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1

Omega General Help / Ground clearance for exhaust replacement

« on: 18 May 2023, 10:28:17 »

I'm planning on replacing the cat-back exhaust on my F/L 2.5 estate - just something to get it through another couple of years, as it's still a great drive. If we're going to keep them on the road, it's a given that most of the jobs we have to do ourselves, at a tenth of the price quoted by the local tyre & exhaust place in the case of the exhaust.

No spring chicken, but I think I can still grovel around under the car for a day. Front end up on ramps with back end jacked and blocked to bring it level - say 18" ground clearance to the bottom of the sill.

Is it possible to get the middle sections over the axle - or will I need to go higher?

Has anyone done an exhaust in the street / driveway and know the minimum height the car needs to be?

2

Omega General Help / 2.5V6 engine take-up sluggish

« on: 02 September 2022, 13:52:57 »

Hi Guys, I'm looking for suggestions as to where to look next regarding sluggish take-up on my 2.5V6 engine (manual transmission).

Today I've taken the plenum off, checked all the vacuum hoses and connections and I've still got the same problem. It's purring like a kitten on tickover, but pulling away it's sluggish and the engine vibrates. Over 3000 revs and it runs sweetly and accelerates well, but anything under that it isn't happy.

I've ruled out plug leads, spark plugs, dis pack, oil leaks or water in the plug wells and breather system. I've tried to understand more about the multirams and have an identical car for which I can compare with. I've read that blipping the revs to over 4000 should actuate the rear multiram, but neither of the engines do that.

So I'm now stumped.... hoping someone may have a suggestion or know the root cause.

3

Omega General Help / Identification of plug & socket

« on: 27 July 2022, 17:58:36 »

Hi Guys, Just crawling around underneath the Omega doing a few pre-MOT test checks and came across this broken wire. Repairing and soldering / sleeving shouldn't be a problem, but it would be nice to know what it's for. Near side, bottom of engine near sump flange 2.5 V6 manual. Cheers.

4

Omega General Help / Could this be the end of my Omega?

« on: 23 July 2021, 11:53:35 »

This 2000yr 2.5 Omega estate has served me well over the years. Despite being a 'parts car' up until a couple of years ago, I decided to get it up to scratch and spent a few quid getting it back on the road last September. She's got a few scars and car park dings but has been great as a daily driver, especially through last winter's salty roads, and thus saving the other (and better) CDX Omega from a hard life.

I was hoping for another couple of years driving out of her, as the usual body rot areas have been treated and protected - or at least get my money's worth from fitting new suspension, steering and engine work in the last couple of years.

However, I noticed recently oil patches on the driveway and I suspect this is coming from the rear crank shaft seal. As much as I could cope with a bit of a drip here and there, I suspect this could be an MOT test fail.

   



I've neither got the inclination or physical fitness to be dropping the gearbox and associated items out at my time of life to rectify this problem. I just thought I'd share my disappointment with you all. The car hasn't run for a week now, and the drip pictured is just from driving it on to the ramps.

It's not just the tin worm that can see the end to a 21 year old car with 150k on the clock.

5

Omega Electrical and Audio Help / Intermittent reversing light problem & TC light coming on

« on: 09 January 2021, 22:13:40 »

Sometimes they work, sometimes they don't - really only notice when reversing into the driveway at night, so have to use my rear foglights to guide me instead. I'm guessing there's s switch on the gearbox somewhere and then hardwired to the rear cluster? Any pointers as to where it's best to look first?

The TC light comes on after about 25 miles when the car's warm and has been driven. Whilst it's still warm / warmish, the TC light comes on after about 3 miles. So with 6 days a week sat on the damp driveway nothing is amis until the first 25 miles. The roads have been dry today on a 60 miles round trip.

I'm not erger to get under the car until the weather gets better - I can live with the niggles for now, but would be good to have something to go at when I feel inclined and am prepared.

6

General Car Chat / Limp mode - manual transmission Omega

« on: 21 December 2020, 18:35:26 »

Having an aversion for automatics (always been a dark art as far as I'm concerned) I much prefer manual transmission, because at the end of the day it's basic mechanical engineering. With the inclination and enthusiasm, any problems (clutch / bearings etc) can be done in the comfort of one's driveway / workshop, whereas most auto problems require an exchange unit. Anyway, forget the background waffle.......

I came across this on Gumtree -
https://www.gumtree.com/p/vauxhall/vauxhall-omega-mv-v6/1392668883 , the seller saying it's in limp mode?

Forgive my ignorance, but how would a manual transmission car go into limp mode?

7

General Car Chat / Astra 56 plate timing chain

« on: 20 November 2020, 17:25:05 »

Step-daughter's Astra 2006 engine failed yesterday - got recovered to a garage who have said the timing chain has gone. They're not prepared to quote yet, but any investigative work is going to cost. Not really enough info to go on so far, so just looking for any advice ATM.

Is this an interference engine? IOW would a timing chain failure result in damage to valves / pistons? For the initial price paid (and its age) it wouldn't surprise me to result in this being a scrapper.

8

General Car Chat / Cam cover & trunking modifications

« on: 14 October 2020, 18:18:08 »

I thought this may be of interest to some, either to frown or smile about.

The thinking behind the idea is for easy inspection and monitoring of potential leaking gaskets (or ingress of water) into the plug wells. The usual signs of gasket failure result in oil seeping down the front of the engine (behind the cam cover backplate), sometimes misdiagnosed as a leaking oil pressure switch, because let's face it, we don't or sometimes can't get to the plug leads / caps easily to pull a plug and have a look.... then of course it's too late before the messy business starts. Also on the rare occasion that the cam cover gaskets require replacement, this modification doesn't require multiple gasket changes - just exhaust or inlet covers as required.

There's also the issue of access, hereby addressed by removal of the plastic trunking, with all wiring grouped together and easily shifted a few inches either way for even better viewing. Two vacuum pipes have been re-routed on the 135 side of the engine to reduce congestion on the 246 side.

It goes without saying that it may not be such an easy modification on DBW engines, but for the 2.5 / 3.0 - I consider weekly engine bay checks to be a breeze compared to previously.

Some comparison pics between an unmodified engine and one modified, as well as pics of the separation process.








As original 246 side.



Modified 246 side.



As original 135 side.



Modified 135 side.

Note to avoid any confusion - one (original is a CDX with cruise control) and other (modified is a CD without cruise).

9

General Discussion Area / You know when Autumn has arrived, when....

« on: 25 September 2020, 17:32:20 »

.... the struts can no longer hold the tailgate up, and it falls down on your head. They were on their way out a few years ago, but the warmer weather gave them an extended lease of life. 

10

Omega General Help / Engine noise @ 1 second frequency

« on: 31 August 2020, 18:14:39 »

Omega 2.5 V6 engine up to temperature and making a squealing noise every second.

New aux belt (2025mm) 18 months ago, but car has been SORNed for last 3 years, started regularly but long periods of inactivity. By my calculations at 500rpm tickover, 160mm diameter crank pulley, the belt should lap at 2 seconds, so now I'm not so sure what the noise could be, unless the belt squeals twice per lap?

Anyone experienced anything similar, or know what frequency any part of the engine could be attributed to 1 second frequency? (timed at 61 times per minute).

11

General Car Chat / Keeping these Omegas on the road for a little bit longer

« on: 22 August 2020, 12:13:26 »

It's good to hear about recent MOT test passes, just like Tony's this week. These two have also been for their test this week, the X reg sailing through with just advisories for rear tyres. The W reg has been off the road for the last 3 years, requiring a lot of work to get it into good order. I very nearly dismantled it for spares, after it collided with a small brick wall and ended up on top of it, causing damage to the wishbones and steering, but after finding there wasn't any penetrative corrosion anywhere, reconsidered and decided to tidy it up. I've covered every inch of it with work to the engine, cambelt kit, rust removal and prevention inside sills, wheel arches and chassis rails, replacement handbrake cable, new wishbones and steering, so after around a spend of £1200 I've got something half decent to run through the winter.



It didn't get a ticket due to headlight aim, but sailed through on everything else bar a couple of tyres.



So this will look familiar no doubt - crumbled headlight adjuster.



After all that work I'm pleased as punch to have the car back up to scratch - there'll be a couple more years left in it yet. 

12

General Car Chat / Temporary car insurance

« on: 12 August 2020, 10:34:42 »

Are there any recommendations for a few hours temporary car insurance for a 20 year old Omega?

It's currently SORN with no MOT, and booked in for a test later this month. I've spent the last couple of years tinkering around with it, new suspension and steering and a whole host of other jobs to get it up to scratch, so it's just about ready to go..... the last thing I want is for it to be impounded by the police and end up with points on my licence, so this 'investment' needs to be covered short term.

I've spent the last couple of hours trying to get a quote online, but end up with 'we've encountered a problem' or the following quote saying it needs a valid MOT certificate if required and is not currently declared as being off-road under the DVLA SORN Regulations

Any suggestions?

13

General Discussion Area / Disasters during lockdown

« on: 26 April 2020, 11:48:41 »

I guess in the grand scheme of things, 3 disasters in the home have occurred in the last week. Despite SWMBO and myself, there are people in the wider world suffering with more grave concerns, so we count ourselves lucky despite any frustrations.

Last week noticed stains on the ceiling in the hallway. After ripping out paneling from bathroom it came as no surprise the en-suite toilet waste pipe was leaking. New pipe ordered and fitted, but meant removing toilet. After putting it all back together, mains supply pipe was dripping and cistern tank to pan gushing water over the side of the pan. I always clean up compression fittings with fine wire wool so they seat better when reassembled, so it wasn't lack of attention. All sorted now so we can pee and poo in confidence.

Pond pump filter failure next on list with water quality going downhill rapidly, and unfortunately a couple of fish have perished. A makeshift filter bed was quickly constructed and that's improved the water quality a bit... still a work in progress.

Came downstairs this morning to find the kitchen floor flooded in half inch of clean water.... looks like the dishwasher has packed up and the inlet valve has failed / leaked. All mopped up and dry now and dishwasher isolated.... looks like it's back to the old fashioned washing up routine after meals for a while!

They say bad luck comes in threes (all water related), so hopefully that's our quota for the month. 

14

General Car Chat / Omegas in 'proper' scrapyards

« on: 15 August 2019, 21:50:27 »

Purely by chance I was passing Harry Buckland Car Dismantlers near Cheltenham last week, so with a couple of hours to kill, I thought I'd have a wander around and see what was on offer. I was a regular customer back in my teenage and early 20s years, trying to keep big old Wolseley 6/110s and Westminsters with the straight 6 3-litre engines on the road.

At present, there are 2 silver estates - one is a tractor juice edition (don't know much about them) and one is a a Desmond. I managed to pick up a near brand new header tank in good clear condition to replace my brown one, and apart from lots of damage to the panels and doors, there hadn't been much taken off either of them.

Not much of a market in parts for Omegas like it used to be, for obvious reasons.

15

General Car Chat / Hoorah - another 12 months Omega motoring

« on: 15 August 2019, 11:36:33 »

Chuffed to bits, despite the advisories. Discs looked okay to me prior to test, so nothing to worry about there.

New track rods fitted 3 years ago....... thought they might last longer than that, but there's a lot of cheap stuff around.

Any recommendations for decent track rods?