1997 Vauxhall Vectra GLS from UK and Ireland - Comments

Lost windscreen arm after two days.

Occaisional engine cut-out when decelerating from cruising speed - almost caused two roundabout pile-ups!

Stone chips led to corrosion very quickly.

Boot springs shut when opened on an incline (ouch!).

I'm not freakishly tall at 6ft 2 but I have found it absolutely impossible to find a comfortable driving position. This is a failing felt for 100% of my time in the car and along with a most uninvolving general driving experience, it must be sorted on the next mass middle market offering. Economy (41-42mpg) is outstanding as is general reliability. Good level of trim on this model.

Have a 1997 Vauxhall Vectra 1.8LS Auto.

As in this report, it stalls when taking my foot off the throttle and onto the brakes.

This is very dangerous (we live amongst mountains - hair-pins!), when the engine cuts, you lose your power steering and brakes! Have been to the main agent 3 times and each time their "Computer" says some sensor or other is at fault and we drive away a couple of hundred pounds lighter... then the problem comes back after a few days. They say this is not a regular fault and we are unlucky. The fault is at its worst when re-starting after being parked up for ten minutes or so. I have met two people who have had to get rid of Vectra's because of this problem, both auto's. Presume this is not such a bad problem with manuals because they force the engine on until you de-clutch, whereas auto's freewheel. Please, please, have you any info on these problems.

Regards, Derek

delandgabs@eircom.ie

I have a 1997 1.8GLS Auto which regularly cuts out... usually a few minutes after starting from cold. Two near misses on roundabouts already! Surely Vauxhall should be aware of this...don't they remember the Pinto?

CW.

Vauxhalls are crap and they can't build a reliable car to save their life. Wake up Vauxhall and take a few lessons from the Germans and the Japenese. By the way, sack anybody on Quality Control - if there is such a department.

We have a V registered 2000 1.8 LS Vauxhall Vectra which cuts out when slowing down. If I'm still rolling it can be bump started, but if not it's more of a nuisance.

My wife finds this problem very distressing due to the accompanying loss of power steering.

Anyone got any ideas regarding the solution to this apparently common problem?

Yes.

The problem is the idle control valve. I have to get the one on my Vectra cleaned out regularly.

The fault takes 2 forms on my car:

1: it cuts out as you describe.

2: The revs fluctuate to around 2000rpm and the auto (as mine is) becomes undriveable in town.

I bought mine at 2.5 years old and it has been generally reliable apart from the idle valve and various sensors.

You would think GM (not just Vauxhall) could make those things more reliably, or at least charge less for them.

I had a cavalier before it and it was 100% reliable and after my Vectra experience I'll never by another Vauxhall.

My next car will be a Honda.

I have a 1999 1.8 16 valve Vauxhall vectra. I have found that there are two rubber pipes which attatch to the top of the engine block which seem prone to perishing. The first pipe connects to the right side of the airflow meter and the other is at the opposite corner of the engine. After changing the first pipe near the airflow meter I now find the car has started to stall after applying the brake and clutch at speeds of 35-40 mph. If you replace either of these pipes (which youi probably will have to if you vehicle has done over 50 000 miles) then be really carefull to avoid getting any rubber in the engine itself!

On the stalling fault, it would seem that on later Vectra's there is a modification in an attempt to prevent the idle control valve from gunging up. GM included an intermediate 'oil trap' in the rocker cover breather hose which can be bought for early models, (info direct from a main dealer), but as usual you pay the price.

Quotation from the same main dealer for my 1997 Vectra 1.8 LS -

Idle control valve = £151

Labour to fit idle control valve only = £110

modification kit = £115

Labour to fit modification kit = £145

Grand total = £521 OUCH!

Seriously though, GM know about the fault, but are willing to risk peoples lives and at the same time make a healthy profit. This has got to be WRONG.

I also own a Vectra 1.8Ls Manual - I have been getting the stalling problem described earlier, I took it to the garage and they said it was the air filter. I don't know that is just what they said. Thanks Scott.

Scottadams1979@hotmail.com.

