Omega Owners Forum
Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: AllanGlasgow on 08 February 2009, 12:31:24
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Hi everyone, looking for some help.
I'm a brand new Omega owner, so don't know anything about them. I've found 2 problems (so far ;)) with the car.
I bought it in Liverpool and drove back up to Glasgow, the whole way up it was running very rough. I drove up the M6 at 70 the whole way, and the best way to describe it would be the engine was farting! It seemed to have power for 2 seconds, then less power for 2 seconds, then power up again, pretty much the whole way. Having said that it did make it all the way from Liverpool to Glasgow, but I want to get this sorted before it gets any worse. Would really appreciate any suggestions!
The other problem with it is the climate control, it looks as if it's working fine, but even with the temperature up max, it only blows out freezing cold air. I've checked all the fuses (about the limit of my technical knowledge) and they seem ok. I don't know if it has anything to do with it, but when I had the headlights on, all the buttons were illuminated on the dashboard except those on the climate control panel. I'm sure you can imagine in this weather, it wasn't fun driving all the way from Liverpool to Glasgow with no heating!
Any help you guys can give me would be very much appreciated.
Cheers
Allan
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Paperclip it first and see if there`s any fault codes and post up :y
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1189022687
Here`s the link to replace your CC bulbs :y http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1162120610
Try re-setting the CC. Press OFF and AUTO together for about 10secs, should here the flaps re-setting. :y
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was this an e.bay car by any chance. hopefully not from a M. Southern?.
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Rough running may well be the usual leaking cam covers...
Have a look and see if any of the spark plugs have oil in the plug wells...if so then your cam cover gaskets will need replacing and chances are the misfiring is as a result of the oil in the wells shorting out the plugs/leads and may have caused dispack failure...
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Hi guys, thanks for the posts. I've done the paperclip test, and I'm not getting any faults coming up.
I know this sounds really silly, but whereabouts are the spark plugs? Complete car novice here!
It was an ebay purchase in fact, but not from an M Southern. I only paid £550 for it, so if a rough engine and faulty heating are the only problems I think I'll probably be quids in!
I've tried pressing auto and off together as suggested, I could hear some whirring going on, but still just cold air blasting out. I took it a run down the motorway and back to get the engine warmed up, the temperature guage was normal, but still no heat from the climate control :(
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Allan,may not be relevent but take off the water bottle cap,start the car,put your demisters on full to screen only and leave it running for about 15 mins(obviously keep an eye on the temp gauge)
Just in case its a simple airlock in the system causing the problem...
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Allan,may not be relevent but take off the water bottle cap,start the car,put your demisters on full to screen only and leave it running for about 15 mins(obviously keep an eye on the temp gauge)
Just in case its a simple airlock in the system causing the problem...
Also, when it`s up to temp. check heater matrix pipes in driver`s footwell are getting hot :y
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Hi guys back again!
Right, I did as suggested and let it run for 15mins with the coolant tank cap off, still no heat coming out the heater, even after the car got up to temperature. I had a poke around the drivers footwell, I couldn't find any pipes down there, do I have to take the plastic trim off, or lift the carpet to find them? The general area was warm, but I couuldn't find where the heat was coming from. Definately not the demisters anyway! ::)
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Daft question mate,but
Is there heat anywhere else?
i.e at the floor.......
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Nope, I've tried it on every setting, demisters, face level, floor level, combinations, automatic, manual, different temparatures, everything just blows out freezing.
Just a point though, when I was driving back from Liverpool, I had it switched off most of the time. After it had been switched off for a while, the air blowing through the open vents was lukewarm, but when I switched the blower on it turned freezing again. Don't know if that helps with the diagnosis... :-?
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if it was a old style heater as in non a/c i would say the heater matrix is blocked but i dont know anything about a/c, anyhow might be worth flushing out the matrix anyway & give it 50/50 water & antifreeze afterwards ;)
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Its probably going to be something more technical but,
You could try draining the coolant and flushing out the system, there is a 'how to somewhere',on here,could just be a blocked matrix.....
Back flush it....i.e stick a hose in the bottom Rad pipe and turn it on,just beware though dont do it too hard as the pressure could burst something....
Might be worth a try before you start getting into taking the dash apart etc
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You type quicker than me Alf! ;D
The other possibility is the thermostat...it could be jammed open or even missing,this would cause the coolant to be constantly circulating,not giving the matrix a proper chance to heat up...
