MY DESIEL VECTRA DOSENT START FIRST TIME?

hi i have vauxhall zafira 20dti that plays up when starting after cranking for about five minuites it will start but kicks out white smoke but seems to run very well after that dose anybody know it takes so long to start i have had diagnostic machine on it it said it was glowplug relay the heat light only stays on a couple of seconds changed that but still the same .hope theres sombody that can help

steve
May 2016

I have zafira 2002 2.0dti not start. when start running fine for 3 minutes then cut off. Some time is hard to start again. I cleaned EGR valve checked all vacuum piper for leaking. Change crank sensor airflow meter seal injector good battery. nothing happen. still hard to start. somebody can help please? Thank You.

Carlos Guerra
November 2015

break into the thin brown wire on temp sensor and p[ut a toggle switch in place problem solved dont forget to switch it over when started or engine warning light stays on

ian gatey
August 2015

Help my 2.0 dti will be fine for about a week at a time then wont start again??

gemma
December 2014

I have zafira. 2.0 dti, for Years difficult to start. Tested .. tried... changed all things . mechanics auto spark. Still having problems 5 years ..more actually , on. So i made up leads to watch my heater plugs hanging leds on my sunvisor . i watched if leds lighting. how long and when. so discovered. heater plugs heating always on very cold but not for long, then when running each one fires but in time with each chamber (i guess) not all at same time when you are slowing or not revving. after a short while no longer firing as must be warm. So i pulled off my plug at thermostat in engine cooling cct. two wires. the fan will start as it thinks warm ? but this then made the heater plugs light up when i switched ignition on. trial and error showed me. make this switch open. then turn on ignition to normal preheat position where you could see glow heater lamp. in my case i could then instantly close switch (thermostat) back to normal. i waited a few seconds. 5 to 10. then turned key to start engine and car started within a few seconds. never giving any indication at all of difficulty. so to test if this may work for you. unplug stat plug.... turn key.... refit plug... start. Zero cost to test. if this works you could run wire to a home made button at driver control to simulate this. or buy 12 relay with timer ONLY a couple of seconds....... to mount in engine and at handy place where ignition at preheat position is powered to open at the required time. This fix is simple to test. if it does not work then try all the other stuff. hope this helps some people. if it does do post for others to see if not then sorry. ps it possible could cause a eng managment fault to display> i dont know but bear this in mind. Good luck Gregory

Gregory Ferris
January 2014

I had my vectra 05 serviced and it wont start now i was told to change the fuel filter with a genuine fuel filter as the after market one seals are no good and still doesn't start..it was working fine before the service..i also had the throttle body clean out still nothing happening. any advise please am stuck..

iggy
January 2014

Hi to all I have a vectra dti 2001 runs great starts great no problems apart from when fuel tank get bellow 1/4 tank I loose power up banks any help please

mick
February 2013

For some reason my 05 vectra 1.9 cdti is not turning over at all when trying to start it, no matter what time of day or night. The correct battery is fitted and is putting out more than enough power! I have been left having to bump start it everytime... Which it does with ease! Does anyone have a remedy or ideas as to what could be the problem? Would be much appreciated. Cheers

Daz hill
September 2012

I have a Y reg 2.0 ltr diesel vectra and have experienced the starting problems for a few years in the end it was it found that air was being drawn in through the fuel filter housing £123 to replace and job sorted.Before buying a new one we linked out the housing with a bit of pipe to prove it was that .

Pete VG
June 2012

Change the starter motor and job done

zee
May 2012

try braking and clutching while turning the key works first time every time for me on 02 2.0dti zafira

MICKY FUTTER
April 2012

does my diesel vectra water pump have a fuse? its stopped working wen i changed the fuel filter

terry
February 2012

p.s.

