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526

General Car Chat / Re: Astra J held to Ransom by Eden Vauxhall over failed MOT

« on: 21 March 2022, 23:20:22 »

I agree with Marks observation that you left the margins a little fine on the tyres, especially knowing that new tyres would fitted, had it passed, soon after the test, with them as you say being only 0.2mm over the legal limit. Did you actually measure absolutely all the way round each tyres circumference and across their whole width, to ensure there wasn't any area of tread that may have actually got down to 1.6mm?

I think you have this the wrong way round: James will have measured more than one spot, and thereby determined that they're barely legal. I wouldn't be surprised to find the tester only glanced at the tyres and used his calibrated eyeball to suggest that they're a failure. Then the salesman service advisor upped the ante with the dangerous to drive/illegal to return the car bullshit because tyres are an easy thing to sell and an excellent boost to his profit percentages.

I haven't got this the wrong way round - I merely queried whether James had in fact checked religiously all the way round the circumference, rather than in several random spots - we know that once a tester at a main dealer gets a sniff of low tyre tread, then they will check the tyre in detail to find any area below the required 1.6mm to possibly get some sell up..
And yes, I should have said 1.6mm across the central 3/4's of the tread depth, not the whole width.....

527

Omega General Help / Re: V6 cam cover gaskets

« on: 21 March 2022, 23:02:01 »

I bought two of these....
Valve cover Gasket 15-38269-01 / 70368178 by Victor Reinz - Single set
Prices vary quite a bit on Ebay - I paid less than £10 per bank, but that was in December.

528

General Car Chat / Re: Astra J held to Ransom by Eden Vauxhall over failed MOT

« on: 21 March 2022, 15:27:42 »

I agree with Marks observation that you left the margins a little fine on the tyres, especially knowing that new tyres would fitted, had it passed, soon after the test, with them as you say being only 0.2mm over the legal limit. Did you actually measure absolutely all the way round each tyres circumference and across their whole width, to ensure there wasn't any area of tread that may have actually got down to 1.6mm?
Many franchised dealers will now match tyre quotes from other tyre outfits for like for like tyres. It would have to be a quote from a tyre supplier and fitter, not an online supplier where you have to arrange fitting yourself.
Although their actions may have left a bitter taste, if they won't match any quotes, you haven't lost anything in taking it away as it is, and then doing the springs (if you consider it necessary) and tyres elsewhere prior to a retest.
If you have got the evidence that the tyres were in fact still  legal, and that your 'corroded' spring isn't severely weakened, I'd love to be a 'fly on the wall' when you go in to put your case forward....

529

Omega Electrical and Audio Help / Re: 2.6 spanner + eml light flashing, throttle body clicking + non starting

« on: 21 March 2022, 14:48:09 »

After a few days of use, I would say now the problem definately wasn't anything to do with the loom - the car has started instantly first and everytime since its new ECU was fitted and is now running beautifully.
I appreciate the suggestions for possible culprits though
Although still a strange one why the ECU did give up the ghost - damp possibly? Although it was a gradual / intermittent failure, whereas the one on my 3.2 about 7 years ago was an immediate failure of the ECU due to a battery failure probably resulting in a 'spike'.
Good though to be up and running with a brand new GM ECU at what I consider to be a very reasonable cost

530

Omega Electrical and Audio Help / Re: 2.6 spanner + eml light flashing, throttle body clicking + non starting

« on: 18 March 2022, 22:15:10 »

...... and I wouldn't simply swallow the 'It's the Ecu' diagnosis, especially if it's given remotely. A new ecu is the pinnacle of scatterbomb parts replacement and I doubt it will actually solve the problem.

