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91

General Car Chat / What is wrong with this Vectra?

« on: 21 May 2019, 08:19:57 »

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vauxhall-vectra-2-2-sri-2006-very-low-miles-very-good-condition-please-read/254234800351?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649
I suppose the Vectra 2.2 uses the same engine as the Omega 2.2. I must resist bargains like this, but sounds to me like plugs or coil pack.

92

General Car Chat / What is the head of the screw retaining Astra lower column shroud?

« on: 15 May 2019, 16:38:36 »

 2006 Astra 1.6H petrol manual hatchback
Instrument illumination on this 13 year old car is dim. I wish to replace the bulbs. I have done similar jobs on many Omegas, easy and satisfying jobs. It seems similar on the Astra, but I have failed to remove the lower column shroud screw. The Upper section screws are crossheads, same as the Omega. The lower one is not. I have spent half an hour on my back trying to see what the head is, but without success. It looks like a female torx, or could be an internal hexagon. Please advise.

93

General Car Chat / Are these the right track rods for a 2006 astra H?

« on: 08 May 2019, 16:24:45 »

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vauxhall-ASTRA-H-ZAFIRA-B-LEFT-RIGHT-Inner-Tie-Outer-Track-Rod-Ends-Boots/322236021451?hash=item4b06c37acb:g:0NoAAOSwaB5XuhH-
Should these components cure my front end clonk?

94

General Car Chat / Are there any complications in swopping drivers' seats between Astras?

« on: 25 April 2019, 22:40:23 »

The driver's seat in my 2006 Astra 1.6 H Design is torn. The similar seat in my donor 2004 Astra 1.6 H Design is fine. I appreciate the seats contain air bags and maybe seat belt sensors As long as I remove the battery earth lead and wait 5 minutes before doing so, can I swop them?

95

General Car Chat / Is there any way of obtaining a spare key other than via Vx dealer?

« on: 24 April 2019, 16:31:47 »

Recent Astra purchase came with only one key. I have the Car Pass. Is there another way of getting a spare key?

96

General Car Chat / What on earth is this?

« on: 19 April 2019, 17:55:26 »

Tidying up under the bonnet of the Astra, saw this, realised it's not part of the car, won'der what it is. Diagnostic tool perhaps?

97

General Car Chat / Astra cam belt change; do I need a new crankshaft pulley bolt?

« on: 18 April 2019, 09:03:15 »

Astra 1.6 H hatchback petrol manual
Reading Haynes, which is all references from section to section, l discover that changing the cam belt involves removing the lower belt cover, which in turn requires removal of the camshaft pulley. This is retained by an angle tightenend bolt, which should be replaced with new on reassembly. Is this really necessary?

98

General Car Chat / Code PO172-52 Fuel Trim System Lean

« on: 14 April 2019, 18:05:58 »

2006 Astra H 1.6 petrol
EML came on today, code PO172-52 popped up on reader. Is this just a glitch, or a serious problem?

99

General Car Chat / Bought another high mileage Astra

« on: 13 April 2019, 19:08:24 »

I'm running out of Omegas, with my silver 2.5 estate failing MOT through rust. I test drove a Honda Jazz, but yesterday bought a 2006 Astra Design 1.6 petrol manual, 150,000 miles, for £600, MOT to August 14th. It seems to be OK, having removed all the wheels, looked underneath, etc. No service history since 2012 at 78221 miles, but MOT history is encouraging, no rust problems, just tyres, lights, steering play etc. I changed the oil and filter today and the dip stick came out clean, no black sludge; tyres are good. Handbrake is drum, oil filter is spin-on, exhaust looks new, body unmarked, colour is pomegranate red which grandson Tom (4.1/2) likes.

No mention of a cam belt change, so that's the next job. Please advise best choice of kit, and how best to go about it, problems, etc.

100

Omega General Help / Changing backbox on estate

« on: 12 April 2019, 19:12:45 »

V828 2.5 petrol manual estate
This car has got noisier in the last week (it passed MOT 2 weeks ago) and now I see why.

I have this stainless steel silencer, retrieved from my dead estate. I imagine it should fit.

It does not look quite the same. Please advise how I should go about fitting it. My idea is to remove the cat section back from the car complete, then place the LONGLIFE  beside it and decide where to cut off the existing pipes; then replace the central exhaust, pop on the backbox, clamp the pipes and hang the backbox on the car.

Sounds like heavy work. Please advise.

101

Omega General Help / X168JAT and Longleat monkeys

« on: 07 April 2019, 09:03:40 »

Yesterday my son took this dying car through the Longleat monkey enclosure with grandson Tom on board. Monkeys clambered all over it, but all they removed were the reversing sensors. This morning I shall load it with 4 spare doors, prior to scrapping it after the 14th. I have had little response to the advert for sale so far. Price is very negotiable, but car must go.

102

Cars for Sale & wanted / For sale: VAUXHAll OMEGA 2000 2.5 CDX PETROL MANUAL ESTATE SILVER

« on: 03 April 2019, 21:48:15 »

This car has failed its MOT, current MOT expires 14 April 2019. I shall scrap it then unless someone else would like to buy it. The car is running perfectly, and is fitted with a Panasonic radio/tape player/CD player with a 12 CD autochanger. I can be contacted by forum message or at terry.paget@btconnect.com.
Price: £200 ono, buyer collects. I have the sills, they were removed to assess the damage.

103

Omega General Help / V828 MOT Passed!

« on: 01 April 2019, 17:10:29 »

2.5 petrol manual estate
Phew, what a relief. 10 advisories, including nearside headlight aim too low, repair immediately; also 4 rusty brake pipes, covered in grease, 2 'suspension component mounting prescribed area is corroded but not considered  excessive, rear inner (sill)'.

Now I must inspect the sills on Ben's X reg estate and decide whether I deem it worth while replacing the cat back exhaust with new and changing the rusty brake pipe. And what, pray, are the rear chassis legs, which he deemed corroded?

104

Omega General Help / Lambda sensor for 1999 2.5 petrol 3 wire

« on: 26 March 2019, 10:21:44 »

1999 2.5 petrol manual estate
This car is due MOT, am changing LH cat, have removed lambda sensor, but thread looks damaged and cat label recommends fitting a new lambda sensor. Searching e-bay there are lots there; will any 3 wire cat do the job?

105

Omega General Help / MOT failure

« on: 20 March 2019, 19:17:18 »

2000 Omega 2.5 petrol manual estate
Today my best Omega failed its MOT test on several items, may be beyond economic repair.
It failed on the following items:

emissions lambda reading, never below 1.043. Tester suggested this could be explained by a leak in the right hand central pipe where the pipe enters the silencer box. I had tried sealing with Gun Gum, but clearly failed.

rear offside brake pipe rusty

Suspension component munting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strangth Offside Rear (inner wheel arch)
                                           ditto                                                                                                  Nearside Rear

Looks like it needs a new cat back exhaust system, a new brake pipe, and some welding work on the cat to main section as the cat section flanges are strangely thin.

Please advise.