Opel Astra (2002) exhaust emission warning light

ComplyOrDie

Opel Astra PEARL Z 1.4 XE (2002) 80K Miles

My opel astras exhaust emission warning light appeared. As a result I was losing power and when I accelerated the light would flash. My mechanic changed the plugs and the problem disappeared for a few weeks. The problem reoccurred and my mechanic changed the coil pack (computer said cylinder 3 and 4 were misfiring). Again the problem disappeared however it reoccurred and my mechanic looked at it and said my best choice was to bring it to an opel dealer as he was not sure what the problem was. I booked it in for a test with Mckeon Opel (have since gone bust) I could not attend the test but a family member attended, she was told that the engine had built up residue from lack of use (has not been used as much in the last year, but would be driven every day). The mechanics advice was to add fuel cleaner when low in petrol bring to motorway and drive it really hard (he said this will burn away the deposits in the engine) he said put a bottle in every week for 4/5 weeks. I did notice an improvement for a few weeks.
My problem is that the light has never gone off and now the car struggles to go over 20mph and it feels like it is going to cut out. It got to the stage where It struggles to getto the shop ½ mile away. I got another mechanic to put the computer on it and he said cylinder 1 is misfireing.
Does anyone know the solution?
Does anyone know a opel mechanic who knows what he’s doing.
I live in meath but would bring it to surrounding counties to get it fixed.

Esel

You could PM a user called Lucifer to ask his advice. He is a genuine Opel expert.

Clareom

I am having a similar problem. The emissions light is on, but can't seem to get it sorted. I brought it to mechanic, who plugged it in twice to the diagnostics machine, and it seems to have fixed it at first, but then, it turned back on. I was told I need a "something..." air sensor....sounded like ag air sensor?? does this make any sense to anyone?

Lucifer

It could be the egr valve. You would notice it hard to start, jump to drive, and idling badly. It could also be other things. To be sure before buying the part you would need it scanned by a code reader by some.

Signpost

wouldnt be the cat misbehaving?

Esel

Clareom wrote: »

I was told I need a . . sounded like ag air sensor??

I'm going with Lucifer on this!

'ag air' sounds like EGR to me.

Clareom

Yeah, the mechanic I was dealing with did the diagnostics thing, cleaned the egr valve (;)) and said that that usually works, but unfortunately it didn't work. He reckons if the light keeps going off then I will need a new one. He had a lovely Polish accent so I must have misunderstood his diagnosis with "ag air" thing!!

Good stuff guys....are these expensive? Can you get a scrap one?

Clareom

the cat was changed back in January. So that's all good

Clareom

Hmmm...more questions. I have been told that the EGR valve has to be changed at a cost of €110 including labour. I just paid €50 last week for the valve to be cleaned, but the warning lights are back on. Does this seem right? Should a clean not last a little longer?

Silvera

I had a misfiring problem with my '03 Astra (though the light never came on).

I did some reasearch online and narrowed it down to either the Coil Pack or the EGR valve.
Apparently the Coil Pack is the problem if it misfires under acceleration, and the EGR valve is the problem if the car misfires when you release the throttle (i.e. when the power is 'off'.....if your know what I mean?)

I replaced my EGR valve with a secondhand unit and it solved the problem.

To replace the EGR valve is very simple....it is only held on by two bolts and can be replaced (allowing for time to clean off the old gasket, etc) in about 20mins or so.

Check out this thread on 'Car Mechanics' - which includes a way to check Astra codes without using a Code Reader device (see the post by 'Anna Rack')...
http://www.kelsey-forums.co.uk/cgi-bin/cmm/YaBB.pl?num=1297609673/0#19


Somebody over on www.totalopel.com may have a s/h EGR valve lying around.

If you do decide to buy a new EGR valve, check the prices on www.ebay.co.uk and/or www.autovaux.co.uk