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[BridgeyBoy]

Can anyone help?My 2001 2.5 Auto runs perfectly from cold for a few miles (maybe 15 mins driving) then starts to idle very erratically between 300-1000 RPM and misfires under accelaeration. After the paperclip test (code 19) I took it to a local garage for a crank sensor replacement but its still doing the same. Its back in on Monday as Im concerned they may have put wrong sensor on - when I suggested thisI got the "its the right part - we use the engine and chassis number to make sure" type response. Im going armed with a printout of previous posts from OOF which discuss how the two types may look the same but arent and how the Vauxhall EPC may not always be correct. Two questions;

1) would a faulty crank sensor cause the issues above i.e starts fine and runs ok for a while then poor idle/misfire starts when engine gets warm?
2) if not, what else could be the cause? If it was a faulty plug, dis pack etc I would have thought it would be evident as soon as the car is started and not just after it warms up?

Any help appreciate..!

[martin42]

MUST use a genuine vauxhall sensor,and if the wrong type is fitted it wont work properly,take all the info down with you and get them to remove and check it while you are there so they then cant rip you off.

[BridgeyBoy]

Thanks. Im a bit confused by the fact that the car starts on the key first time with no hesitation - hot or cold which Im not sure would be the case if the crank sensor was wrong/faulty (not that I really know what Im talking about..!?).

Looking through previous threads, it seems like misfire when hot may be more down to oil in plug wells or damaged HT leads / dis pack from cam cover gasket leaks?

Any thoughts anyone?

[Kevin Wood]

Are you still getting fault code 19?

Worth pulling each plug lead off and checking for oil in the plug wells, and for general condition of the leads.

If the plugs are over 20k old you might as well replace them while you're there

Is it a regular misfire or just unstable idling?

Unstable idle can be caused by a sticking ICV or EGR valve.

[BridgeyBoy]

Still getting code 19 but its only been a few days since it was changed andI know the code stays in there for a while. The garage didnt clear any codes, they just swapped the crank sensor as I asked.

Once the engine warms up the misfire is constant at all speeds/revs - obviously more noticeable with a foot down. It varies in how noticeable it is (sometimes very!) but its always there.

The idling is rough and rises/drops in the range of 300-1000 revs once warm. It has never actually stalled but does dip quite low then rises again. Very erratic!

[Webby the Bear]

sounds like your icv needs a good clean? 

[Andy H]

Any warning lights showing while it is running? If still lit then the code will be 'current'. If not then you are reading a stored code.

[dbug]

Misfiring usually ignition related.

Uneven idle - as said clean and lube ICV.

If its starting ok and not stalling during normal motoring unlikely to be crank sensor - if you still have a code 19 get someone to wipe it and see if it reappears