If you want cruise control on your car, all you need to do is seach for "vectra indicator stalk" on ebay, ensure you buy one with the cruise buttons on it (you should pay between £10 and £20) and all you need is a phillips screw driver to undo 5 screws around your steering column cowling, unclip your old indicator stalk from its mount, take off the electrical connector from the rear, put your new one in in reverse and connect up the cruise to the blanked off female socket immediately underneath the upper cowling and replace everything. Total job time is about 10 minutes, costs about £20 max and you got cruise control!!! This mod was done to the SRi 130 Dti model on a 51 plate....should work on others. Check by taking off your cowelling. If you see 2 blue torpedo like electrical connectors, one thats connected and the other thats connected to nithing, it will work for you! Best find of the year by far!! :o)

Tony from Wigan
January 2012

I had the same problem with my 51 plate 2.2 DTi. It turned out to be two problems combining together to create these exact symptoms..... crap at starting when its just above freezing...but fine once its been running.

1) Somone had changed the battery at some point for something other than the one needed for the car. I just rang my local Vauxhall dealer, asked what battery number SHOULD be in the car, then got a price and rang a few others. I got a replacement battery, one that was meant to be in the car from the start, from my local Renault dealer for 50 quid, plus pence... that gave the starter motor the right amp power to crank it over with enough force to create part of the solution.

2) These leak off pipes in between the injectors were changed (that have been spoken of below)... £6 from my local motor factors and I did the job myself.

Car now starts exactly how it should and is the reason why they are so cheap on ebay. Check your battery is the right one for your car, change your leak off pipes regardless of whether they look okay or not and jobs a good un (not as expensive as I thought neither!!)

Google is a great place to get ideas on car issues! Best bit is, Batteries usually last about 3 years... its worth changing it anyway even if you dont think its the problem.... especially if its the wrong battery number for the car! :)

Tony from Wigan
January 2012

maybe l can help . l have a zafira di diesel and l started have a problem to start my car , but l had try this . turn the key whitout start the car 10 times afther start the car holding the key untill started it works

victor constancio
December 2010

can i blank the egr valve on the 2.0 dti y20dth engine

dai pie
December 2010

get a new battery from the main dealer there not any dearer that sorted my problem of hard starting my vectra c dti that extra strong kick made all the difference

geoff
December 2010

my car smokes and doesnt start well, do you have enough antifreeze in?

barbie mechanic
December 2010

FIXED PROBLEM STARTING VECTRA C 2.0 DTI
Majority of the time the car starts fine but when it refuses - it doesn't start!
This is what I have done:
* replaced new fuel filter, filter seals
* replaced all glow plugs
* replaced all vacuum pipes
* replaced all T connectors in vavuum pipes
* replaced all leak off pipes
* replaced all the T connectors in the leak off pipes
* cleaned ERG valve and pipes - WOW!! what a boost to the power of the engine!!!
* Placed a 12mm inline, oneway fuel valve

The glow plugs only work in extremely low temps and the car usually refused to start
especially when engine was still warm. Had a strong battery that would turn the engine
for ages before giving up. Had battery tested by 5 different mechanics who after
thoroughly testing it said battery is great!
Finallay had someone put on a diagnostics scanner who said injector seals are gone!
Cost: £230 inc parts and labour to fix.

As I could not afford this - decided to sell the car.
My son put a new battery in the car (to my protest).
Guess what? ITS CURED the problem!!!

The cars starts 1st time everytime, instantly, hot or cold.
I think the starter motor could be dirty inside and hence taking a lot of energy to
turn over fast enough to cause the compression for firing the engine. The new
battery is giving it enough power to turn the engine over faster.
I put this up so it may help other people who find themselve in the same situation

Nazir123
November 2010

(I own a 2.2 DTI Vectra with the same starting problem in the morning (summer time). I managed to buy pass the problem by adding a manual button in cab that activate 12V directly to the glue plugs (via SSR). Before switching the key, I press it for 3 sec and it starts instantly. I'm assuming problem remains but it's a nice setup with no cost.)

What's the SSR and can you show a picture how you did it?

Thanks!

Toni 4
November 2010

Hi i am also having the same proplem,car stars fine through out the day but first thing of a morning it takes its time to start nd when it finally does white smoke pours out of the exhaust,so far ive changed the clutch and fly wheel,starter motor,battery and heater plugs and still no luck,i dont want to keep havin to fork out money and gettin no were with it any ideas would be grateful.

chris
October 2010

I own a 2.2 DTI Vectra with the same starting problem in the morning (summer time). I managed to buy pass the problem by adding a manual button in cab that activate 12V directly to the glue plugs (via SSR). Before switching the key, I press it for 3 sec and it starts instantly. I'm assuming problem remains but it's a nice setup with no cost.

