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[GrahamK]

Mods Please Move

My Mig (2003 V6) is doing the 4 beeps of powersounder death.

Having personally completely renewed the suspension and brakes on all four corners, should it burst into flames just now I think I might just cry. (Sorry)

Has anyone got one available off a late facelift available for sale.
I searched on here and can't find any indication that there are different ones fitted to facelifts, but if anyone can confirm if there are.
I am handy with a soldering iron, so if anyone has more than one spare, perhaps we could do a trade? I trust a suitable battery should be available somewhere.

Regards,

Graham.

[Doctor Gollum]

Remove it and tape the plug up.

Ideally before you have your tea today.

[omegod]

Remove it and tape the plug up.

Ideally before you have your tea today.

Seconded, don't store the removed sounder in the garage etc either as it can ignite wherever it is. Bucket of water is the best place till you can kill it with a hammer

[Rangie]

Definitely get rid of the thing, when I had my two Omegas I removed them both after reading the advice on here.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

Same here with all my Omegas. If your really bothered I believe it may be possible to renew the batteries, but is it worth it ?

[biggriffin]

Remove it, throw it away,,, and don't replace it... They cause Omega to spontaneously combust.. as others will tell you, I lost one car to a power sounder...Doh!

[B52]

I replaced mine maybe 7 years ago - IIRC it had to be a Holden part as the Vauxhall one was unavailable. It might be worth searching the part number on Amazon.com (not the uk site). I've also got a Holden and have sourced some GM items that way - they can be oddly listed as Pontiac for example.

[Nick W]

It's the power sounder batteries that leak and cause fires.
Even if you buy a brand new one, it is going to be several years old and might not be much better than the one you're replacing.
Hence the recommendation to permanently remove the thing.
Omegas are not the only Vauxhall to suffer this problem.

[DrAndyB]

I've never had a noise or squawk from my Powersounder 

Should I remove it if that's the case ?

Got me thinking now 

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

Yep. It would be tragic to lose an example like yours to a fire over a poxy powersounder.

[DrAndyB]

Yep. It would be tragic to lose an example like yours to a fire over a poxy powersounder.

I'll get on it and remove it .  Is there a guide for removal ? and is there a trick to stop it making a noise as soon as its unplugged ?

Thanks in advance.
Andy.

[Nick W]

Yep. It would be tragic to lose an example like yours to a fire over a poxy powersounder.

  Is there a guide for removal ?


and is there a trick to stop it making a noise as soon as its unplugged ?

In order:


Unplug it, and undo whatever attaches it to the car.


Massage it with a club hammer.

[Entwood]

Yep. It would be tragic to lose an example like yours to a fire over a poxy powersounder.

  Is there a guide for removal ?


and is there a trick to stop it making a noise as soon as its unplugged ?

In order:


undo whatever attaches it to the car... and..... Unplug it,


Massage it with a club hammer.

FTFY ... quieter option !! (but only slightly)

[Doctor Gollum]

It is certainly a bit easier to undo the retaining nut without a 100db penny whistle going off in your face 

[Nick W]

Yep. It would be tragic to lose an example like yours to a fire over a poxy powersounder.

  Is there a guide for removal ?


and is there a trick to stop it making a noise as soon as its unplugged ?

In order:


undo whatever attaches it to the car... and..... Unplug it,


Massage it with a club hammer.

FTFY ... quieter option !! (but only slightly)

Mine sounded like somebody strangling Monty Python's parrot for about a minute.

[Andy H]

Yep. It would be tragic to lose an example like yours to a fire over a poxy powersounder.

I'll get on it and remove it .  Is there a guide for removal ? and is there a trick to stop it making a noise as soon as its unplugged ?

Thanks in advance.
Andy.

The procedure for disconnecting the main battery without triggering the powersounder is to switch the ignition on, wait for most of the warning lights to go out, switch the ignition off again and then run round and pull the battery connection off within about 20 seconds (can't remember the official figure and it is only approximate ).

The sounder might notice when you disconnect the data line and go off anyway.

[GrahamK]

Update:

Power sounder outed

Spent 90 minutes trying to remove the wipers and in the process cracked part of what was a mint scuttle. That was particularly annoying.

I've had a look on ebay and there are a number of inexpensive wiper arm removal tools. Has anyone purchased one that they could recommend as reasonably effective on an Omega?
I would like to repair the scuttle at some point.

I have got a selection of 3 point pullers, but they are much too bulky to be of any use here.

I have since found out that it is possible to remove the Powersounder with the Scuttle in place, but it is tight. It is easy enough to undo the 10mm securing nut (pull out the big grommet) and push the sounder backwards till it drops out of the slot. I couldn't get it out from under the scuttle though however I jiggled it. Eventually I undid the bracket (two 10mm nuts) which blocks its exit.
This then fell to the bottom and on retrieving it realised the horns were attached to that too. Managed to fish out the sounder, make safe the connector and replace the bracket.
Not quite before my tea on Thursday Doc, but before my lunch Friday. I know now that it can't pop.

Interestingly, once removed I could see the date code on the sounder was 1/11/2011 and made in Australia?

Although I am generally cursed with the urge to do a "proper job" knowing that my 17 year old car has already got through at least two, made the decision to take it out and leave it out an easy one. It is an unnecessary risk.

Cheers,

Graham.

[Nick W]

I have a wiper puller, but have never needed to use it on wipers. The splines are usually slightly tapered, and tapers are always best separated by shocks, not force.


This has never failed in over 30 years:
fold the wiper arm at its hinge
hold the arm and the mount
firmly rock both parts.


Works on cars, trucks, headlight wipers, rear screens and arms that have been in place for years.

[GrahamK]

Thanks Nick,

I'll give that a try.

Although I didn't do what you suggest exactly, i've changed wiper arms many times on other cars and never had a problem before.
Perhaps I was being a little too careful.

Thanks

[Darius]

If powersounders are no longer available from Vauxhall then presumably there would be no insurance comeback from not having one fitted?

Also, one shouldn't search too diligently for a new one .

[Rangie]

When I removed mine I informed my insurers (LV) just to avoid any problems  they were absolutely fine with it & received confirmation in writing from them.