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1861

General Car Chat / Re: So what have you done to your car today?

« on: 26 August 2017, 15:50:24 »

Absolutely nothing, as I'm on holiday. But I thought I'd try to get the first post on page 1000 of this topic...

Shucks....failed....!

Have another go

Three goes for a pound

Must be worth another punt then.....

1862

General Car Chat / Re: So what have you done to your car today?

« on: 26 August 2017, 14:04:13 »

Shucks....failed....!

1863

General Car Chat / Re: So what have you done to your car today?

« on: 26 August 2017, 14:03:03 »

Absolutely nothing, as I'm on holiday. But I thought I'd try to get the first post on page 1000 of this topic...

1864

General Car Chat / Re: How much would you pay for the "right" omega

« on: 26 August 2017, 09:18:40 »

is this sat nav standard OEM for a 2003 mig elite?


ad is here by the way:
http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/201708208517627
" ONLY 1 IN WHOLE COUNTRY"

I got a notification when this advert first appeared on Autotrader around the 21st August - then the asking price was £3950 (still got the email on my phone with this price). It's now risen to £4950!!?!! Got the makings of a lovely car though, but what spoils it for me is the interior colour - beige with silver? I thought the option of the light grey looked far better with silver. It's only my opinion, though ....
Its only about 20 miles from me...but I have too many anyway........

1865

Omega General Help / Re: Rear Brakes Refurb advice needed.

« on: 25 August 2017, 23:17:59 »

I have several classic Triumphs from the 60's and 70's, all of which use split pins to retain the front pads along with two spring steel clips not dissimilar to those on the rear pads of the Omega.
Whether the original pins or split pins are used, as long as the correct spring clip is used for the pads in question, I don't see why they shouldn't work.
The split pins in question have a flatter eye which I presume reduces any likelihood of the eye pulling through the hole in the caliper. If they are a comfortable diameter to fit the hole but without being too tight, and cut to the appropriate length with approx 10mm excess to splay over without fouling any other component if it rotates slightly, then I would argue they would be a satisfactory alternative.

1866

General Car Chat / Re: Attention all omega owners

« on: 23 August 2017, 20:31:16 »

Also, a lot of very good cars went to the crushers as well.

That was one of the biggest issues with the old scrappage scheme - all cars that were traded in under the scheme HAD to be scrapped, even if they were perfectly serviceable. As a result a lot of good cars and occasionally potential classics were lost.
I presume it is still the same - cars traded in under the scheme have to be scrapped or used for parts only?

1867

General Car Chat / Re: Is the Omega a future classic? The Daily Express says so.....!

« on: 23 August 2017, 20:15:12 »

I worked for GM at the time the Senny was killed off. There was an interesting internal newsletter interviewing the then new incoming American who took the decision. I clearly recall him stating that given the volume of sales (of the Senny) that he couldn't justify making a vehicle whose two largest customers were 1) GM Europe executives for use as company cars, 2) British Police forces. These two categories made up 50% of sales & given that the first lot was loss/funny money and the second was breakeven at best the decision was stated as being taken on business grounds.
Just some background trivia you might find of interest .......

The thing is, they didn't kill it off, they brought out the Omega as its' successor which, I imagine, probably compounded the problems of a limited market beyond the Police and GM executives. I know my car started out as a GM fleet car. I wonder how many more?

Mine was a Network Q car, is that the same thing?

No, KW means his car was driven about by a Vx employee, probably a managers car, then sold after about 9 months.

NetworkQ is a dealer thing when selling a second hand car to put 12 months warranty on it and covers consumables like brake pads/etc....so basically the car doesn't cost you a penny in repairs for 12 months 

The Network Q labelling on their used cars is just a way of making VX customers believe they have got a car that has had 101 (can't remember the exact number) checks and therefore is of an excellent standard over and above other use cars out there. When you actually look at what the checks comprise of, it's laughable as they are just routine checks that any car should have prior to sale. Most dealers offer a twelve month warranty on their 'approved' used cars, even if they are out of their initial manufacturers warranty.

Two of my four current Omegas were ex 'Vauxhall Fleet Management' cars with an address in Sale, Cheshire; both having KM and KV registrations. The majority of ex VX cars were reg with similar registrations; UY was one typically used with registrations prior to the current format.
Many manufacturers pre reg vehicles; some are used for a few thousand miles before going to dealers via closed auctions; others have near delivery mileage - eg OV and OY registrations are typical Audi, EO are typical Ford etc, which helps to make them easily distinguishable.

