2006 Vauxhall Zafira zafire - fumes in car & stalling when in 1st gear and moving off

Car: Vauxhall Zafira
Year: 2006
Variant: 1.9 Diesel
Categories: Running Rough, Starting & Power Loss
1) Recently the Zafira 1.9 diesel got the turbo replaced. Garage said my hubby must have overfilled with oil (he disputes this!). As we had only recently bought the car, they agreed to put the part through under warranty. Since getting the car back, we have found when the car engine is running exhaust fumes (diesel) build up in the car. This happens whether the car is being driven or idling (i.e. in traffic).

My hubby has been told by a friend that this is a problem with Zafiras but I couldn't find anything on internet to confirm and find a solution.

2) We only bought the car (it is a 56 model) a few months ago. Whenever we drive off in 1st gear, unless we rev up the engine, the car stalls (giving a thud sound as it does so). If we give good revs, it is fine. The car does not stall if in neutral.

Hope I have explained the 2 problems clearly.
Posted: Mar 15, 2011 (13 years ago)
Take it back to them for checking or get another garage to check the work they carried out . No car should have a build up of exhaust/ diesel fumes , there's got to be a fault for this to occur .
Posted Mar 15, 2011 (13 years ago)
The 'problem' is due to the new 'eco' exhausts on diesel motors. My husband only drives short distances (few miles), locally and therefore doesn't do high speed driving (e.g. motorway). There is a build up (like soot) in the exhaust and the way to clear it is to take the car for a few miles with high revs (I drive his car in low gear at high speed). This 'clears' the problem for a few weeks, then we repeat the process.

VW produced a leaflet on the eco exhausts on diesel vehicles. My VW garage told me this is becoming a problem only for people who don't regularly drive car at high speed. If you drive regularly at high speed you don't have to do what I do and drive to get the revs high.

Wont be buying a diesel in the future. Have had a few friends with diesels who have this problem, and fortunately I could give them the 'solution'.
Posted Aug 14, 2012 (11 years ago)

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