Dying Astra: Multiple Symptoms Point to Injector Trouble

Hey there, Those symptoms sound really familiar. Had similar issues with my 2008 Vauxhall Vectra Diesel (common rail) last summer. Turned out to be a faulty fuel injector. The diagnosis showed one injector was completely defective and another was on its way out. Took it to my trusted mechanic who specializes in diesel engines. They had to remove and test all injectors, ended up replacing two of them. The job also included cleaning the injector seats and programming the new injectors to the ECU. It was pretty serious work since bad injectors can damage your engine if left unchecked. The symptoms matched yours exactly, power loss, rough idle, hard starting, excessive fuel consumption, and that annoying jerking during acceleration. The quantity drift compensation reset might help temporarily, but it's usually just masking a bigger problem with the injectors themselves. Make sure you find someone who really knows diesel injection systems, not all garages have the right diagnostic equipment for these issues. Hope this helps!

Thanks for sharing that! That's really helpful, as it sounds exactly like what I'm dealing with. Quick question, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the whole job? Also, has everything been running smoothly since the repair, or have you noticed any other issues popping up? My Astra's been giving me proper grief lately, so I'm trying to figure out if it's worth getting it sorted or if I should just start looking for another car. Would really appreciate your input! Cheers!

Hey again! Yeah, no worries, happy to help! So after taking it to the mechanic last summer, they fixed the injector issue and did the quantity drift compensation reset. The total bill came to 515.00 € for replacing the defective injector. Bit of a hit to the wallet, but honestly, it was worth every penny! The car's been running like a dream since then, no more stalling, shaking, or any of that nonsense. Fuel consumption is back to normal too. I'd definitely say it was worth fixing rather than scrapping, especially since these diesels can go for ages when they're properly maintained. Since you've got similar symptoms to what I had, I reckon it's worth getting it sorted. These Vauxhalls are pretty solid cars overall, and 192k isn't really that much for a diesel. Just make sure you get a proper diesel specialist to look at it, makes all the difference! Let me know how you get on with it! Cheers!

Thanks a lot for all that info! Just wanted to update you, I took your advice and found a diesel specialist nearby. Got my Astra checked out yesterday, and guess what? You were spot on! Had two dodgy injectors that needed replacing. The bill came to about 550€, pretty close to what you paid. The mechanic was brilliant, really knew his stuff and explained everything clearly. He even showed me the old injectors and pointed out exactly what was wrong with them. Got the car back today, and what a difference! It's running smooth as butter now, no more shaking or stalling. The engine light's gone off too, and it's not guzzling fuel like before. Really glad I didn't give up on the old girl just yet. Thanks again for sharing your experience, saved me from wasting time at regular garages that might not have spotted the real issue. Cheers really appreciate all your help!