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Topics - NaughtyNigel

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Omega General Help / Heater Bypass Valve (HBV) Question - 2.5 V6

« on: 16 June 2009, 11:15:52 »

I have suffered slow coolant leak from my 2.5 V6 (facelift) for two or three years now, but have never found the source. I can nearly always smell hot antifreeze after a journey but until Saturday I have never seen anything.

Coolant consumption seems highest after short (10 ~ 15 mile) journeys, whilst 200 mile journeys use very little at all. Until a week or so ago it was using about one litre of antifreeze per 500 miles on mainly short journeys.

Anyhow, it has been getting much worse recently, and on Saturday, when I changed the front brake disks, I could see telltale pink streaks on both sides of the bell housing aft of the engine. There were also two small pools of antifreeze on the drive.

From what I have read here, this all points to the Heater Bypass Valve (HBV). However, peering behind the right hand side of the engine with a torch and mirror the HBV was perfectly clean, and there was no sign of coolant leakage anywhere around it.

Looking from the left hand side I could just see the top of the ignition coils (DIS Packs?), which were also clean.

So my question is; how, where and why does the HBV leak? And does this sound like a typical HBV leak? If not, where is the coolant most likely to be coming from?

The car has done just over 100,000 miles, the engine oil is perfectly clean and there is no 'mayo' around the filler neck, so I don’t think it is the head gasket or the oil cooler. In all other respects the car starts and runs perfectly.

Any advice would be very welcome as I would like to be able to use the car without worrying about loosing coolant all the time!

Omega General Help / Seat Height Adjuster on Late Model CDX

« on: 03 June 2009, 13:44:27 »

First, the good news. We have decided not to sell the Omega, and I think I have persuaded my wife to use it for work.

She drove us to a family gathering on Sunday, just to get used to it, so I enjoyed being chauffeured for once.

However, the front passenger seat height adjuster doesn't work, so my head is touching the roof lining. The motor makes a clonking noise when the switch is operated, but it will not lower the seat. (It is presently stuck at maximum height).

Does anyone know how to fix this? I have tried turning the long screw thread under the seat with a wrench, but it won't move.

NN

Omega General Help / 2.5 V6 Head Gasket Going

« on: 17 March 2009, 13:35:30 »

The head gasket on my CDX 2.5 V6 is on its way out after just 98,000 happy miles.

This has been confirmed by a local independent motor engineer, who found high CO levels in the coolant header tank.

He is suggesting that replacement head gaskets would cost around £800, as both heads will need to be stripped down, skimmed and then put back together.

The body is a facelift model (2000) and is in very good condition otherwise.

Any advise or suggestions? Second-hand Jags (or should that be re-badged Mondeos) are looking more and more attractive by the day, but what could I ever replace the Omega with if I really wanted to?

Omega General Help / Omega Air Conditioning Problem Fixed

« on: 08 June 2007, 12:17:18 »

I have a 2001 model V6 AUto CDX which I have owned since new, and have loved almost every mile!

However, one problem that I suffered almost since new was that the windows tended to steam up very easily, and were almost impossible to clear using the climate control system. Even a heavy shower in the summer resulted in the windscreen misting up, simply becuase it cooled down the glass.

The only solution I ever found was to open the sunroof or windows to clear the exess humidity, although the problem returned as soon as the sunroof was closed again. At one stage I suspected that water was getting in somewhere, but I disproved that theory.

I know of other people who have suffered simialr problems in other Vauxhalls including Astras and Vectras, alhough my brother-in-laws Omega was never a problem.

Anyhow, after six years the original battery failed, so I fitted a new one myself. As if by magic the aircon problem dissapered, the car smells much fresher, and the aircon itself seems to work much better. As far as I can work out, this was the first time the battery had ever been disconncted, as I have never had to enter the radio code before, and our dealer doesn't know what the code is.

From what I can work out, the climate control system is electronically controlled, and uses firmware to manage the system. I suspect this had somehow become corrupted, therefore disconnecting the battery forced it to reboot.

It seems the system was recycling air regadless of the user settings, and could not be resolved even by pressing the Auto and Off buttons together as reccomneded in the manual.

I hope this helps other readers. And if not, at least it doesen't cost anything to disconnect the battery for five minutes!

Cars for Sale & wanted / 2000 (Facelift) Oemga CDX 2.5 V6 Auto For Sale

« on: 19 October 2009, 14:19:50 »

Sadly the time has come to sell my beloved Omega.

