets ....but its getting it there!!!!

Sorry for the crap explanation :P
If there is any oil in wells, on on top of cam covers, clean it up asap. Failure to do so will damage HT leads...

If the power returns at certain revs, I would suspect the multirams...
Title: Re: General lack of power :-(
Post by: omegaman on 18 January 2007, 21:37:29
Quote
Quote
Quote
OK, double check no oil in plug wells, in case they didn't clean out very well.

Also, the leads don't like being baked in hot oil.


Does it miss, esp under load, or just feel flat.  Does the power improve at different revs?

Its really that it just feels flat....I did notice a slight oil smell again but as you say maybe its some oil in the plug wells they didnt clean out??? I'm off on a run tomorrow so maybe that will burn it off???

Its hard to explain it on here.....you know when you drive over those annoying rumble strips on a road??? it just feels like that....sort of 'Choppy'!!!!!!!!

I think the higher the revs the better it gets ....but its getting it there!!!!

Sorry for the crap explanation :P
If there is any oil in wells, on on top of cam covers, clean it up asap. Failure to do so will damage HT leads...

If the power returns at certain revs, I would suspect the multirams...

ok cheers i will have a look.

I am going to have to nip back to the dealer, I notice they have forgotten to put the plastic cover back on...the one that covers the belts on the front  Maybe I will see what they have to say about it

Thanks for all your advice this evening
Title: Re: General lack of power :-(
Post by: Matchless on 18 January 2007, 22:34:55
Be a bit more specific about the EML behaviour.

It should come on with ignition then go off within 2 seconds of engine starting. Has no connection with brake pedal.

Are you saying the dealer left the cambelt cover off ? :o
Title: Re: General lack of power :-(
Post by: rpont on 18 January 2007, 22:35:16
They shouldn't have taken the belt cover off for camshaft cover gaskets. Can you see the timing belt and sprockets as well as the aux belt? The aux belt is visible but to get the cover off behind it there is a lot to remove and put back and the wiring loom will also be hanging. Since you haven't had the car long are you sure the cover is missing?

'Choppy' is exactly how I described mine when the EGR valve was sticking but things like plugs, leads and DIS pack have similar symptoms.
Title: Re: General lack of power :-(
Post by: colalowe on 20 January 2007, 15:57:20
Ive had a similar problem, I found oil just one of the spark plug wells and had the burning smell, after the oil was cleaned out the car runs fine again, although I now know that I need to change the cam cover gaskets and clean out the breather system as this seems to be the common cause of the gasket failiure which then leads to oil in the spark plug wells and then the misfire and loss of power problem!!

hope this helps??