Print

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

[addy]

I wander if anyone can suggest anything. The wife who has a 1995 2ltr 16V Vauxhall Omega Estate, has just gone to pick up a 2 berth caravan, no heavier in weight than 1045 kg, I believe it is actually lighter than that. The drive home was Ok on the flat, but on hills the car struggled. On the last hill the engine management light came on and stayed on until she turned the car off at home. The wife has towed a friends caravan before and had the same problems. The head gasket has been changed, also all hydraulic lifters cleaned out aswell, new timing belt, water pump. It only seems to happen if the car gets slightly warmer than normal.
Thanks in advance for any help.
Addy.

[Doctor Gollum]

Drive it harder. Not necessarily faster, but a gear lower.

This accelerates the water pump which will then pump more coolant.

The four pots are rev happy and don't appreciate pootling around ime

[Doctor Gollum]

Also check the fans are working correctly as that could also have a bearing

[addy]

Thanks DG for the quick reply. When the car gets warm, the fan soon brings it down to normal temperature.  How is the easiest way to check the fans, apart from letting engine get upto temperature. Read the maintenance how 2. Do I just use a bridge wire from a earth point to each connection in the fan test port, if the 1995 model has it?


I am not sure if it is one of those red herring codes, but did a code check and got 13 O2Sensor open circuit (Not present), what would the make be for the sensor Bosch or another? Never had it before. Had a camshaft error code last time, car got warm in the hot weather we have not long had, but have not had it since. What is puzzling is we have a trailer that is definately 1ton, and the car tows that no problems up and down hills.

Addy

[Bigron]

A trailer would have lower wind resistance than a caravan: could that be a reason?

Ron.

[dave the builder]

perhaps the Lambda has a poor connection ,which strains when the engine moves on it's mounts under strain 

a 1 ton trailer  so braked 
not un-laden weight surely ,so not a ton unless loaded 

[addy]

Sorry yes a braked trailer 1ton laden.

[dave the builder]

Sorry yes a braked trailer 1ton laden.

so unless it was laden, not comparable with a pikey palace ,plus the wind resistance that Ron mentioned 
Lambdas are cheap now and get tired with age, though you could check the plug/loom etc
if the lambda sat wet (due to Head gasket fail) could be contaminated too
live data (if you can get it) would also be helpful in your quest

[ronnyd]

Have you checked that the brakes on the van aren,t binding? Had this once when a new, (to me), van had supposedly been checked and serviced before being handed over to me at the dealers and had problems on the way home from the Peak District. The cretins had adjusted the shoes up too close to the drums and as it got hotter, the drag got worse and worse. Car boiled over and water got into the alternator and goosed that as well.

[addy]

dave the builder car runs fine normally, what is the best make to get for the lambda. Bosch, NGK or any other recommended makes? Don't want to fit a universal one, where the wires have to be spliced, unless there is one that is recommended.

Ronnyd I will be looking the braking system over, it moves easy enough. The caravan weighs 773kg

[johnnydog]

I'd fit a Bosch out of those - that's what the originals are (on later cars anyway).

[dave the builder]

A bosch one is about £50
plug and play generic £15 (so no splice connections required)
I'd look at live data and see what the signal is doing and CTS ,examine the plug/loom before spending any money

[TheBoy]

I agree it needs further diags before changing stuff.

Take it out again, get the eml on, then read codes *BEFORE* switching off engine.

[addy]

I have started the car and let it run, not took it for a drive. Got some data don't know if it helps?  The EML doesn't come on normal driving.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=1VY-Q_TnoTIkQAn4gdZlQpPSGLtoP16pJ

Thanks for all the help.
Addy

[dave the builder]

not a great snapshot no data for WOT (wide open throttle) to see how the MAF reacts
slight blip of the throttle at 2min 6 ish seconds ?
the MAF starts at 36 kg/h (correct at idol) but drops to 15 suggests air leak BUT RPM shows 1600 
EGR registers 92% ish  (not uncommon) but with no rev/drive hard to say how it reacts
CTS up to 42
Lambda showing closed AND open again multiple times
no EML call (so no check light)

check how the MAF reacts to throttle
select
RPM, MAF, O2 mV,  loop status