Omega Owners Forum

Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Jukeboxnut on 17 January 2008, 21:45:10

Title: Sunroof corrosion
Post by: Jukeboxnut on 17 January 2008, 21:45:10
I have just bought a late model 2.2 CDX ex lease estate with 90,000 miles which is generally in excellent condition.  The only thing I can find fault with is corrosion around the sunroof frame.  As the car has been main dealer serviced with a fully stamped up book I am tempted to take it to my local main dealer for the next service (goes against the grain as I prefer to do all my own servicing) to see if they will repair/replace it under the anti-perforation warranty.  Has anyone else had this problem with the sunroof?  The one on my old 1995 GLS estate was in excellent condition before I wrote it off.  How difficult is it to repaint or replace the sunroof panel?
Title: Re: Sunroof corrosion
Post by: Tony H on 17 January 2008, 22:58:32
I believe it's very difficult to get vx to honour the corrosion warranty because of the pre conditions they stipulate. also if the metal isn't perforated this will cause a problem with any claim.
Good luck anyway, let us know how you go on.
Title: Re: Sunroof corrosion
Post by: duggs on 17 January 2008, 23:49:42
I had the same problem with my old Vectra.
If the car didn't go in to a Vauxhall dealer for a yearly bodywork inspection as they stipulate somewhere in invisible ink then they won't honour the bodywork warantee....not even interested to talk either.

The car has either got a warantee or it ain't...what differance it should make whether the car is anually expected or not is beyond me.

ANY owner with an ounce of common sence would approach the dealer as soon as rust starts to show...no one is gonna let a wing fall off due to rust before bringing it to Vauxhalls attention...

In my opinion it is a scam in an attempt to con us to buy NEW Vauxhalls. Today though a lot of manufacturers are offering far better relaxed guarantees, thats why I'll never buy a NEW Vauxhall again.

I argued the point with Vauxhall Customers Services, yes, they DO exist and all she would offer this disgruntled customer is £800 OFF of a new car..Yeah right...If Vauxhalls rust as quick as my 3 year old Vectra did...Why would I buy another ???
Title: Re: Sunroof corrosion
Post by: shyboy on 18 January 2008, 09:39:36
I think the sunroof glass is a devil to get out because it involves detaching at least part of the headlining IIRC.
Best bet is to get a price from a specialist to see how much damage it will do to your wallet, unless someone comes on with experience of this job.
I've got the same problem with my wife's Rover 25 which I haven't got round to tackling yet.
Good luck.
Title: Re: Sunroof corrosion
Post by: Mike Collins on 18 January 2008, 09:53:22
I first had this problem with my 2.6 a couple of years ago, Baylis in Gloucester replaced it under body warranty without question.

It's happening again though, haven't yet approached them.

Six or seven years ago I had a driver's door check strap failure on a five or so year old 2.5, again the work was done without any problems.

It's worth taking to a Vauxhall bodyshop and asking.
Title: Re: Sunroof corrosion
Post by: mantahatch on 18 January 2008, 11:32:38
Hi Chaps
Sorry so many of you had problems with rust warranty. Personally I have to claim three times, once on an Astra and twice on a Vectra.
I had no problems at all. I thought I might the second time with the Vectra as it was out of the rust warranty, but had been "fixed" about 9 months earlier for the same problem in warranty.
So if it is a recurring problem tell them they fixed it before.
They try to bodge it sometimes in the hope you will sell the car and then it is out of warranty.
Vauxhall/Opel have a bad reputation for rust around sunroofs (and wheelarches and doors), it badly affected the Opel Manta, was quite common on Carlton and Senator models, and by the looks of it is now going to affect the Omega. (shame)

Better go and check mine.