Just a quick update on this saga. Took the Omega to my 'ECU definitely' man. The fault was as he diagnosed - the ECU was goosed. Apparantly, new ones are on back order at VX, and are well over a grand, plus VAT when available.
He has previously successfully wiped and reprogrammed used 2.2's and 3.2's ECUs in the past, but he struggled with the used 2.6 ECU I got for some reason. Fortunately he managed to find a brand new boxed GM unit 'gathering dust' at a fraction of the cost, programmed it, and now the car is starting and running as sweet as a nut - like the proverbial sewing machine
Seems like the intermittant non starting issues, that had got progressively worse since the start of this saga, were nothing other than the start of the ECU failing, and throwing red herrings into the mix. Fortunately other informative topics on here with similar starting issues also pointed towards the ECU failing.
Experience in a particular field is always invaluable in diagnosing symptoms relative to an actual fault, and the recommendation of this particular auto electrician above all others by other VX technicians being a good indication of his ability....

531

General Discussion Area / Re: Whats Your Current Fuel Price?

« on: 16 March 2022, 23:33:54 »

When central London started with the congestion zone, other councils showed a slight interest. Once they published how much money they were raking in, every other council couldn't wait. A method for printing money whilst jumping on the environmental bandwagon. I noticed on Sunday that the signage is up and ready in Bradford, just waiting for the big switch on.

Fortunately, the bankrupt Northamptonshire County Council and bankrupt South Northants local council have become a unitary council, and have no plans for such silliness. They are going to start charging for garden waste bins instead - they have been free here for a couple of decades as a sweetener for when we went to fortnightly bin collections.

Oxfordshire County Council has, ever since I can remember, been trying to ban cars from going anywhere near their beloved Oxford.  Never impacted me much, despite Mrs TB coming from there, as I have never wanted to go anywhere near that shithole.  The (once) ringroad around the outside was plenty close enough.

You don't know how lucky you have been. We have had to pay for the green garden waste bin collection for years in Pendle. This year it is £37 per bin - if you have two, it's double. Used to be free and collected every all year round. Then they stopped it in the winter months unless specifically requested. Now its just March to November full stop. When the neighbours beech hedge sheds leaves for fun, there is never any garden waste collections....    

532

Omega General Help / Re: 3.2 exhaust system.

« on: 13 March 2022, 22:40:57 »

jb,
Sent you a pm earlier re the exhausts 

533

Omega Electrical and Audio Help / Re: 2.6 spanner + eml light flashing, throttle body clicking + non starting

« on: 13 March 2022, 10:51:55 »

The 3.2 ecu from one of your existing cars that is known to work correctly would have sufficed.

A second hand unknown one may introduce other issues.

Also, don't forget that you also need the matched chip and transponder for this acquired ecu.

If it comes to using this replacement ECU, then 'my man' doesn't need the transponder chip and transponder. He states he can wipe it, and then reprogram it to my car. He did another for me several years ago on a 3.2, presented with just the replacement ECU, and it has been fine ever since. He was recommended to me then by several technicians at VX as being the 'man for the job'.
See what else I can find before that stage though.

534

Omega Electrical and Audio Help / Re: 2.6 spanner + eml light flashing, throttle body clicking + non starting

« on: 13 March 2022, 00:06:44 »

Thanks for all the suggestions Chris. I am hoping to have a further play tomorrow, although I have also now managed to get hold of another 2.6 ECU to try (as a last resort with help of programming by the very knowledgeable auto electrician) if all else doesn't reveal any likely culprits.

535

General Discussion Area / Re: Word Association.

« on: 11 March 2022, 13:00:47 »

Sorry

536

Omega Electrical and Audio Help / Re: 2.6 spanner + eml light flashing, throttle body clicking + non starting

« on: 10 March 2022, 00:05:35 »

As a side note have you run through Kevin's excellent Starting/Charging guide?

If not, do so. To the letter and report back.

Having previously read this excellent guide, unless I'm missing something, I'm not sure this is applicable with the symptoms my car has? But please tell me why you think it is? The alternator is charging correctly, and the battery is very strong despite the repeated cranking over the last few days.

