Spanner @ Engine Light . Limp Home Mode

2003 Vauxhall Signum 2.0 DTI Elegance Manual
Car: Vauxhall Signum
Year: 2003
Variant: 2.0 DTI Elegance Manual
Categories: Running Rough, Starting & Power Loss
After 3 weeks of happy ownership of this 'mint' 75k mile example I now have the engine management 'problems' I'd heard about and hoped I wouldn't get ! . 3 owners stamped service book , old MOTS , invoices etc . Week ago having started and driven 5 miles on flat road , accelerating uphill in 3rd at 3000rpm I noticed a hiccup and suddenly spanner light came on and it seemed to lose power . I pulled into layby , idle was fine and other obvious things too . After stopping engine restarted fine and spanner disappeared . I drove 30 motorway miles fine but with doubt in mind . Some hours later on return journey everything seemed fine again until about 3000rpm and spanner light came back on and I noticed engine wouldn't rev past 2.5k .

I took the car to local garage whose diagnostics only returned emissions fault . He suggested changing fuel and air filter which were dirty as it turns out ( I'd bought the car from a trusted dealer who MOT'd the car and did oil and filter change in deal ). This seemed to make engine bit smoother but next day spanner came back on . Garage plugged laptop in again but only found emission fault . They suggested go Vauxhall for Tech 2 diagnostic check . Luckily I have experienced garage owner friend in neighbouring town who has this . Tech 2 suggested MAF / EGR / Wiring . From voltage tests whatever and from work on previous cars he suggested MAF was culprit . Intermotor MAF sensor was fitted but seemed to be faulty as read open circuit , replacement part seemed to settle in and many repeated stationary starts and revving to 5000rpm did not bring on spanner light and computer showed no faults or pending faults . Frustratingly driving mile or so engine light came on this time and again engine won't rev above 2.5k . Starting and everything else is fine though .

I'm back in tomorrow and plugging into Tech 2 . He suggests perhaps trying genuine Bosch MAF sensor or perhaps other faults will turn up . Any suggesting anyone before I seek out another local 'wizard' who supposedly fixes these problems all the time . I do hope it's not one of those common known but recurring problems as I actually think it's a great car .
Problem added: Mar 11, 2012 (12 years ago)
check the vac supply to your turbo control valve the wastegate should move when you start the engine it sounds like your getting a boost control fault that can give you HFM fault codes.. pity your not closer to stirling as i have full dealer diagnsics get it put on diagnosic live data and drive the thing till it faults you should see whats wrong with it :)
Answered Apr 28, 2012 (11 years ago)
Really am hoping some one can help with my problem also, i have a 3.0 v6 ctdi and my problem was the turbo broke with black smoke coming out the back, i had the turbo replaced and it now drives.
When i drive the car the engine mangment light comes on and i lose all my boost when the engine under pressure also.

It sounds like the same possable problem.

i have changed the boost sensor and checked all hosses, checked egr and its ok, when pluged in its faulting on low boost, dont get it?
All wires have been tested also so not sure what to do next Help!!!

Answered Sep 28, 2012 (11 years ago)
I have the exact same problem. Diagnostics found the MAF sensor fault I replaced it with a brand new Bosch and still have the same problem not sure what to do either!!
Answered Dec 23, 2014 (9 years ago)

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