Mike  
Title: Re: Sunroof corrosion
Post by: ffcgary1 on 18 January 2008, 13:43:24
 My pal mega [a new member] has got the same thing happening on his fully warrented 3.2 elite and has approched vx to have it done under the anti perforation claim, but vx said that as it has not made a hole it cant be fixed under warrenty. Pete went ballistic at network q who have covered the car since the car went out of its 3 year manufacturers warrenty. >:(

I will ask how he got on as i have not spoken to him in a few weeks.
Title: Re: Sunroof corrosion
Post by: TheBoy on 18 January 2008, 14:31:57
Seems to be more common on facelifts for some reason  :-/
Title: Re: Sunroof corrosion
Post by: VXL V6 on 18 January 2008, 14:42:59
Happening to mine  :(
Title: Re: Sunroof corrosion
Post by: davlad22 on 18 January 2008, 15:38:49
Quote
approched vx to have it done under the anti perforation claim, but vx said that as it has not made a hole it cant be fixed under warrenty.
The cheeky barstewards! Our experience sadly has not been good with vauxhall body warranty who checked our 4-5 year old astra estate which was getting rusty rear arches mostly bubbling under the paint...

....the bizarre thing in contrast to what you said gary, is that they put it down to 'stone chipping', yeah, right. Obviously didn't want to know.

And yes...we have this problem on our '03 elite estate. Bubbling/lines in the paint on the black sunroof surround?

Just put it out of your mind I would say! Looks a fiddly job to say the least, perhaps take it to a good body specialist. Open the sunroof for a better look, maybe get the part priced up???
Title: Re: Sunroof corrosion
Post by: mantahatch on 18 January 2008, 17:01:33
Quote
Seems to be more common on facelifts for some reason  :-/


This seems a very similar story to the Opel Manta, sunroof fine from 1976 to about 1984. And then 1985 to 1988 they rust terribly, I have seen whole roofs literally dissapear on the last model Manta Exclusive's.
GM inbuilding faults to take slightly older cars off the road prematurely ?

Mike

Title: Re: Sunroof corrosion
Post by: davlad22 on 18 January 2008, 17:16:45
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GM inbuilding faults to take slightly older cars off the road prematurely ?
:o Don't say things like that!  :-X
Title: Re: Sunroof corrosion
Post by: Jukeboxnut on 18 January 2008, 20:58:58
Thank you for all your comments and suggestions.  I have booked the car into the local Vauxhall body shop for tomorrow morning, I will let you know the outcome.  It is a pity that these fabulous cars have such silly annoying faults.  My wifes old Sierra estate had a plastic surround on the sunroof panel which was still perfect after 20 years when we eventually sold it (even the bodywork was still good believe it or not).
Title: Re: Sunroof corrosion
Post by: miggy on 19 January 2008, 18:43:37
Got the same on mine, the black paint around the glass frame (outer) is starting to flake off..........I asked Vx the general question a few months ago, they said they would have no problem sorting it for me under the perforation warrenty......trouble is i aint been back, I touched it up myself as it was not corrosion.just flaking paint.....it looks good now.....would not know it had been touched up.
Title: Re: Sunroof corrosion
Post by: VXL V6 on 19 January 2008, 18:51:56
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Got the same on mine, the black paint around the glass frame (outer) is starting to flake off..........I asked Vx the general question a few months ago, they said they would have no problem sorting it for me under the perforation warrenty......trouble is i aint been back, I touched it up myself as it was not corrosion.just flaking paint.....it looks good now.....would not know it had been touched up.

What sort of paint did you use? I was thinking 'smoothrite' as it would adhere to the metal?
Title: Re: Sunroof corrosion
Post by: miggy on 19 January 2008, 19:12:23
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Got the same on mine, the black paint around the glass frame (outer) is starting to flake off..........I asked Vx the general question a few months ago, they said they would have no problem sorting it for me under the perforation warrenty......trouble is i aint been back, I touched it up myself as it was not corrosion.just flaking paint.....it looks good now.....would not know it had been touched up.

What sort of paint did you use? I was thinking 'smoothrite' as it would adhere to the metal?