537

Omega Electrical and Audio Help / Re: 2.6 spanner + eml light flashing, throttle body clicking + non starting

« on: 09 March 2022, 17:16:24 »

The only codes were those I stated in post #1 TB.
Thanks D the B for your suggestions.
Tried starting it today, and it started 1st churn, although the churn took longer than normal. It ticked over with no throttle body clicking for about a minute then just died.
Key out, locked it, unlocked it, key in, cranked, and it fired - again not as quickly as normal, but then the flashing spanner and EML started. The traction control light also came on. Tried to drive off, but it seemed to be in limp mode, before just dying.
Got it on a slight downhill and when started, it would pull away to around 10 /15 mph but when the revs got up to about 1500, it would just cut out, the EML came on, and that was it. It would start again with a long crank, but trying to pull away under the slightest bit of power, it would just die.
Took a video of the antics of the dash lights  but not sure how to post it on here.
I am convinced it is ECU related from reading the very helpful topics, some going back 8 years.
I have since spoken to a very knowledgeable ex VX autoelectrician, who I have used previously, described the symptoms, and with no hesitation he immediately said  'ECU - definately'.
This concurs with the info I've read about the exact same symptoms on here.
Do others agree - any thoughts appreciated before I try to find a replacement?

538

Omega Electrical and Audio Help / Re: 2.6 spanner + eml light flashing, throttle body clicking + non starting

« on: 09 March 2022, 00:24:03 »

How many keys on the keyring being used? More than one chip in close proximity can confuse the transponder.

Any notable difference between the key blades being used?

No particular wear on either. One has seen more use than the other for obvious reasons, but nothing significant.

As regards two keys being used near to each other, I regularly deliver vehicles that have two keys on the same fob in the ignition, or two together in the centre console if keyless ignition, or have two keys in very close proximity to each other, i.e one in the ignition, the other in the centre console, but I have never experienced issues that would suggest symptoms as above caused by two keys close to each other. Not that any are Omegas though.....

539

Omega Electrical and Audio Help / Re: 2.6 spanner + eml light flashing, throttle body clicking + non starting

« on: 08 March 2022, 21:56:28 »

The keys are on their own individual key rings with no other keys. The one I'm not using / trying is generally in my jacket pocket whilst the other is in the ignition.

540

Omega Electrical and Audio Help / 2.6 spanner + eml light flashing, throttle body clicking + non starting

« on: 08 March 2022, 21:33:32 »

My starting woes are continuing.....
On my 2.6, my intermittant starting has continued. Two crank sensors, a fuel pump relay, and I thought the 2nd crank sensor had sorted it. My thoughts then went to the immobiliser. Intermittantly, it would just crank but not fire as previously. Maybe coincidence, but using the spare key seemed to rectify the issue. If using the original key, it occasionally wouldnt start, but if I tried the spare, it generally started ok. Until today.
Tried the original key, and it just cranked. Tried the spare and it fired up, as it has done previously. On my 5 mile trip, on the motorway at around 70mph, it suddenly 'died' momentarily, not a misfire, but similar to the engine cutting out - the EML light came on briefly, and the engine immediately fired again, as normal, and after a couple of seconds the EML went out.
Left the engine running at my destination for around 10 minutes (didn't want to switch off...), and then set off - over the next mile, the same symptoms happened again 4 times around 30 mph - the engine cutting out momentarily, and the EML coming on for a second or so, before firing up again - until I slowed to stop at a junction. The engine cut out completely as I came to a stop. Took the key out of ignition, locked it, unlocked it, tried starting the engine and it fired. It then ran perfectly for the 5 miles home.
Checked the codes -
ABS traction control 2 faults
1 - Canbus not communicating with ECM - U2105-4
2 - Engine torque reduction incorrect signal - C0241-4

Antitheft 2 codes
125 present
128 Not present ( an old code?)

Cleared the codes, the antitheft codes went, but it then read 'Unable to communicate with ECM'
At this point when the ignition was on, the spanner light and EML were flashing alternately very quickly, not brightly, but quite visible. Tried to crank the engine, and it fired, and ran for about a second before cutting out.
With the ignition on, the throttle body was clicking loudly quite merrily, and this was  continuous whilst the ignition was switched on. Switched off, and back on again, and the clicking continued...
I have read topics 121307.0 3.2 Elite No Start 5th Feb 2014, and 16628.0 3.2 Won't Start, but I just wondered if anyone had any thoughts on this one.....?  It's driving me nuts....