These are all just stabs in the dark mate but i always say,start with the easy things first.... :y
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When it's up to temp check the 2 heater hoses going through the bulkhead from the engine side, if they aren't hot then HBV if one is and one isn't then blocked matrix!
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Thanks again for the posts guys, unfortunately I'm now in the middle of a blizzard so I'll wait until tomorrow to check these things out.
Had a sudden awful thought though, could these be signs of the head gasket blowing?
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Very very rare the V6's losing a head gasket. More likely the HBV (heater bypass valve) or a clogged up matrix.
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Its only snow Allan!!
Get out there and get it done!!
The joy's of motoring!
;D ;D :y
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no heating
Buy a warmer coat & get used to it.............I'm on my second omega [owned them for 8yrs] - Heating system is/are garbage.
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no heating
Buy a warmer coat & get used to it.............I'm on my second omega [owned them for 8yrs] - Heating system is/are garbage.
I`ve had four and never had a problem. Can`t see how you can generalise only having owned two :-?
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no heating
Buy a warmer coat & get used to it.............I'm on my second omega [owned them for 8yrs] - Heating system is/are garbage.
I`ve had four and never had a problem. Can`t see how you can generalise only having owned two :-?
I think my heater is great ... :y
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Right, had a poke about looking for all the things that everyone suggested, and realised I really don't have any idea what I'm looking for!
I think the best idea would be for me to take it into a garage and let them know what everyone's said and they can look at it there.
What does everyone suggest, Vauxhall garage or local garage? Or do any Scottish members have any suggestions on reasonable garages I could take it to?
Cheers! :D
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If you want to bring it up to Barrhead mate,i'll have a poke around for you......?
Not saying i can fix it but it could be something simple....
Save you garage charges......
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Cheers for the offer Iain, really good of you. I'm a bit wary of driving it out all that way at the mo, the windscreen keeps freezing over because there's no heat on it! Plus it's not taxed at the moment, so wouldn't want to risk all that way, especially as the police seem to live on the M74 at the moment lol!
I'll probably end up taking it up to the garage in Larkhall, that's where the other half gets things sorted, and they seem fairly reasonable. I'm hoping they'll take it in as a job for regulars and work on it in between other jobs. I've still got the primera kicking about, so I'll hang onto it until I get the omega fixed. The sooner the better though, still can't get over how comfortable it is compared to the primera!
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Nae bother Allan :y
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Just a thought - T plate is a mini facelift. A common fault with them is the small fan in the dash that samples the air temp in the car stops working resulting in only cold air coming out of the vents as the climate controller thinks its warm when its not.
Simple test - Set your temp to HI on the climate. If its the sampling fan you will get hot air out as it overrides the controller.
No hot air then...its something else .... lots of other suggestions already !
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no heating
Buy a warmer coat & get used to it.............I'm on my second omega [owned them for 8yrs] - Heating system is/are garbage.
I`ve had four and never had a problem. Can`t see how you can generalise only having owned two :-?
I think my heater is great ... :y
Me too :y
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Yep, heater is a monster on the Omega!
As for your description....rough running and no heater.....rough running could well be a vac leak and much of the vent system is vac operated.
So, look for the large brake servo vac pipe that comes off the rear right of the plenum chamber and runs round the rear to the brake servo on the rear left of the bulk head.
Check this for damage.....particularly just after where it leaves the plenum as it can chafe on the airon pipe if a dodgy mechanic hasnot re-fitted the spacer to it.
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Well, phoned around a couple of garages, the only one that seemed to know what they were talking about was Autovaux in East Kilbride. They suggested replacement plugs, leads, coil and HDV - and quoted me £520!
Please someone tell me it's not going to cost me that much?! The car only cost me £550!!!
I had a look on ebay, and I can get all the parts new for about £100!
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Jeezo,hang fire Allan,you dont even know what wrong with it yet!
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Haha, I know, but I described the symptoms over the phone to the guy, and that's what he suggested! >:(
I think I might take you up on your offer Iain if it's not too late, tax or no tax I ain't spending £520 on a couple of new spark plugs! ;D
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Heater wise,you need to find out if both pipes in and out of the matrix are warm firstly.....