Spot on mate.............it matched well...I also thought about using the airfix model paint..the stuff that model metal soldiers are painted with, it needs to be a matt finish also.  
Title: Re: Sunroof corrosion
Post by: VXL V6 on 19 January 2008, 19:18:18
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Got the same on mine, the black paint around the glass frame (outer) is starting to flake off..........I asked Vx the general question a few months ago, they said they would have no problem sorting it for me under the perforation warrenty......trouble is i aint been back, I touched it up myself as it was not corrosion.just flaking paint.....it looks good now.....would not know it had been touched up.

What sort of paint did you use? I was thinking 'smoothrite' as it would adhere to the metal?

Spot on mate.............it matched well...I also thought about using the airfix model paint..the stuff that model metal soldiers are painted with, it needs to be a matt finish also.  

That'll be another job for tomorrow then.... if it stops raining!

Cheers
Title: Re: Sunroof corrosion
Post by: Jukeboxnut on 19 January 2008, 21:03:18
I took the car to the Vauxhall bodyshop this morning.   They took photographs and made notes of the corrosion on the sunroof frame plus a couple of bubbles that are forming at the bottom of the drivers door and a small amount of rust that is just visible under the plastic surround for the rear screen wiper arm.  They said that they would contact Vauxhall and let me know the outcome, so now I just have to wait.  The rust bubbles are just as bad as the ones on my old 2.0 GLS estate which was 6 years old and just out of warranty when I bought it.  It would appear that the later cars are slightly worse than the older ones for corrosion despite the zinc coating etc.  Still I must say that it certainly drives much better and smoother than the older model plus it has more toys to play with so it's not all bad news after all!  Will let you know what happens next.
Title: Re: Sunroof corrosion
Post by: miggy on 19 January 2008, 21:06:34
Quote
I took the car to the Vauxhall bodyshop this morning.   They took photographs and made notes of the corrosion on the sunroof frame plus a couple of bubbles that are forming at the bottom of the drivers door and a small amount of rust that is just visible under the plastic surround for the rear screen wiper arm.  They said that they would contact Vauxhall and let me know the outcome, so now I just have to wait.  The rust bubbles are just as bad as the ones on my old 2.0 GLS estate which was 6 years old and just out of warranty when I bought it.  It would appear that the later cars are slightly worse than the older ones for corrosion despite the zinc coating etc.  Still I must say that it certainly drives much better and smoother than the older model plus it has more toys to play with so it's not all bad news after all!  Will let you know what happens next.

 :y :y :y
Title: Re: Sunroof corrosion
Post by: davlad22 on 22 January 2008, 16:28:09
Quote
I took the car to the Vauxhall bodyshop this morning.   They took photographs and made notes of the corrosion on the sunroof frame plus a couple of bubbles that are forming at the bottom of the drivers door and a small amount of rust that is just visible under the plastic surround for the rear screen wiper arm.  They said that they would contact Vauxhall and let me know the outcome, so now I just have to wait.  The rust bubbles are just as bad as the ones on my old 2.0 GLS estate which was 6 years old and just out of warranty when I bought it.  It would appear that the later cars are slightly worse than the older ones for corrosion despite the zinc coating etc.  Still I must say that it certainly drives much better and smoother than the older model plus it has more toys to play with so it's not all bad news after all!  Will let you know what happens next.
Interesting! Our '51 Estate also has the tiniest bubble under that black rear wiper surround. It's where the water runs down when you wash it or it rains. Bizarrely it ALSO has a tiny bit of bubbling about 3 or 4 inches in from the bottom right hand corner of the drivers door (i think!). The paint isn't perforated, it's just a little corrosion under the surface and hasn't got much worse in the last 5 years. I see a pattern emerging though!

Having said that, I don't think they are worse than the old ones. They rust along paint on top of the doors and get rusty arches. Are any colours better/worse than others for rusting???