Maor
September 2010

My 52 Vectra C 2.0 DTI - same problem. Replaced fuel filter, Replaced leak off pipes and T connectors, Replaced vacuum pipes, Placed 12mm one-way (non-return) fuel valve (from ebay) by cutting the fuel pipe going to the fuel filter, replaced the glow plugs, cleaned/polished out EGR valve and the 3" pipe (took out loads of gunk! - (this increased power BIG TIME! & gives fantastic mileage!)

Sadly, the starting problem is exactly the same. It takes ages to start about 20/30 seconds on the starter (continuous) - THICK white smoke! and then starts fine all day!

Looks like the injector seals are next! - dreading it! Struggling, just to own the car with all the tax,insurance, MOT & fuel!

I think I will try changing the lead off pipes again, because the new pipes pushed on pretty easily. I was hoping for a tighter fit. If I can find the 3mm pipes - that, is what I am going to do as I cant afford replacing the injector seals.
HELP! ANYONE??? Running out of ideas.

Nazir123
September 2010

there are 3 sizes of leak off pipe 3mm 3.2mm and 3.5mm only 3mm will seal and stop fuel runing back to the fuel tank most car shops only stock one size 3.5mm

hoseboss
July 2010

What a common fault. I have a 55 plate diesel vectra and it takes ages to start when "cold". Doggy dealer told me it was the battery, yeah right!! I will be looking to change to leak off pipes as the next course of action. Thanks for the advise

RichHR4
May 2010

Hello all, Simon leave the car with 3 work glow plugs.They are only for winter(temp under 5 Deg.).For summer ECU even do not turn it on.In winter will work fine just will see.
Above the leak off pipes and injector seals, firs is easi to change(difficult to bleading the sistem), second is ehpensive for work and the reason is the same - entering air and fuel return back(nead of bleading).
If the car is start fine(even with need of 5 sec ), will no have any changes when you change pipes and inj. seals.I already did it - with no result.the car still have white smoke on first start, and smell of unburned diesel, all day after that no smoke, fast start.There is no loose of oil, antifrize, the solenods - east gate, west gate are fine. On my list is temp. sensor lokated over the engine in left(have 2 wire on it).
If some one have som to share(saving our time and money) is wellcome.

The reason (by few mecaniks) is in fuel(to mach in start).

Regards Stan form BG mail dicATvip.bg skype dicthebig

Stan form BG
May 2010

glow plugs need changeing

simon
May 2010

I have a 2001 Vectra DTI. One glow plug is snapped (appears to be at the nut) and is now below a level where pliers etc would Not grip. It doesnt look like there would be any compression leak as the glow plug is still perfectly in place. Looking at the engine from the front end it is the third plug from the right.
This was only found when changing the plugs (much to our surprise as it wasnt something we thought to test when the car started fine at sale - but perhaps the can of Holts easistart found lurking in the car might have been the helpful hand they used!!) and so it now has 3 new glowplugs but no change in starting.
Starting in the morning (and we are having mild cold starts at the moment) is v.difficult, but like most Vectra's it is then fine if you stop and start it again after a journey.
When the glow plug light is out (ie engine warmed and used) it starts immediatly on key turn. It is just in the mornings when the glow plug light stays on for up to 5ish seconds. Have tried the turn ign on,off,on,off trial, but again no major advantage.
Some suggest to leave the broken glow plug if the car starts fine - but it doesnt. Would only having 3 glow plugs cause such major starting issues at around 3degC in the morning???? - or do you think it might be leak off pipe too?
I have all the parts to do the Leak off part replacement so that is next on my list. Just not entirely sure if the car will ever start efficiently in the cold mornings on just 3 plugs.
After that I'll look at injector seals.
Other than that, anyone have any recent quotes on a new head as this would be the contingency if the tapping out of the glowplug was unsuccessful.
It's a shame as the car is a cracker otherwise :0) !!!
What are your thoughts on 3glow plugs?