I have a '97 Vectra with the cutting-out problems that lots of other poor unfortunate Vectra owners have experienced. It is, I consider a very dangerous situation to be in when approaching junctions, roundabouts etc. Vauxhall have been able, I hope, to overcome this problem by providing a different idle valve, breather and trap etc. They know this is a serious problem affecting many Vauxhall car owners and yet they can shrug their shoulders and deny any responsibility. This will ultimately result in many dissatisfied customers and only confirms to me because of that and other problems I have experienced, that my Vectra is a heap of junk that will not last even as long as the humble Belmont that was its predecesor and is still going strong at 190,000 miles. I am picking the Vectra up tonight at a cost of £260 on top of a similar amount spent trying to find the problem, I hope the problem is fixed.

I just know that it has given me a lot of grief that I will make sure I don't repeat in the future!

A DISGRUNTLED VECTRA OWNER!

I have a Vectra 2.5 V6 CDX Auto with problems you all describe on here.

It started with cutting out while in slow moving traffic or when slowing down on the engine - the first I noticed was when going down hill with my foot off the accelerator and seeing all of the warning lights on the dashboard coming on. After the first initial panic I pulled over without power steering or brake assistance and the engine started again.

Several times on a long day out then it cut out in slow moving traffic.

Now it's idling at 2000rpm which is dangerous due to the auto box. the car is a nightmare to slow down as the revs are trying to pull the car along and getting it in gear feels and sounds painful for the car as it jerks and jumps forwards when selecting Drive with the idle at 2000rpm.

The fact that the brakes are very poor due to a suspected fault on the brake servo or master cylinder does not help as it's hard to hold the car still when selecting gears or bring it to a stop when the brake pedal goes soft under your foot.

I know both faults need repair and it is booked in for the work tomorrow, but I just hate the thought of another huge invoice for repairs to this car.

I also had a Vectra 1.8LS 16v as my last car and that had the same fault with the idle valve. Luckily that was replaced under warranty.

Guess what though, my next car will not be a Vectra, nor will it be a Vauxhall. 4 Vauxhalls in a row is enough punishment for anybody.

I have a 1997 2.0 ls that has the same problem it can run fine for a month and then it cuts out in low revs the missus has nearly caused a few r/bout pile ups and a very near miss in the supermarket car-park, its not on.

Other than that a good fast car that handles well and looks smart (when clean)

I brought my vauxhall vectra 2 years ago and within 2 weeks it required a new idle control valve. luckily this was covered under the warranty of the garage where I purchased it. in the past 2 years I have had to clean out the valve 3 times which is not that hard as its only 2 screws and a wiring plug. although this worked for a short time span I have now been informed by vauxhall that the valve is once again faulty and must be renewed. they were happy to give me a quote of 250 quid fitted, but due to the mood I was in I thought "no I'm fed up of being robbed by vauxhall so ill shop around" I managed to purchase a idle control valve for £82.00 all in on next day delivery and I shall fit it myself, (5 minute job). the name of the shop was 1st 4 vauxhall, its in the yellow pages. I just wanted to write and say that you don't have to pay vauxhall rip off prices all the time and if you do purchase a new idle control valve don't expect it to last more than 2 years.

Adam (gloucester)

The problem of stalling on the vectra can be overcome by taking off the barrell which the air intake attaches to. A few pipes and connecters, and four bolts, and its off. clean it out and ensure the two small jets are clear. Build it back up and problem solved. trust me,it does the job, and is cheaper than the idler valve (£115 approx) which is usually not at fault.

Both my partner and I have a Cavalier 2.0i and BOTH have this problem. Luckily I'm not that fazed by cars cutting out and manage to restart. However - until the problem gets fixed - or I get rid,I have to use mine daily. It would regularly cut out if it was restarted after standing for a short while. I worked out that if I started it WITHOUT throttle and let it stop, restart, stop restart etc until it eventually kept running - then it would not stall when on the road. Not a fix - but it has saved those awful heart stopping moments at roundabouts and leaving junctions. Give it a go - just remember not to use the throttle at all until the engine is running.

Hello I have a Vectra 1998 2litre gls Estate, Its running very poorly If I`m driving about 30mph it feels like it is missing, very uncomfortable to drive I`m forever in low gears to try and compensate for it. On the other end of the scale if I`m accelerating its start to miss etc about 60-70mph. My local garage cannot find a code on the management system, I first noticed it after i`d had my cambelt changed, the garage has looked over this, but can't find any reasons??? please help its so annoying...

Paul.