Vauxhall dealer Killed my Car!

[Rock]

Well its not really fair to say it ever idles, if i don't touch the accelerator it will stutter badly for about 5 seconds then give up.

If i rev it, it will respond and sounds not too bad but then dies straight away.

So, probably yes.

[Taxi_Driver]

Hmmm....i dont know what others think.....but i think it maybe blocked exhaust then....just thinking by revving it the pressure will build up faster.....and hence why it cuts out sooner

Thats my theory.....what do others reckon?

[Rock]

Does anyone else have any other suggestions before i splash out on a cat?

I haven't been able to find a used one (although i've only tried Lea Valley). There don't seem to be as many around as for 2.5 / 3.0.

I have found this place selling them new, but I wonder if they will actually be any good??

http://www.buypartsby.co.uk/cat_display.php?txtmodel=OMEGA&Submit=Next&txtmake=VAUXHALL

[rpont]

What blocks cats? I'm just wondering if the problem with the coil pack has somehow caused the cat to get blocked and whether getting the cat up to operating temp will clear the blockage.

I suppose the only way to be certain it is a blocked cat is to remove it and see if the engine runs for longer or still dies after a few seconds.

[Marks DTM Calib]

Take it off and blow through it........might sound daft but, fairly easy to do....

[mar892ree]

Hi Rock, i brought one for my 2.2, it fitted really well, and hasnt gone rusty yet ( 8 months )

Mind you the decission was quite easy, £100 odd quid for one from these guys or approx £700 ( or something REALLY silly ) from VX !!!


Mark

[Taxi_Driver]

What blocks cats? I'm just wondering if the problem with the coil pack has somehow caused the cat to get blocked and whether getting the cat up to operating temp will clear the blockage.

I suppose the only way to be certain it is a blocked cat is to remove it and see if the engine runs for longer or still dies after a few seconds.

I think cats just fall apart inside.......they are like a honeycomb type structure.

I was wondering too....if it would be possible to romove the cat and try it again.....be rather noisey but engine should keep going.....prob not run right coz no back pressure......or maybe just replace the cat with straight thro' pipe if poss, to test.

[Markjay]

If I understand correctly, the car is now a non-runner while before hand it was just about driveable. So I would look at what Vx actually did to it – are you sure they put back your own bank 1 coil pack? Or could they have just given you any ole' coil pack they had lying around....? And did you check the coil pack connection while you were changing the plugs?

As for cat, it may be blocked, but how did Vx arrive at this conclusion – what did they do to check this?

I think you really need to get the code reader working asap...

[Rock]

Has anyone written a How2 on removing Cats on a V6 yet by any chance?

[EddieX]

My Merc. had it's cat. innards come loose and partly block the exhaust, but it would still drive up to 60 MPH...................eventually. On the other hand my Manta had a tankfull of dirty petrol once which blocked the fuel filter and gave symptoms very much like Rock's car has.  

[Rock]

Just a thought...

About 3 weeks before i started getting problems i switched over to only using Shell's V Power Petrol. Is it possible that might have changed something?

[EddieX]

The Shell petrol probably has more detergent in it so it might have disloged some dirt, but I don't  think it's the most likely cause of your problem.

[Rock]

Well if i can work out how to do it, i'm going to take the catalytic converter off and blow through it to see what happens. If it is blocked, i assume there is no fixing them so i will try smashing a way through it and re-fitting it to see if the problem goes away...

[EddieX]

With the Merc. I uncoupled the exhaust from behind the cat. and had a poke around with a steel bar. I could feel that the matrix was loose so I used a hammer, drift and other implements of destruction to break up and remove the offending part. It was very theraputic  .

[Rock]

Well i'm in need of some therapy so it could be fun....