Problem Vauxhall Astra 1.7 CDTI

scrubage

We're having some really bad problems with our Vauxhall Astra at the moment and also the garage repairing it.

Basically a few months back the car just stopped working in the middle of the road and the power steering went dead, we phoned the warranty people who said that we needed to get the car to the garage that they use. The garage then said that the alternator needed replacing and this should fix the problem.

When we got the car back (two weeks later!!) it worked and seemed to be fine. Only 3 months later and my husband went up the boot of another car as our brakes had failed. We phoned the brake-down people who confirmed that the alternator was leaking fluid and had caused our brakes to fail. We took the car back to the garage and asked them to see what the problem was with this alternator they had fitted only 3 months before.

Anyway, we received a call 2 weeks ago from the garage saying that we needed a new ECU unit and that's why our brakes had failed - is this correct that the brakes would fail from the ECU unit?

They've had our car now for nearly 3 weeks and the work still hasn't been done as apparently they're unable to source the ECU unit and then they're having troubles fitting it too! Not sure if I believe all this or not, but I am now worried that the source of our brakes failing is not being looked at properly and they will fail again and cause possible harm to myself and my husband. We keep being assured by the garage that it is all down to the ECU unit, but I am finding this hard to believe after the brake-down people confirmed the alternator fault. Does it also sound likely that they didn't replace the alternator at all in the first place and just tarted up the old one?

scrubage

Can anyone give us a bit of advice? Bit worried that we will be driving a car soon that still has faulty brakes. Thanks

somech

take it else where for a second opion

scrubage

Unfortunately we can't as it's a warranty job and the warranty company will only use this garage

somech

who's the warranty co
worth a call to them explaining the problems with the garage.
as to the problems you've got with the car it sounds like an alternator fault
but am sure the garage are telling you bull because they dont have a clue, (its not nationwide is it)

Just_Incredible

Brakes would be a seperate unit from the alternator as the brakes can still be used even when the car is off (presuming the hoses and cylinder are not leaking brake fluid)

goldspanners

Just_Incredible wrote: »

Brakes would be a seperate unit from the alternator as the brakes can still be used even when the car is off (presuming the hoses and cylinder are not leaking brake fluid)

the servo may get its vacuum from a pump on the alternator? im guessing here,ive never looked at an astra.

cyclonebri1

Confused as to how an alternator can leak fluid?????

Only thing I can think of is that the drive belt has worn through something "wet"

Sounds like another servo/brake pump air pipe issue in respect of the braking issue

aqueoushumour01

how many miles has it done?

goldspanners

cyclonebri1 wrote: »

Confused as to how an alternator can leak fluid?????

easily if it has a servo pump on the back of it.

somech

goldspanners wrote: »

easily if it has a servo pump on the back of it.

servo pump aka vacuum pump wheres the fluid in that??