ColdStarter
April 2010

My son's Vectra 2.0 dti estate would not start when facing uphill even after replacing leak off pipes on cylinder head. I resolved the problem by fitting an extra 1 metre length of leak off pipe between pump and manifold and forming a loop by clipping the pipe low down beneath the radiator. This will prevent fuel siphoning back to the tank and airlocking the pump. Cheaper than replacing injector seals. Starts first time but hesitates slightly when first running as small amount of air in leak off pipe clears then is OK.

Mick Owen
April 2010

I have a problem that the engine only turns ove 3-4 times than stops. wait a while next time it might only start to turn and stops next time it might be 3-4 times again but never starts

Richard
March 2010

my vectra did not start. I changed the injector seals but its still slow starting has a miss at 2000 revs anyone got any answers ?

John
March 2010

change the spill off pipes, making sure you carefully remove all the old pipe off the injectors.

dr vox
January 2010

your deisel vectra does not start or does your diesel vectra does not start.

not a thick cut
January 2010

My Vectra is a nightmare to start, I've replaced the glowplugs, the relay light works correctly (So the relay is fine), the injector seals have been replaced, the air and fuel filters have also been replaced. And it still doesn't start at all well. A can of Holts Easi-Start works well though!

Matt
December 2009

dont buy a vectra

damage1_1
December 2009

As the george said, all of us having 2.0DTI Vectra engines has the similar problems - white smoke and diff. to start.
That is often problem with that engines. Mine too.
I read in the "autodata" and find a problem with coolant senssor IAF(lokated on the engine over the belt 2 wire) and the wireing of that sensor.Still not solved.
But the reason is to rich fuel mixture in hot time, and that is normal for cold time and no smoke, easie start.
Will place here all important modules for the ignition sisteme - later.
By the way - some one find any solution - send me a mail on dic vip.bg or skype dicthebig

Stan.BG
October 2009

the pump drawes fuel from the tank the cam in the pump wares down so it does not get the right amount of fuel put an inline pump before the fuel filter it should work now.

george
September 2009

my 20ltr vectre starts every time in the winter but when the outside temp rises its a sod,almost like leak off problem, but always starts, it needs the glow plugs to start it but they dont come on when its warmer, 150.000 miles on clock so has probibly lost the compesion it needs to start, i need a way of getting the glow plugs on manualy or do away with the temp sencor.

steve e
March 2009

injector will be leaking garenteed

popop
January 2009

camshaft sensor code needs reset after overnight parking starts ok all day after code clear

willierennie
October 2008

Sounds to me like a battery fault. If it starts after being bomped in the morning-and then all day-then the battery is not holding a charge over night. A diesel car takes a lot of power from the battery to the glow plugs to heat the diesel for its first start.. It will also be a good idea to have your alternator checked to see if it is putting the charge back in whilst driving.

Paul Bradley
September 2008

FORDS HAVE SAME PROBLEM NON RETURN VALVE ON TANK

SPARKY KEV
September 2008

wow what a common problem on vauxhall diesels! i got the same problem with my zafira 2.0di changed leak off pipes,injector seals ,glowplugs,and the glow plug timer relay no diffrence really still takes ages to start ,but i have found if u turn the ignition on and pumping the accelartion three times lettting the glow plug light turn off each time and it almost starts first time every time, next its probbley time to byypass the glow plug relay if any one can please let me now in detail how to do this it will be much appreciated

Amo
January 2008

it will probablys be leak off pipes or injector seals 9 out of 10 tims its the leak of pipes, people keep going on about glow plugs, modern day deisels dont need glow plugs to start as very high compression engines , enough to ignite the diesel, and the glow plugs dont acctually glow unless its minus 5 degress c , same as the peigeot hdi engine these glow plugs wont come into play unless its minus 10 deg c

chris hepple
January 2008

I had a vectra with a simmilar starting problem it was only when it was parked on an incline, my own drive and garage is level, however when staying at a couple of different friends whos drives were on slopes it was very reluctant to start, it was still under waranty so the dealer took it back they found no fault at first till i told them of the incline problem they tried again leaving it overnight on the ramps in the workshop, this time no start, they changed the injector seals and spill/return lines and this appeared to sort it, didnt have to find flat roads to park on, hope this helps.Glyn.