I don't like buying cars, so I tend to buy a good'n every ten years or so, and then look after it well - which is exactly what I did with this one.

Anyhow, I bought the Omega from CD Bramall at Middlesbrough in August 2000 with just a few thousand miles on the clock. The General Manager there had used this car for his own personal transport, and also as a demonstrator, but the [then] new VX220 had just been delivered, and it was summertime ......

The car was built in 1999, and was first registered in October of that year, although it is the 2000 (facelift) model. Being a factory car it came with a few extras, including a genuine Irmshcer front spoiler, and the lip on the boot lid (which is slightly bigger than that fitted on the Elite model).

Current mileage is a shade under 103,000 miles, so it is just nicely run in. The cam belt was last done about 20,000 miles ago, (I need to check), and I have used Mobil 1 synthetic oil since the first service. I work from home, so I don’t use the car for commuting, but when I do use it I tend to cover long distances at motorway speeds. We also use it for family holidays.

I had a new set of Pirelli P6000 tyres (225/55 VR16) fitted two summers ago, which proabaly have another 5,000 miles of wear in them. (I usually expect 40,000 miles from a set, which may give some idea of how I drive the car). I had some problems with balancing, which led to a new alloy wheel being fitted unnecessarily, before Pirelli’s Technical manager diagnosed a faulty tyre, which was replaced FOC after about 5,000 miles. So, there is a spare alloy wheel with the car!

The so called 'space saver', (205/55 R16), is bigger than most cars road wheels, and has never been used.

Being a CDX the car comes with the usual refinements, including electronic climate control, ABS, Stability Control, Xenon headlights, headlamp washers, sunroof, CD Changer, heated seats, trip computer and lots of other goodies.

The car has always been well maintained, initially by the main dealer, and more recently at a very good local independent garage (after CD Bramall became Evans Halshaw).

As far as I know, everything works, expect for the electric height adjuster on the front passenger seat, which clunks, but doesn’t adjust. The electric windows on the rear doors sometimes need to be inched up too, but I suspect this is because they are not used very often.

There has been no major work, but the oil seals were replaced on the differential under warranty, and the aircon condenser was replaced about two years ago. The rear offside door was also replaced under warranty owing to internal corrosion.

I can honestly say that the bodywork is unmarked, with no dings or scratches, and all of the doors close and lock properly. There is of course some stone chipping, as would be expected after 100,000 miles, but nothing out of the ordinary. The front and rear bumpers have some marks from the original users golf trolley, and minor indiscretions by others in car parks. The front spoiler does have some paint scuffing (my fault – I can explain) and stress marks, but these are all easily rectified.

The interior is virtually unmarked, and nobody has ever been allowed to smok in the car. The Vauxhall mats are well worn, and could do with being replaced, but they have protected the carpets well.

There was a slight issue with coolant loss, which remains a mystery. This had been going on for the past few years, and was initially diagnosed as a failing head gasket, but this proved not to be the case. Flushing the system with a flush aid and filling with fresh red antifreeze and some leak sealer seems to have solved the problem, as I have not needed to top it up for about six months now.

Realistically it will proably need a new head gasket in the next year or so, but it would be well worth it on a car in this condition. The exhaust manifold gasket is also blowing slightly when the car is cold, but this would be easily rectified when the head gasket is replaced.

The front disks were replaced about 3,000 miles ago. My wife uses the car for work every day, so they are clean and shiny.

The road fund licence runs out at the end of October, and I think the MOT is either October or November, but I will gladly get the MOT done.

Now, to get down to business. My wife has decided she wants a new Astra. I could get the old girl cubed, but that seems a shame and a waste of a good car.

The Astra is ex demo, so they are not offering Scrappage at present, but have offered me £650 Part Exchange to close the deal.

Time of course is limited, but if anyone would like to offer £650 I would far rather sell the old girl to a OOF member than have her sent to auction.

NN

Edit: I should add that as this car was first registered in 2000, (not 2001), it qualifies for the lower (standard) Road Fund Tax rating.

And finally, the business end of things.

Cars for Sale & wanted / Possibly For Sale - 2000 2.5 V6 CDX Auto in Silver

« on: 12 May 2009, 11:35:19 »

I really, really do not want to sell this car, but I have recently bought a nearly new S-Type SE 2.7 diesel, so we may need to go our separate ways.

I don't like buying cars, so I tend to buy a good'n every ten years or so, and then look after it well - which is exactly what I hope to do with my new Jag. How long I will keep my licence for is another matter altogether.

