406oc.co.uk

Anybody know if these suffer from lift pump failures?

My daughter has a 2005 Vectra that's done about 160k and now has intermittent cutting out issues, particularly when low on fuel. It looks to me like a dodgy lift pump, but I'd just like to find out if this a common problem.

She's talking about changing the car after xmas, which is an expense she could do without. I would happily change it for her, but don't want to guess what's what.

TIA

The most common fault on these is a faulty crank sensor....apart from the EGR valves clogging up.

I'd be inclined to replace the crank sensor first.

Have you any fault codes btw?....You don't always get a fault code when the crank sensor is playing up, but you might get the spanner light staying on for a second or two.

Not sure what happened previously, (it was thought to have had a loose connection), but last time it cut out indicating 17 miles remaining. When I got there I listened for the lift pump, which sounded rough. I was intending to check for fuel at the filter, but didn't have any tools to remove the engine cover.

Tried starting & it fired up a bit reluctantly. She drove it to the garage in limp mode with the EML on. After filling up it ran properly and has since. I've told her not to let it get below 1/4 tank for now.

Doggy wrote: My daughter has a 2005 Vectra

There's your problem.

Sorry.

Crank sensor sounds a good candidate for the cutting-outage but weird also about the fuel level. I wouldn't think its worth doing too much until the problem manifests itself more clearly, I know that doesn't help but if it runs ok-ish on over 1/4 fuel (maybe the pump likes a bit of weight above it) then maybe stick with that until the next step........like pushing it into a deep ravine.

Doggy wrote:Not sure what happened previously, (it was thought to have had a loose connection), but last time it cut out indicating 17 miles remaining. When I got there I listened for the lift pump, which sounded rough. I was intending to check for fuel at the filter, but didn't have any tools to remove the engine cover.

Tried starting & it fired up a bit reluctantly. She drove it to the garage in limp mode with the EML on. After filling up it ran properly and has since. I've told her not to let it get below 1/4 tank for now.

After filling up it ran properly and has since. I've told her not to let it get below 1/4 tank for now.[/quote]

This is common on the petrol engined models (my brother's car did it as well) this is usually caused by a blocked gauze filter on the in tank pump.
I think replacing the fuel filter would be a good idea.

Right, thanks for the info.

I'll set about cleaning the in-tank strainer and changing the fuel filter at the weekend.

If that car doesn't have a hand pump it may need to have the fuel filter filling before fitting...some of these can be a real pain to bleed....I can't remember which year they were

jasper5 wrote:...bleed...

If it bleeds we can kill it

I was thinking fuel strainer when I read the OP but then I was thinking that a few more inches of diesel (the difference of full over almost empty) probably wasn't going to make that much difference.

steve_earwig wrote:

jasper5 wrote:...bleed...

If it bleeds we can kill it


I was thinking fuel strainer when I read the OP but then I was thinking that a few more inches of diesel (the difference of full over almost empty) probably wasn't going to make that much difference.

I was going off my brother's car and a few others...when the fuel level in the petrol cars gets below a quarter when the gauze is clogged the engine starts playing up like the one here.There was a white slimy substance in the tank.Maybe the diesel ones don't suffer the same, but it's possible.

Thank you for the heads-up.

I've certainly seen the same problem on 306 and 406 XUDs, seems the bottom of the strainer is often the first bit to get clogged.

Assuming it's got a lift pump, you'd think it would be self-bleeding - like a proper car.

Tried researching it yesterday - it looks like 05 CDTIs have pumps, (some oddly described as 'levelling pumps'), maybe they just pump fuel from the lowest point to where the strainer is, (like a Rover 75)?

There seem to be several different versions, depending on whether it has diesel-fired automatic cabin heating or not. (WCPGW)?