Major problem with relatively young car

jeannieblue

Sirbendy wrote: »

EGR - Exhaust Gas Recirculation...basically pulls back some exhaust gas into the engine for a reburn to assist in combustion..:) It's usually done by an electric valve..on Astras (and Vx in general I hear) it plays up quite often.

I WILL whip mine off at some point and beat it with a hammer and some tools...for now I just reset the warnings and they go for weeks at a time. The valve works, but I get the impression it's sticking a bit.

And long-life servicing...I hate. According to the car/my laptop, the Astra wants a service every 20,000 miles. No chance, it can have one every 12000/12 months same as my others. Better safe than sorry, IMO. I'm going to see if I can reprogram mine to ask every 12000 miles.

Agree. What about 'long life' gear box oil?? We had a BM in and the gear oil was black. Wanted to change it and the customer wanted us to change it too. But could not for love nor money find out the grade of oil. All they would tell us, is that it is long life oil and we would have to buy a whole barrel from them!

Recommended customer back to BM for that job but he still wants us to do it. Tho we do have some sources that we will try first to find out what oil it is! You have to be careful as to what oil you put in, naturally. And when the Block Exemption runs out next year, if it is not renewed, things are going to get alot worse..................... kiss goodbye to updating diagnostic equipment etc.

Sirbendy

Are we talking auto gearbox or manual?

Vauxhall state no change frequency for the autobox fluids unless they're used in "adverse conditions". I've spoken to a few gearbox places that say the no1 cause of 'box failures is expired fluids causing issue.

On that score, I ignore Vauxhall and change mine at least yearly. I use Dexron III in it, although with the MK4 Astra they're saying it's a "special fluid" and NOT the Dexron. Which is odd, as it's the same damn gearbox I had in my MK3 (AF13/AF13II), and that was at 117k using Dexron with no issue..:rotfl:

I did have a car a few years back with 25k on it when I bought it...moved mouse for a friend, lots of heavy working...the fluid in the 'box went from red (good) to yellow (bad). Dropped the bottom of the gearbox off, drained and refilled, and it was still fine when I sold it 2 years later.

arrowsmith

The 1.2 and 1.4 VW petrol engines are not known for reliability or performance or MPG, they are rather poor engines compared to whats coming from Japan.
Honest John from the Telegraph gives 2 stars out of 5 for a reason.
http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/index.htm?md=555

nobby24

My last two cars have been Hyundai which carry a five year unlimited mileage warranty. Unusually mine (06 Sonata) wouldn't start last week and it was diagnosed as the crankshaft sensor. It turns out there aren't any in the UK and so they're having to get one from Europe which might take 10 days so they've given me a hire car till it's fixed.

gilbert_and_sullivan

nobby24 wrote: »

My last two cars have been Hyundai which carry a five year unlimited mileage warranty. Unusually mine (06 Sonata) wouldn't start last week and it was diagnosed as the crankshaft sensor. It turns out there aren't any in the UK and so they're having to get one from Europe which might take 10 days so they've given me a hire car till it's fixed.

That bears out everything i've neard about Hyundai.
They take their warranty and reliability reputation very seriously, not heard a bad thing yet.

I only wish they'd hurry up and bring the Genesis into Britain.

jeannieblue

Sirbendy wrote: »

Are we talking auto gearbox or manual?

Vauxhall state no change frequency for the autobox fluids unless they're used in "adverse conditions". I've spoken to a few gearbox places that say the no1 cause of 'box failures is expired fluids causing issue.

On that score, I ignore Vauxhall and change mine at least yearly. I use Dexron III in it, although with the MK4 Astra they're saying it's a "special fluid" and NOT the Dexron. Which is odd, as it's the same damn gearbox I had in my MK3 (AF13/AF13II), and that was at 117k using Dexron with no issue..:rotfl:

I did have a car a few years back with 25k on it when I bought it...moved mouse for a friend, lots of heavy working...the fluid in the 'box went from red (good) to yellow (bad). Dropped the bottom of the gearbox off, drained and refilled, and it was still fine when I sold it 2 years later.

Funny you should mention Vauxhall - BM had 'GM' stamped on gear box...:rolleyes: