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46

General Car Chat / How does Astra power steering work?

« on: 22 November 2019, 17:48:27 »

Astra H 1.6 manual 2006
I know it's electrical; I thought an electric pump drives an hydraulic system similar to the Omega system, but is more efficient as it only operates when needed. Haynes infers it is all electric, if so I don't understand how it works. Please enlighten.

47

Omega General Help / -Occasional whistle, rolling on closed throttle

« on: 12 November 2019, 10:50:57 »

2.5 petrol manual estate
I am hearing a quiet whistle occasionally, rolling along, in gear, closed throttle. The pitch is constant, braking does not affect it, opening the throttle stops it. For a while I thought it was not caused by my car, but I have heard it several times. I suspect an air leak on the induction idling system, but cannot find it. It does not do it with the car stationary.

48

General Car Chat / Vectra clutch judder on take off

« on: 26 October 2019, 14:05:53 »

2008 Vectra 1.8 petrol manual
On pullimg away I experience some clutch judder, something I have not suffered for years. In the past the usual cause was engine mountng loose or soft. Might it be anything else?

49

General Car Chat / Astra H plugs

« on: 12 October 2019, 17:05:40 »

Astra H 1.6 petrol manual 103000 miles
This car runs jolly well. I am experiencing a slight hesitation on rapidly opening the throttle at low revs. I suspect old, maybe original, plugs and reckon they are worth changing. Any comments?

50

General Discussion Area / Can't turn off airplane mode in Windows 10

« on: 12 October 2019, 12:30:10 »

My wife has somehow turned on airplane mode in Windows 10 on my laptop and cannot turn it off again. Searching the web so far has not produced a solution. Does anybody here know?

51

General Car Chat / Vectra coolant leak

« on: 22 September 2019, 13:48:00 »

[/img]https://www.dropbox.com/s/ftc2fwijxqiuhw5/VECTRAleak2.jpg?dl=1[/img]
Vectra C 1.8 petrol manual
Found a puddle under this car this morning. Seems to be coming from a metal pipe beneath the thermostat, which then disappears behind the front heat shield. It's a simple joint, torx screws either end, got no excuse to leak now. Does anyone know, is it a flat paper gasket seal, or an O-ring?

52

General Car Chat / Intermittent horns on Astra Hs

« on: 12 September 2019, 17:07:20 »

I submitted DS06, a twinport Astra H manual petrol, for MOT last month. I watched the test, all was well except the horn did not work. The tester showed me he ws rocking the horn section in the middle of the steering wheel, engine running, but the horn did not work. He finished the test, wandered off to fill in forms. I got in the car, tested, and managed to sound the horn. I could do it on every attempt. I called him back, he tried it, it worked for him too. He passed the car, noting 'horn intermittent'.

I mention it because the second Astra I bought was an MOT failure. It had failed on handbrake, rusty discs, something else, and horn not working. I went to see it and test drive it, and the owner mentioned that the horn was now working normally, as he showed me.

What is it about Astra horns causing them to misbehave at MOT times?

53

General Car Chat / Incontinent Astra H

« on: 05 September 2019, 17:12:24 »

2008 Astra H 1.6 petrol manual hatchback
This car is losing coolant. Coolant header tank level falls, and coolant appears on the RH radiator lower mount and on the cable and  lower hose. I presume the radiator is leaking somewhere and needs replacing, but I cannot see exactly where it is leaking. It won't do it idling in my garage over the pit. I don't think it is the hose, though I have changed that hose - water pump output going to header tank and radiator bottom.

Car is KM08 UZT first registered 22 04 2008, I presume covered by Haynes 2004 to 2008, rather than Haynes  Dec 2009 to 2013. I mention it as the earlier radiators come out from below whereas the later come out from above.

Plenty of radiators on e-bay, some at £29.

Please advise.

54

General Car Chat / Astra radiator bleed screw

« on: 03 September 2019, 17:31:47 »

Haynes Astra 2009-2013 describes a radiator bleed screw, top right of radiator, picture 22.16. I cannot find it. All I can find I show above, but it is top left of the radiator, is present on 2004, 2006, 2008 and 2010 Astras, and does not seem much like a drain screw.

Please advise.

55

General Discussion Area / No milk float this

« on: 02 September 2019, 16:31:49 »

2.5 petrol manual estate
Early yesterday morning I drove my 20 year old Omega 140 miles at motorway speeds, using lights and heater, and arrived at Enfield with my energy store still 3/4 full. Try that in a battery car.

56

General Car Chat / Why should I jack up my Astra to change the thermostat?

« on: 01 September 2019, 17:21:37 »

I appreciate why for health and safety reasons Haynes always recommends I disconnect the negative battery lead before working on my Astra, but why should I jack up the front and put it on axle stands to change the thermostat?

57

Omega General Help / Trade Club does deliver

« on: 27 August 2019, 16:23:40 »

For years I have used Trade Club for cheap supplies, usually at Drive Vauxhall, Avon Street, Bristol. I recalled TB mentioning that he gets his stuff delivered, so enquired this morning if Drive Vauxhall does so. Yes, I was told. This afternoon goods arrived. That saved me £229, and a 40 mile drive. Thank you TB, and thank you Autobahnstormers!

58

General Car Chat / CONNECTOR LOCK

« on: 27 August 2019, 13:45:46 »

Omegas did not have these additions, but Astras and Vectras have extra items on their connectors, like above yellow tag. I imagine their function is to make the connection more secure. I found they make disconnection more difficult. What is the correct procedure to disconnect such a  connection?

59

Omega General Help / Driver's door lock problem

« on: 23 August 2019, 21:20:20 »

V reg. 2.5 manual estate
Daughter arrives home 9pm today announcing she could not get out of driver's door, had to slide across and disembark through front passenger door.
I insert key in driver's door lock, turn it after a struggle, honker goes off, I insert key in ignition, start engine, honker stops. Door now opens with inside lever, and with outside lever. Door shuts normally. Inside push down lock is missing, I find it under driver's seat. I fail to pull up rod, despite using pliers. I also cannot push rod down.

Failed driver's door lock unit?

60

General Car Chat / Engine light on

« on: 19 August 2019, 17:01:48 »

Astra H 1.6 petrol manual hatchback
Yesterday I changed the cam belt on this car, took it for test run, all OK
Today I greased the aux belt pulley bearing. Moved the car out of the garage, no lights on. Moved it back into the garage, EML on.
Plugged in diagnoser; 2 faults;
P0011-66 Intake camshaft phasing mechanical reference position range performance
P0014-66 Exhaust camshaft phasing mechanical reference position range/performance

and in red, lower down
P0011-66 is repeated

Help!