Camshaft snap after 24,000 miles 05 reg

Garetha

LTA wrote: »

Doesn't look like it should have been recalled.

Called Trading Standards though who think there is case under Sales Act for premature failure. Just waiting for service manager to get back to me!

She said go for full payment too.

Thanks for link to Watchdog may very well do that!

Thanks!

It might help your case if the garage and Vauxhall know of your intention to contact Watchdog, etc.

Have a look at Honest John http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/index.htm
There's a forum on there too - put your case and see what you get

LTA

will do, willing to give anything a go!

ecarter674

My daughter's car broke down this week with exactly the same problem. It's only done 30k and just out of warranty. Reading all these messages is very depressing! I'm up for reporting them to Watchdog, Trading Standards & the safety group etc.
It seems to me that this model should have been recalled and all repairs for out of warranty should be paid by Vauxhall in full.
The car is still with a Vauxhall garage at the moment; I've asked them for a detailed report of what is wrong, what tests they've carried out, breakdown of estmated costs (inc. testing we are told!) & why head office are not willing to make a contribution.
I'm then going to write to Head Office detailing when it was bought etc, quoting sections of the Sale of Goods Act (not for for purpose), list of any other complaints I can get my hands on & get them to put in writing why they won't accept responsibility even though they have mounting evidence that there is a design fault in this model.
I expect they will refuse to make any contribution so, I will look for alternative estimates of cost & then pay to get the car back on the road.
I'll then use all of this evidence to go to the Small Claims Court.
I think that if I can evidence to the Court that Vauxhall know there is something wrong with this vehicle but are refusing to rectify that, I'll win...... that will then set a precident for all you other Guys to get your money back!
So, will you be willing to write me a letter (I'll draft out some ideas for you to follow) and allow me to use as evidence in Court?
We can't let them get away with this .... if we stick together, they'll have to pay up!
Look forward to hearing from you (ecarter674 at aol dot com)
Liz

xycom1

I have heard of at least one Corsa C with camshaft failure before. Was on the www.corsa-c.co.uk forum.

Provided the car has been serviced by a main dealer according to schedule, then I would be pushing for 100% goodwill - little over 3 years and only 24000 miles is hardly anything.

Pssst

Why are they failing? Is it a materials fatigue issue or a lubrication/bearing issue?

MaddieClara

Last week, I was driving on the motorway when my car seemed to loose power and my engine light came on. I was towed to the nearest Vauxhall dealers (from where I brought my car) the mechanic who towed me thought it might be a coil pack that needs replacing. Anyway, this all happened the day before my Honeymoon and whilst I was away I had a number of calls with Vauxhall, who weren't very helpful, only to be told that my cam shaft had snapped and that they would need to strip the engine to assess the extent of the damage (at a cost of £150+vat labour just to assess the damage), I have been warned it could be pricey. It would appear to be a fault in a number of Corsa's looking on forums online - any suggestions for assistance in paying costs etc. I had my first two services with Vauxhall, it is now out of it's warranty and I had my last service through an ex Vauxhall mechanic, all legite obviously. Worried that I may not get as favorable an answer cause I didn't have my last service through the dealer. Comments and advice would be much appreciated, I really can't afford this to happen now (who can I suppose!):mad:!!! Thanks.

custardy

on experince of a known oil jet problem on 2.2 vectras
if you dont have a ful;l VX warrenty and its out of warrenty they wont be interested

asbokid

Pssst wrote: »

Why are they failing? Is it a materials fatigue issue or a lubrication/bearing issue?

has the cam belt snapped?

with the valvetrain out of timing with the bottom end, in an interference engine this commonly causes the piston crowns to hit the valves.. the force then travels up the valve stems, to the lobes on the camshaft, and that could cause the shaft itself to snap..



it would be interesting to know if the cambelt has not, in fact, snapped...

The Engineering Department at Swansea University has a well reputed (!) Materials Research Centre where they conduct all manner of metallurgic tests which could show that the camshaft was in some way substandard.

Strangely enough, we were just thinking of asking that department to examine some other Vauxhall components (steering and suspension, this time), that are failing prematurely....

asbokid

MaddieClara wrote: »

I had a number of calls with Vauxhall, who weren't very helpful, only to be told that my cam shaft had snapped and that they would need to strip the engine to assess the extent of the damage (at a cost of £150+vat labour just to assess the damage), I have been warned it could be pricey. It would appear to be a fault in a number of Corsa's looking on forums online

They need to "Strip down the engine", eh?!

To assess the damage would usually involve removing the cam cover and visually checking...almost anyone could do that in two minutes...

if you used a particularly well-equipped garage, they could pull the spark plugs out and poke a borescope in to check that the pistons were unscathed..

is that what they have promised to do for their £172.50?

Thought not..

For that much money, I would want a new camshaft fitted, together with a new timing belt/chain, waterpump, and the oil and coolant changed!

maybe stir up trouble for vauxhall.. get together with other vauxhall owners who've suffered the same fate.. gang up and chip in to fund the expert opinion from a mechanical engineer on the precise nature of the camshaft failure... and with that, threaten vauxhall with a 'class action' unless they remedy the fault F.O.C.

andy111

Maddie, it's a well known fault and Vauxhall only offer to contribute 60% of cost.

You might like to start here and contact the person near the end of the thread who gives his/her email address.
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?f=2&t=69027