This was written in 2007 after an NA car developed a fault a few weeks earlier. At idle (such as at traffic lights) or below about 15 mph the revs fluctuated constantly, with a lack of power and very bad fuel consumption. It felt as though it might stall, and starting became a struggle. Changing the spark plugs first made no difference. After about an hour of driving the engine warning light came on, and a specialist diagnosed a faulty EGR valve.
Fitting a replacement
- Undo the two bolts either side of the valve. The photo shows one side, circled.
- Unplug the electrical connector from the top of the valve. There is a small plastic catch on the inside of the black plug at the top.
- Take the old valve out. The gasket underneath can be re-used with the next one.
- Fit the replacement by doing the same in reverse. Ten minutes at most.
Where to get one
The author spent two days searching scrapyards before finding the Vectra. A new valve from Vauxhall was a good deal dearer.
The "EGR cheater"
Another member told the author the EGR valve isn't actually required, and that he sold an "EGR cheater" to replace the whole valve. The author didn't use one, because he wanted the car running quickly, so the thread has no report of how it works on a VX220. This is hearsay from one member. Our own note, not from the thread: an EGR valve is part of the car's emissions equipment, so bypassing it may affect the MOT emissions test and the car's legal status, so check before trying it.