Are Vauxhall mechanics guessing for repairs??

westwood68

Ask them for a copy of the compression test if they say it's got compression problems. Don't leave the counter till they do. Nissan dealer tried that with me years ago saying it needed a new head due to low compression. They ere just bullsh***ing me because they wanted me to trade in against a newer car.

No saying it's the same here but if they can't produce the compression test docs; I'd be willing to bet they are lying

Strider590

westwood68 wrote: »

Nissan dealer tried that with me years ago saying it needed a new head due to low compression. They ere just bullsh***ing me because they wanted me to trade in against a newer car.

The service dept has no interest in the sale of new/used cars.

westwood68 wrote: »

No saying it's the same here but if they can't produce the compression test docs; I'd be willing to bet they are lying

More likely they're just incompetent.
You need to understand how dealerships work, they are in the business of selling cars, they're full of extroverted bullsh1t talking sales types, guys who's only skill is the gift of the gab.

The service dept is usually run by one of these that moved up to a management role and only got this because he boasts (repeatedly) about how he once helped someone change a car stereo and other minor/simple "achievements".
This person usually hasn't got a clue, has never so much as changed a flat tyre, this person thinks that all a mechanic needs is a diagnostics machine, fault finding flow chart and a few tools, this person very quickly drives out any skilled workers by being an arrogant a55 and assuming to always know better, what remains is trainee mechanics, who's primary training consists of "diagnostics machine for dummies"

Time limits are placed on each job, very strict time limits (or targets), failure to meet targets can result in disciplinary action, so when the "mechanics" find a job that's hard to fix and will almost certainly take a long time, they'll quote the most expensive and time consuming repair, because you'll either go elsewhere (win for them) OR book it in and they'll have all day to try and fix it (win for them).

A decent mechanic knows how to apply logical fault finding techniques to trace a fault to it's source (a skill that takes years to fine tune), a dealership trainee mechanic has a diagnostics machine and a fault finding flow chart.

Sounds like im slagging off dealerships again, I must stress this ^^ doesn't apply to all, if you find one that's still run by the original top boss, your probably OK. But it does apply to an ever increasing number as the top guy leaves and the chatty sales types move up to higher positions within the business, this is when it turns from customer focus to profit focus and the above statement starts to become true. Imagine a business run top to bottom by Alan Sugar's fired apprentices and your somewhere close.

Inner_Zone

BlueC wrote: »

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

Is it a 1.9 turbo diesel?

Isn't the Antara built by the ex Daewoo factory in Korea with their own 2.0L engine not the Fiat unit you are thinking of?

Prothet_of_Doom

Type into google VX on line Cav web owners forum or www dot vauxhallownersnetwork dot co dot uk

and tell them Jacko-lah sent you.

daymoc

Thanks for all your responses.

The reason I took it back to them was because my local mechanic, who has always serviced my cars out of warranty, also wasn't sure what the problem was, so he suggested I take it back to VX who will have specialist equipment (Tech2?) and should likely have come across this before.

The compression test report is a good start. They've had the car a week today so who knows what's going on there!

Ratboy

Did we get confirmation from the OP, whether the car is petrol or diesel powered?

Black smoke out that back is more rare for a diesel, more grey/blue and cloudy if the turbo/inlet manifold is faulty,

Petrol engines would tend to misfire at a certain rev range, and chuck out black smoke.

I don't understand the comments given by the dealer regarding HG faults/compression ratios? If the engine HG has failed piston to piston, then it will be firing on 2 cylinders, and making a loud knockings sound, if failed to oil or water channel, it would struggle to run at all. As you would lose all those liquids, and it would blow up, not specificicy fail at set revs, but work ok at all others.

However, I can only go on the information given, or lack of, because it's unclear how the vehicle is powered, if any previous issues existed with the vehicle, and if any previous issues have been experienced, and that ECU code 'SHOULD', point you to the faulty component.

I used to have an R reg Escort, and one day it wouldn't start. Garage tinkers. Since then blowing out black/grey smoke, turbo gone. Garage tinkers. Still no joy, uses loads of oil, Garage again, they say dunno whats up, they call in the manufacturer of the turbo to sort...6 months later I get it back, still faulty, and eating oil! But that being a diesel, did rev thru the range; not what you are saying?

daymoc

Hi Ratboy,

Apologies for not stating this earlier - it's a diesel 1.9 cdti.

I don't think it's quite the same. The car would be almost powerless until it got above the 2.5rpm and when it got 3rpm and above would run ok.

When i did a motorway run to try force a dpf regenerate the car would become jerky and lose power at about 75/80 mph when going up an incline.

Time for a horse and cart I think.

Cheers, Damo.

Ratboy

daymoc wrote: »

Hi Ratboy,

Apologies for not stating this earlier - it's a diesel 1.9 cdti.

I don't think it's quite the same. The car would be almost powerless until it got above the 2.5rpm and when it got 3rpm and above would run ok.

When i did a motorway run to try force a dpf regenerate the car would become jerky and lose power at about 75/80 mph when going up an incline.

Time for a horse and cart I think.

Cheers, Damo.

Sorry to generalise, because full info wasn't given, it happens.

My R reg Escort diesel turbo suffered a lot, with turbo/oil supply issues, to the point it failed completely (car wouldn't start), and Ford had to call Bosch in to diagnose it (?), (how many Escort diesels do they sell?); but you don't mention that you have to top up oil? I did.

Anyways Fords had it for many weeks, attempting to repair, with the people that made the turbo, and eventually returned it working, but still down on power, (suspected timing fault?), and not starting of a morning due to air locks in the fuel system, have to press the primer bulb before it worked.

I eventually got rid (company car), when a van couldn't decide to turn left of right, pulled into the right lane, then turned left into me.

And like you - Fords attitude to me was awful regarding fixing the oil loss/turbo, some garages are excellent, others seem to employ the monkeys puppet that the monkey that the organ grinder operates. :rotfl: