Lose power when accelerating

2000 Vauxhall Zafira 1.8 Automatic
Car: Vauxhall Zafira
Year: 2000
Variant: 1.8 Automatic
Categories: Running Rough, Starting & Power Loss
Originally my car wouldn't start when the engine was warm unless I kept my foot on the accelerator and put it into drive whilst pressing brake too. Once it was going, the idle speed fluctuated at traffic lights or in slow traffic and often cut out unless I kept the revs up. Tricky with an automatic in the town centre! However, I've just changed the driver's side rear brake caliper and the car has sat on the drive unused for a few days whilst this was happening. Took it for a test drive today and now the opposite is happening. The car starts even when warm but get up the road and the engine cuts out completely. The engine management light is on permanently. I change the air filter last week,I've recently had a new lambda sensor about a month ago and six months ago had a new air flow sensor. I was going to get the EGR valve cleaned until this problem arose. Could it still be that? Or is it connected to changing the brake caliper?
Problem added: Jul 14, 2012 (11 years ago)
Will not be linked to changing the brake caliper, just a coincidence. By all means, clean the EGR valve, it may be what is causing your problems. Also clean the throttle body...
Answered Jul 15, 2012 (11 years ago)
Thanks, I'll take a look online at the throttle body. My dad came back today to clean the EGR valve but we're finding that difficult to locate. The problem has got worse now so much that it doesn't always start first time and it stalls as soon as you touch the accelerator, can't even get it to a mechanics now! Are you sure it wouldn't be because we changed the brake caliper?
Answered Jul 15, 2012 (11 years ago)
Definately nothing to do with the brake caliper...
Answered Jul 15, 2012 (11 years ago)
Thanks for that. I'm crying now, just don't know which way to turn. Can we find and clean this throttle body thingy easily?
Answered Jul 15, 2012 (11 years ago)

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