glyn bowen
September 2007

MY CAR WAS DOING THE SAME I HAD TO CHANGE THE INJECTOR LOOP PIPES THEN IT STARTED FIRST TIME ALL THE TIME

CHRIS EVANS
May 2007

Hi,

This engine has a common problem on it and that is that the leak-off rubber pipes fitted to the diesel injector crack but only small cracks which allow air in but doesnt let diesel out. Therefore the system has air in it and will be differcuilt to start. The easiest way to solve this is to replace all the leak-off pipes between each of the injectors and one to the inlet manifold.

Darren
December 2006

mine has the same problem any luck with yours

trina
March 2005

Hello, Ref. problems starting a 2l diesel Vauxhall Vectra. I'm sure you have by now tried the glow plugs on your vehicle and are still not having any luck, you have said that you have changed the fuel filter. Have you blead out the fuel system? These engines are very prone to drawing air into the fuel system. On the front of the engine there are four pipes called leak off pipes, these pipes are designed to take access diesel away from the injector. These pipe will deteriorate and draw in air. These leak off pipes actually run into the injection pump feed side and this is where some of the problems are. Other problems are the actual injector seals themselves which is a major top end engine repair. But to replace these leak off pipes you must be fairly careful to make sure you remove them completely. It is easier to remove the wiring running over the top of them, twisting the pipes so as to get them moving and then pulling them off. If a bit breaks off not to worry you'll need a sharp thin tool to break down the fibers and remove them,( be carefull not to damage the end of the injector supply bridge, this does come seperatly but strip down is required to replace) You can then push on the new hoses ( there is a modified pipe now ) and then bleed up the fuel system. To bleed up the fuel system you will need a suitable pump that will fit in the return fuel line. To find the main injection pump fuel return hose it will be the hose that does not have the leak off hose running back into it near the injection pump end. The pump must be fitted in line and left to run for a few minutes to draw the air out of the pump and fuel pipes. it may take a little time to start so don't over work the starter motor.( it would be worth having a bit of fuel in the tank) The engine should be run for five minutes with the pump connected. Switch off the engine, remove the pump and reconnect hose. Job done. If this does not work then you may have problems with the injector seals. It would be worth discussing this fault with your local Vauxhall dealer as that is a major top end strip down with specialist equipment.

Peter O'Toole
December 2004

If the glow plugs are ok the glow plug timer has probably packed in.Does Your timer light stay on for a few seconds?
If not you can fit a switch to by-pass the timer.(new timers are about 100 quid +vat and a nightmare to replace)
Buy a spring loaded switch for about 3 quid, and pick up a live from fuse box. Take the live via the switch to your glow plugs.
When you are starting the car in the morning press your switch for several seconds, you should find that the car starts with no problems.

Phil Wilson
September 2004

YOU CAN GET EACH GLOW PLUG CHECKED OUT FIRST BEFORE REPLACING AS THEY ARE EXPENSIVE. YOU CAN USE A SIMPLE TEST METER OR EVEN CONNECT UP TO A BATTERY AND WATCH THEM GLOW! (CAREFUL THOUGH AS THEY STAY HOT FOR A WHILE).FROM EXPERIENCE STICK WITH THE OEM PLUGS. I HAD TWO NOT WORKING ON MY DIESEL CORSA AND WHEN REPLACED THE ENGINE START STRAIGHT AWAY. IF YOU HAVE A VECTRA WITH THE IZUZU ENGINE CHECK THE VALVE SHIMS AS WELL.

GRENVILLE.
June 2004

have you thought about replacing the glow plugs, these heat the air in the combustion chamber, and are mainly required after the engine has been stood overnight, and is therfore cooler than during the daytime. hope this works for you!

s wiiliamson
June 2004