Runnig wise i dont have a great deal of experience on the V6,ive only ever had 4 pots
Your welcome to come up,but i wouldn't recommend it with no tax...
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Haha thanks Iain, moment of madness there, as you can guess I'm still in shock from my call to the garage!
I'll check out the 2 pipes tomorrow, hopefully it will just be the blocked matrix that you've suggested. As for the plugs/coil, I might go for the old favourite and get my dad down to have a look at it!
Can you tell I'm desperate to get rid of the primera and get this baby on the road???!!! :y
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The 'farting' you described would suggest to me its not coil pack or cam covers etc,that would be more irratic i would have thought..... and you described originally a regular constant fault
The vacumm fault mentioned above could be the problem....
Can anyone else confirm if a blocked ICV cause this?
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Marks dtm was on the right track here mate just to the right of the brake servo on the large stiff plastic pipe there are two vac pipes that connect here, check that the small pipes are still on the large pipe as this is where the heater controls get thier vac from. if the car has had some work done to the rear of the plenium then the ham fisted techi may have broken on of the small connecting pipes off.Also check that the small vac pipe is still connected to the HBV at the back of the plenium. Forget the changing of the plugs and leads mate as these have sweet fa to do with the heater efficancy. That garage was just looking for unneeded work. Rip off merchants. >:(
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Yep, heater is a monster on the Omega!
As for your description....rough running and no heater.....rough running could well be a vac leak and much of the vent system is vac operated.
So, look for the large brake servo vac pipe that comes off the rear right of the plenum chamber and runs round the rear to the brake servo on the rear left of the bulk head.
Check this for damage.....particularly just after where it leaves the plenum as it can chafe on the airon pipe if a dodgy mechanic hasnot re-fitted the spacer to it.
ALLAAAAAN, DOT NOT SPEND ANY MONEY UNTIL YOU KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS!
Sorry to shout mate, but Mark has given you the answer, what he doesnt know about Omega's aint worth knowing, if the wise one speaks we listen.... Well, usually. :-)
Before you do anything else check the vac pipes as suggested. Save your money and time, independent garages will as a rule give you a general diagnosis for your average car. They are clearly not familiar with the omega. As for dealers, just dont. Hth
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have a look at the links in the thread below, they show pics of the system and pipe work Mark is talking about. If any of its broken, leaking, worn through, not connected, post up what you find and somebody will be able to help. There are breakers on here who can help.
http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1233419513/11#11
Let us know how you get on, dont be shy to post up any issues. Hope this helps. :-)
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Hi guys,
Thanks for all the suggestions, finally got round to getting my head under the bonnet.
I checked all the vac pipes, and no leaks or pipes hanging off that I could see.
I managed to find what I think are the heater hoses (2 thick rubber hoses running through the bulkhead?). Took the car up and down the dual carriageway to get it up to temperature (still no heating), came back and had a feel. The top pipe was v. hot, the bottom pipe was fairly cool. Looking at the suggestions you guys gave me, I would suspect a blocked matrix? Can anyone confirm if this sounds right? If so, is there a step by step (with helpful pictures ;)) on how to flush the matrix on the forum?!
In regard to the rough running, it seemed to be misfiring far less today than it was before. Is there any chance the misfiring is as a result of it being off the road for three months before I bought it, and the plugs or summit are just dirty?
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Hi guys,
Thanks for all the suggestions, finally got round to getting my head under the bonnet.
I checked all the vac pipes, and no leaks or pipes hanging off that I could see.
I managed to find what I think are the heater hoses (2 thick rubber hoses running through the bulkhead?). Took the car up and down the dual carriageway to get it up to temperature (still no heating), came back and had a feel. The top pipe was v. hot, the bottom pipe was fairly cool. Looking at the suggestions you guys gave me, I would suspect a blocked matrix? Can anyone confirm if this sounds right? If so, is there a step by step (with helpful pictures ;)) on how to flush the matrix on the forum?!
In regard to the rough running, it seemed to be misfiring far less today than it was before. Is there any chance the misfiring is as a result of it being off the road for three months before I bought it, and the plugs or summit are just dirty?
The heater pipes need to be disconnected (http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1185891036) Then connect hose to bulkhead "stub" pipes (http://www.omegaowners.com/forum/YaBB.pl?num=1152565204) and flush through. If you`re going to flush matrix it would be an ideal time to do a thorough flush of the cooling system :y