Are Vauxhall mechanics guessing for repairs??

daymoc

Hi,

I would love some advice please.

I have a Antara 57 plate that's just past 50 000 miles. I started having problems a few weeks ago with misfiring between 2 and 2.5 rpm and a puff of black smoke out the exhaust when i put my foot down. I booked the car into Vauxhall and after a diag test they suggested I replace the ECU, a very expensive job, so I took the car and got the ECU independently tested and it came back fine. I've now sent the car back to Vauxhall with the test documentation to see what they come back with. The first call I got was suggesting they needed to strip the head off to "look inside as there's some compression problems". Expensive again but I give the okay and then the next day they call back, the mechanic now thinks it may now be the injectors. The service desk is happy to tell me "it's a cheaper option then going into the engine".

Clearly this is turning into a guessing job and theoretically I would have spent 1.5k on the ECU which wasn't faulty & now possibly replacing good injectors. My real concern and question is; what if it's not the injectors? Am I to pay huge amounts to Vauxhall for them to continue doing a 'trial and error' diagnosis until they find the problem? The car has been well look after, full service history etc.

In my line of work I can't charge someone for something i think is the problem and continue to ask for more money if i isn't.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, Damian.

Rolandtheroadie

Yes, thats the way they seem to work.

Not only that, you are quite likely to get fed up, cut your losses and sell/trade in the car before they hit the right part.

If you've not done so already, join a few vauxhall forums and post your symptoms on there.

Good luck.

Strider590

Like many dealerships, they employ kids to use diagnostic machines, not proper mechanics. The best bet is to get the print out from the diagnostic and then go to an independent VX specialist.

Rolandtheroadie

Strider590 wrote: »

Like many dealerships, they employ kids to use diagnostic machines, not proper mechanics. The best bet is to get the print out from the diagnostic and then go to an independent VX specialist.

I was going to add that in, but I didnt want to steal your thunder.

BlueC

As above, take it to a local vauxhall indy with a decent reputation.

Is it a 1.9 turbo diesel?

Daz2009

I don't understand why you went back to the dealer after their 1st guess,I mean diagnosis, was wrong.
All they want to do is sell you expensive parts (and labour) that MIGHT fix the issue.
By the sound of those guys you've been dealing with I'd say they were worse than useless

Ratboy

The ECU test should have told you what the fault is.

More likely to be a faulty coil pack, than a faulty injector.

Take it to a different dealer, that actually knows what they are doing.

Rolandtheroadie

Ratboy wrote: »

The ECU test should have told you what the fault is.

More likely to be a faulty coil pack, than a faulty injector.

Take it to a different dealer, that actually knows what they are doing.

You sure?

MAF fault code on my old vectra was caused by the EGR valve needing a clean.

spacey2012

Who was responsible for changing the fuel filter and water trap ?
Do you trust these were done or just ticked ?

Ratboy

scotsman4th wrote: »

You sure?

MAF fault code on my old vectra was caused by the EGR valve needing a clean.

No. That's why I used the term 'should'.

Rolandtheroadie

Ratboy wrote: »

No. That's why I used the term 'should'.

Thanks for clearing that up.