Probs with my Zafira SRI

Jelly*baby

I bought a Vauxhall Zafira back in Feb of this year. I use my car a lot for my job and upgraded the previous one i had for this, main attraction was the very low mileage (18k) and it looks good!

Drove it away and loved it. However it developed a fault with the dual mass flywheel (think thats right!). It went in and was checked and came back to me as the bloke said i wasn't used to a diesel and should be loud?! but eventually had that and a new clutch put in it as there was a problem with it. On the day of it being completed the garage seemed to be quite agitated as the bloke was working on his day where he should have had his kids. We called to see how it was going as i needed it back for work and he said i'm almost done putting it back together..he didnt know we were parked round the corner and the next thing we see is my car being driven out and was parked on the rd..no test drive after the work was done so i wondered how he thought it would just be ok. however im a woman and know nothing about this sort of thing so left it and off i went. the garage had footed the bill which was a fortune and that was that.

Over the last week or so it's been feeling like it's cutting out a bit..not engine wise but like the fuel isn't running through properly and it stutters a bit (had this prob with my old one) It's got a bit noisier too and on Thursday it broke down. It started ok but there was nothing when it came to putting my foot down. It was towed to the local garage and looked at. I went up later to speak to them and they said it had 2 faults. One a fuel issue (the reson it broke down)and the other is the problem the other garage fixed. They started and stopped the car and it made a really bad clunking noise once the engine was stopped.

i have collected it today. It has had a new air filter something put on it (not paid bill yet so can't check) and although it's got it's oomph back it still feels like it's struggling a bit as normally very powerful (150bhp)..they also started it up and stopped it again and it still clunks once turned off but not as bad. Have come home and parked it and called the garage i bought it from and explained. he has asked me to come over next week and he will get it looked at.

Has anyone else had any trouble with this sort of thing?

Thanks

mattyprice4004

I wonder if they used a second hand DMF instead of a new one, or if the new one is faulty?

Technically they could use second hand parts, as it's a second hand car.

Could also be an engine mount etc... does it sound exactly the same as last time?

Jelly*baby

Hi thanks for the reply.

The first time i took it back was due to the clunking..this time its the same but not as bad i just fear its going to get worse. the garage have also said they think the same and am going to get them to call to mention what they think. The garage who did it origionally said that he used brand new genuine vauxhall parts so?

harveybobbles

Could be blocked EGR valve or DPf if its diesel...

Jelly*baby

Well an update and not a good one.

Had the car repaired on saturday. I didnt pay the bill till yesterday as they didnt know how much it would all be.

They put a new air flow filter in as it was i assume blocked but did need a new one. this one is digital apparantly. £381..ouch and they didnt charge me all the labour. Anyway was relieved to get the car back so that was that. They did say that the clunking when the engine is turned off is still there mildly and not right and is more than likely the dual mass fly wheel issue again and to take back to original garage who i called and tried to get booked in.

This morning i have started it up to go to work and it's running but chugging and cutting out..same prob as when it broke down but worse now than it was. Sigh

forgotmyname

Maybe pay for a proper inspection and find out what you have bought.

Probably cost £200 but gives you something to take to the garage.

Jelly*baby

Not quite sure what you mean? I have bought a car that has low mileage and its got a prob thats cost me a fortune and you want me to spend another £200!! ive had about 4 people look at it now. Today its been towed again and it's unstartable with no faults on the machine so not looking good. Tbh i dont even have the £200 anyway.

jaydeeuk1

I think its worth cleaning the MAF sensor, can do it yourself, just need a screw driver, some eyes and 5 minutes (lots of vids on youtube). Can of carb cleaner spray or something that doesn't leave a residue, give it a good blast for a minute over the diode (don't use a cotton bud!), air dry, and then another blast after another 30 mins. Let it dry for another 30 mins and then screw back in car, plug in wire and give it a test drive.

This isn't on vauxhall service schedule, and after 4 or 5 years it can become covered in crap making engine run badly. Wifes MR2 has similar symptoms, an hour later it felt like new.

Jelly*baby

Right well..it got towed back to the garage and needed an EGR valve fitting..at a cost of £260..sigh. It drives but yesterday when i started it the engine made a horrible grinding noise like it's done since ive had it on and off. That is the fly wheel still so called the garage i bought it from and told him i wasnt happy. He was quite blaze in a way and said he would listen to it if i take it over..sods law is it wont do it but will take over anyway although he's unable to tell me what it is.

Aside from that the garage that did the work said that because it is a diesel and quite powerful and i do literal 10 min journeys in it that it may have issues as they don't cope well with being stopped and started all the time..is this right? they suggested looking at a petrol one?

I have found a nice one which i am going to look at, at the weekend but really unsure what to do about it all. I know this car is not right and very wary of getting more huge bills however i know it is a case of the grass isnt always greener on the other side!

Opinions please?!

GolfBravo

Jelly*baby wrote: »

It drives but yesterday when i started it the engine made a horrible grinding noise like it's done since ive had it on and off. That is the fly wheel

Try starting the engine with the clutch fully depressed - and see whether it still makes that noise.

Jelly*baby wrote: »

Aside from that the garage that did the work said that because it is a diesel and quite powerful and i do literal 10 min journeys in it that it may have issues as they don't cope well with being stopped and started all the time..is this right?

Yes. Short journeys slowly kill diesel engines, dual mass flywheels, clutches and particulate filters. And fuel economy goes out the window.

Nine_Lives

Modern diesel & doing short journeys? Read this: http://www.aa-academy.com/Training/Learning%20Zone/Diesel%20Particulate%20Filter%20%28DPF%29.asp