Car Troubles

Rolandtheroadie

It may be underneath the handbrake cover.
http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/cPr8TMXho4S3v5Y8EIHFvZ-Y2G8hFj2nouRO-yGKHTMz89wkJ66fUgYpn_9vJrlP6QR0ybuPY-409eG-pBOt_2dOZkB8h8pXt28/fault_codes.pdf
This ones better, you may have to join the forum to see it tho.

gazfocus

Update: I drove the car to work on Tuesday and on my way home heard a nasty noise from the engine (like something rubbing against a fan) and experienced loss of power (the car wouldn't get over 20MPH up a hill) so I dropped it off at a garage this morning, told them of the problem (and mentioned the engine management light) and left it with them. Just phoned them to get an update and they said it was the fan belt. Does that sound right?

I have also asked for an oil and filter change which should be done tomorrow but is it likely that the fan belt would've caused any of the problems (inc the engine light)?

Strider590

gazfocus wrote: »

Update: I drove the car to work on Tuesday and on my way home heard a nasty noise from the engine (like something rubbing against a fan) and experienced loss of power (the car wouldn't get over 20MPH up a hill) so I dropped it off at a garage this morning, told them of the problem (and mentioned the engine management light) and left it with them. Just phoned them to get an update and they said it was the fan belt. Does that sound right?

I have also asked for an oil and filter change which should be done tomorrow but is it likely that the fan belt would've caused any of the problems (inc the engine light)?

You don't have a fan belt, your have an auxiliaries belt and a cambelt..... The fan is electric in modern cars and only comes on when it needs to.

Everyone still calls the auxiliaries belt and "fan belt", but thought id just point that out.

The auxiliaries belt will drive your alternator, aircon pump and power steering pump (not sure if the diesel would have more things on this belt). So potentially if the alternator was not being driven fully (belt slipping) you might see warning lights, but the battery would also have trouble starting the car.

See what the belt actually drives, it might be your cause, it might not.

gazfocus

Update: I got the car back on Friday afternoon after paying £78 for a new 'auxiliaries belt' and an oil/oil filter change. Saturday afternoon, whilst on a busy motorway I got the same noise, tried to carry on to next junction but then heard a squeaking noise then the battery light came on and the car immediately started to slow down. When the RAC guy turned up, he said it looked like the water pump siezed up and caused the teeth on the Cambelt/Timing Belt to wear and the garage that has the car are saying it's very possible that this will have damaged valves, etc and will need a new engine.

I now have the following two issues:

a) the garage that had the car last week obviously didn't fix the problem that I took it in with so is there any way of recourse with them?

b) the garage that have the car now changed the water pump about 4-6 months ago. How much warranty should be with this? Are they likely to own up to this being the fault if they know it's going to cost them big money to fix it?

Thanks in advance

esmerobbo

The water pump should be under guarantee but the consequential damage caused is the problem. A water pump will normally fail if it is over tensioned, or lack of lubricant, unless it has had a mechanical failure.
The belt on an Astra is tensioned using the water pump. You would have to prove the belt was incorrectly fitted or tensioned. The Astra 16v is an interference engine so valve damage is likely, if not certain!

gazfocus

So it does look like a new car then?

If I decide to scrap the car, what's the chances of getting a refund for the water pump?

laurence_p

is your astra a mark 3 or 4 and is it on an r reg. i had a 98 r reg mk3 estate that was a 1600 8v and the cambelt went on that doing no damage to the head at all, just needed a new cambelt and waterpump. if yours is a 16valve its cheap enough to get another engine and im sure it wouldnt be much to have it fitted. could be changed in about 2hrs by garage.

gazfocus

laurence_p wrote: »

is your astra a mark 3 or 4 and is it on an r reg. i had a 98 r reg mk3 estate that was a 1600 8v and the cambelt went on that doing no damage to the head at all, just needed a new cambelt and waterpump. if yours is a 16valve its cheap enough to get another engine and im sure it wouldnt be much to have it fitted. could be changed in about 2hrs by garage.

I think it's a mk4 and it's a T reg. How do I tell if it's a 16valve?

laurence_p

on an 8v the spark plugs will be at the front of the engine near the exhaust manifold. on a 16v they will be on top in the middle of the head, might be under a big plastic cover.

gazfocus

laurence_p wrote: »

on an 8v the spark plugs will be at the front of the engine near the exhaust manifold. on a 16v they will be on top in the middle of the head, might be under a big plastic cover.

Got a feeling it's an 8v