Astra Air Con

mikey72

£436 retail vauxhall, £321 trade, supply only.

GolfBravo

Don't just go out and buy a new £600 aircon compressor only because there is a little bit of noise.

Equaliser123 wrote: »

Hi
Used the a/c on cold yesterday

And how often do you use it? You're supposed to use it at least once a week to ensure that the rubber seals and gaskets don't dry out and crack.

Equaliser123 wrote: »

Compressor works but is 'rusty' and will leak.

It could be just low on gas. Or it could be a noisy belt tensioner (because of the extra strain from aircon compressor due to low gas/lubricant).

Get KwikFit to regas it first and take it from there.

Destination_..._?

Lots of owners of Astras have also been Reporting of having same problems regarding the aircon loud noise and lack of power with the engine .
I'm not saying it effects all Astras but it appears to be a common theme of reported complaints .
Is your car a automatic ?

GolfBravo

Destination_..._? wrote: »

Lots of owners of Astras have also been Reporting of having same problems regarding the aircon loud noise and lack of power with the engine .

It affects all Astras/Vectras/Signums/Zafiras past 2002 when Opel/Vauxhall ran a cost saving program - some Opel accountant came up with an idea of saving €100 per car within 12 months, so they approached all suppliers to come up with cheaper component alternatives. Delphi introduced a redesigned cheap (something like €3 cheaper per unit) and nasty wobble plate aircon compressor. They are quite reliable, but they can also get very noisy over time, and particularly don't like low gas pressure.

With GM cars the general rule is that the lower the engine capacity the lower the component quality and sophistication - aircon, starter motors, clutches, alternators, batteries, tyres, etc. - the 1.8l engine fits somewhere in the middle.

mikey72

GolfBravo wrote: »

It affects all Astras/Vectras/Signums/Zafiras past 2002 when Opel/Vauxhall ran a cost saving program - some Opel accountant came up with an idea of saving €100 per car within 12 months, so they approached all suppliers to come up with cheaper component alternatives. Delphi introduced a redesigned cheap (something like €3 cheaper per unit) and nasty wobble plate aircon compressor. They are quite reliable, but they can also get very noisy over time, and particularly don't like low gas pressure.

With GM cars the general rule is that the lower the engine capacity the lower the component quality and sophistication - aircon, starter motors, clutches, alternators, batteries, tyres, etc. - the 1.8l engine fits somewhere in the middle.

All manufacturers reduce cost year on year.

My 04 Vauxhall, 1.8, is still on the original aircon gas, starter motor, clutch, alternator, but I did have to change the battery last year. (7 years wasn't bad though).
In fact all it's had over 100k is a thermostat, crank sensor and two back shocks.

I'd just try a re-gas first.