Anyhow, I bought the Omega from CD Bramall at Middlesbrough in August 2000 with just a few thousand miles on the clock. The General Manager there had used this car for his own personal transport, and also as a demonstrator, but the [then] new VX220 had just been delivered, and it was summertime ......

The car was built in 1999, and was first registered in October of that year, although it is the 2000 (facelift) model. Being a factory car it came with a few extras, including a genuine Irmshcer front spoiler, and the lip on the boot lid (which is slightly bigger than that fitted on the Elite model).

Current mileage is a shade under 100,000 miles (96,640 as of today), so it is just nicely run in. The cam belt was last done 10 or 20,000 miles ago, (I need to check), and I have used Mobil 1 synthetic oil since the first service. I work from home, so I don’t use the car for commuting, but when I do use it I tend to cover long distances at motorway speeds. We also use it for family holidays.

I had a new set of Pirelli P6000 tyres (225/55 VR16) fitted two summers ago, which are about a third worn. (I usually expect 40,000 miles from a set, which may give some idea of how I drive the car). I had some problems with balancing, which led to a new alloy wheel being fitted unnecessarily, before Pirelli’s Technical manager diagnosed a faulty tyre, which was replaced FOC after about 5,000 miles. So, there is a spare alloy wheel with the car!

The so called 'space saver', (205/55 R16), is bigger than most cars road wheels, and has never been used.

Being a CDX the car comes with the usual refinements, including electronic climate control, ABS, Stability Control, Xenon headlights, headlamp washers, sunroof, CD Changer, heated seats, trip computer and lots of other goodies.

The car has always been well maintained, initially by the main dealer, and more recently at a very good local independent garage (after CD Bramall became Evans Halshaw).

As far as I know, everything works, expect for the electric height adjuster on the front passenger seat, which clunks, but doesn’t adjust. The electric windows on the rear doors sometimes need to be inched up too, but I suspect this is because they are not used very often.

There has been no major work, but the oil seals were replaced on the differential under warranty, and the aircon condenser was replaced about two years ago. The rear offside door was also replaced under warranty owing to internal corrosion.

I can honestly say that the bodywork is unmarked, with no dings or scratches, and all of the doors close and lock properly. There is of course some stone chipping, as would be expected after 100,000 miles, but nothing out of the ordinary. The front and rear bumpers have some marks from the original users golf trolley, and minor indiscretions by others in car parks. The front spoiler does have some paint scuffing (my fault – I can explain) and stress marks, but these are all easily rectified.

The interior is virtually unmarked. The Vauxhall mats are well worn, and could do with being replaced, but they have protected the carpets well.

There is a slight issue with coolant loss, which remains a mystery. This has been going on for the past few years, and was initially diagnosed as a failing head gasket, but this proved not to be the case. Flushing the system with a flush aid and filling with fresh red antifreeze seems to have helped, but I still need to top it up every 2,000 miles or so.

It could probably do with a new set of front brake disks too. These are not worn, but the coating seems to fail on the inside of the disks. I have had them replaced under warranty twice now, but according to Vauxhall, they fail became I don’t use the car often enough?

The road fund licence runs out at the end of October, and I think the MOT is either October or November.

So there you have it. If someone makes me a good enough offer I will sell, but otherwise I will persuade my wife to use it for work, and we will mothball the Astra until our son is old enough to drive it. Unfortunately the Omega is too big to fit into the garage properly, otherwise I might be mothballing that!

Please ask if you have any questions.

NN

Edit: I should add that as this car was first registered in 2000, (not 2001), it qualifies for the lower (standard) Road Fund Tax rating.

And finally, the business end of things.

Omega Gallery / My Omega CDX Auto

« on: 02 May 2009, 22:32:40 »

After nine happy years I thought it was about time I posted some photographs of my Omega CDX here.

I bought it as an ex-demonstrator in August 2000 with just a few miles on the clock, and have now done 99,650!

The front spoiler and the lip on boot lid are both genuine Irmscher, and as far as I know were fitted by the factory. (The Irmscher lip is slightly bigger than that fitted to the Elite).

Scrubs up well doesn't it?

I can honestly say this is the best car I have ever owned. It has been extremely reliable, and is very quiet and smooth. It also has a good turn of speed when required, (not that I would condone speeding on the public highway), and pulls like an electric train up long hills. I don't use the car every day, but when I do, I tend to cover long distances, so I appreciate the smooth power.

Sadly, I have been unfaithful to the old girl recently, (I have fallen for a young feline with a bigger engine), so I fear divorce proceedings are inevitable in the near future.