I remember when the Triumph 2.5 PI could be bought for peanuts in the late 70's / early 80's due to a combination of factors - poor reliability through the lack of maintenance knowledge of the new Lucas fuel injection system, and a knock on effect of this causing very poor fuel consumption. Many were converted back to carbs, but still sold for little money. Today, however, it's a different story. The 2.5 PI now commands one of the best values of the Triumph 2000/2500/2.5's range of models.

And if a car built in the 1970's can survive (with loving care!) for 40 - 50 years with the poor rust preventative measures applied to cars then, there is no reason why a Vauxhall Omega can't survive too, if the relative care and attention is given to them. I am, however, the eternal optimist...!

1868

Omega General Help / Re: Fitting Irmscher Back Box joint question

« on: 20 August 2017, 20:16:20 »

I assemble all my exhausts using red RTV ( heat resistant automotive silicone), and the joints seperate easily if required.
I have recently removed a stainless exhaust from a classic vehicle to drop the gearbox. I had fitted it in 2006, and the sliding (male and female) joints seperated easily.
I only use it on sliding joints, not anywhere where there is a gasket.
Another issue that makes exhaust removal more difficult if the exhaust is just being removed and later refitted, is that there can be a tendency to over tighten U clamps, which then puts an indentation in both sections of the pipe, making later separation a lot more difficult.

1869

Omega General Help / Re: When towing Caravan +normal load in car the riding height (rear) is quite low

« on: 20 August 2017, 19:54:55 »

Didn't Cliffo B have airbags fitted inside his springs

If I recall, he had an Elite estate, but found that the 80l LPG tank, a mobility scooter and a caravan were all a bit too much for the self leveling system...

That surprises me, because I tow a car transporter with a 3.2 Elite saloon, and even loaded with a medium sized vehicle such a Golf or Audi A4, the ride height isn't much lower than when solo. It just has genuine GM self levelling springs and shockers fitted. Obviously, the self levelling system needs to working properly and not loosing pressure under load. With the caravan on the back, it doesn't look any different to normal when the self levelling has done its job.

1870

Omega General Help / Re: 10 - 40 oil

« on: 20 August 2017, 19:40:42 »

I have better get a few in then if GM are stopping their 10/40 Semi

You do know that 10w40 semi-synthetic is a common oil available anywhere for a similar price? And that it's not ambrosia stolen from the gods by GM elves?

Although there is obviously 10w/40 s/synthetic available in other makes of oil, the API classification is not always the same, and is worthy of a check on the label before buying just to establish that it is the same rating as the GM stuff.

1871

General Car Chat / Is the Omega a future classic? The Daily Express says so.....!

« on: 18 August 2017, 00:07:24 »

If you need to justify to your other half why you need to keep your Omega, read this interesting article by the Daily Express, but only if you have a V6 version apparently - the a 3.2 Elite preferably....

http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/cars/841995/Future-classic-cars-UK-for-sale-cheap-Jaguar-Mazda-Citroen-Vauxhall

1872

Omega General Help / Re: full steering lock noise

« on: 15 August 2017, 23:12:20 »

Most cars give a groaning / squealing noise from the power steering if held on full lock - more noticeable when stationary or at very low manoeuvring speeds. Belts also squeal when they are damp or glazed through age.

1873

General Car Chat / Re: Halfords 1/4 Socket set

« on: 12 August 2017, 02:06:57 »

Very cheap and a useful little set for some smaller fixings:

http://www.halfords.com/workshop-tools/tools/socket-sets/halfords-advanced-27-piece-metric-socket-set-1-4

Plus code B17TOOLS15 is valid getting the price to £10.62 

Cheers for the heads up - just reserved a set at at my local branch! I too bought both the 3/4 drive sets when they were discounted earlier in the year. Useful good quality sets at a bargain price!

1874

Omega Electrical and Audio Help / Re: ECU reconfigure for transmission type

« on: 12 August 2017, 00:04:34 »

This was a topic on here recently, where posted how my 3.2 auto frazzled the engine ecu due to a battery spike. Got a replacement ecu (just the ecu and not the key or immobilser ring as I wanted to keep the original keys), but unbeknown to me it was from a manual 3.2. The auto electrician reprogrammed it to fit my car, but for some reason (I don't really understand these things), the configuration changing from a manual box to auto was not done in the reprogramming. My car ran but had a few gremlins (can't remember what now as it was a few years ago). I then established the ecu had originally been in a manual, so he reprogrammed it for an auto and its been fine ever since.

1875

General Car Chat / Re: Is a sunroof a good idea?

« on: 09 August 2017, 11:25:09 »

Very rarely use mine. Usually only on a boiling hot day (so that's not very often.....) if the air con needs regassing Got a full panoramic roof on my 'modern' car and I never use that. Should do really, if only to make sure they are not sticking and keep the runners running....