I have a 2002 Vectra B Sri 130 49,000mls, just recently the engine management light came on and stayed on, it's now been 4 days and when i took out the dip stick out to check the oil the light went off. Furthermore it feels like there's a lack of power whilst driving, the tappets sound louder(Like an old Ford Fiesta) and in the morning the rev counter goes slightly up then back down and my foot isn't even touchin the pedal. Can anybody tell me what might be wrong with my car?

Mark Notarangelo, February 2008

hi i have a vectra sri 1.8 on v plate and when it gets hot it revs it self up if you hold it at one rev???????

marcus wilson, January 2010

the tappet problem use correct oil .to cure the other problem simply remove the air pipe off the top of the throttle body and on looking you will see it full of a tar substance caused by it over breathing .which is anormal so all you need to do is purchase a can of carb cleaner from any motor factors .and start engine spray into pot and run the engine do this till pot clean this will cure the engine light also the the rev counter fluctuating and the cutting out

johnny telford, June 2009

I have the exact same problem on my Vectra B 1999 Club Auto 1.8, the engine light comes on if i get to 60Mph and the tappets are loud as hell! yesterday i had the engine serviced and now today the car sounds like a mustang! seriously i dont know whats going on but thiscar makes me feel like a laughing stock...

David Lingard, June 2008

Ive got the same problem with my 2000 vectra 1.8. And even on some occasions the engine turns it self off when i'm parked up. Ive been told my many people that the noise is, the tappets not getting the oil properly to lubrecate them so they can move efficiently. I would guess your sound goes away once the engine is nice and warm? This is beacuse the oil is thin enough to pass through and get to the tappets. A solution to this is to get them replaced (too much of a job + costly) or another way could be to use 15 40 oil which is the recconmended thickness for vectras. This might solve your problem for a while or if anything it may quite down the problem.

Amar, May 2008

I have the EXACT same issue with my 1998 1.6 Vectra, and its only 6 weeks since it had the engine rebuild. Funnily enough, I also described the sound as like an old Ford Fiesta!!

Only advice I've seen is run some engine flush through for a few hours and replace the oil.

I'd like to see a more comprehensive reply.......

Rob, February 2008