Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[F1 9LFG]

Hi all

Our second car is an Astra mk4 estate 2lt turbo diesel.

over the last few weeks we have experienced a problem whilst driving on motorways.
the eml light comes on and the car goes into 'limp home' mode.
limited power upto 3k rpm and hardly any power above 3k rpm.

this problem only occurs when in 5th gear, above 60mph and when you put your foot down (like when you pull into the fast lane to overtake)

it never happens at any other time, everything is normal, no smoke, funny noises or other warning lights.

when the eml light does apper and the car goes into 'limp home' its easilly corrected by pulling over, switching off the ignition, waiting 30 seconds and restarting. (until the next time anyway!)

The car is upto date with services, fresh oil and clean airfilter.

i'm guessing its a sensor as it only happens when the engine is under increased load?
could anyone shed any light on this problem?

thanks.

[Welung666]

Ideally you need the codes reading off it as I don't think you can paperclip/pedal test them.

[F1 9LFG]

i'm searching google for paperclip 'how to' guides but seems your right. i've had a look and cant see any plugs hidden around the gear stick/fuseboxes 

[Welung666]

OBD socket is under the cover just in front of the handbrake. Hopefully someone locally will have a reader of some description to help you out. It's a bit far for me to come

[Brikhead]

As said, you can't 'paperclip' Vx. diesels, some have had results using the 'pedal trick' but that is hit and miss as to whether it will work on your car.

In my experience problems with the e.m.l. light coming on as you describe are usually down to a leak in the vacuum pipe network. The rubber elbows and connectors can perish or split over time.

If you do get the fault codes read and they come back as 0400 e.g.r. valve then 9 times out of ten its, as I say, a vacuum leak.