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[Mr Skrunts]

Had an ongoing issue with the Elite.  95% sure its a head gasket issue.

1st garage asked with head it was, as they sound like they would only do the faulty one if it was found to be that, and asked me to nip it down for a compression test.

2nd garage ( main dealer) Not sure if they could do the job at 1st, came back to me after a while saying it would be 15 hours for the labour. (when I stopped laughing) I then asked what the labour rate was and was told £90PH.  I asked why 15 hours labour, he then went on to tell me they had to take the engine out of the car. . . . . . .

3rd garage. Scrap the car pal, not worth it.

[Nick W]

Realistically, any garage is going to reckon on this being a day's work. There's going to be a good £200 in parts; more if they replace the cambelt which is likely. Just how far into are you expecting them to go, as cleaning up the heads and changing the valve seals is going to take an hour per head. And don't forget that there might be a cause other than just failing gaskets which will need to be fixed as well.

Omegas have long been at the stage in their life where one big bill will easily scrap the car, it's one of the reasons why they are so cheap to buy.

[cleggy]

Why not ask the guys on here, DLK, Elite Pete ETC  all do a good job.

[Varche]

Cheaper to have an engine out of a scrapper?

Our local garage here in Spain apologises for charging a whopping 29 euros an hour and having to charge VAT on that.

In my younger days, I was always surprised at how much you found when you opened up anything on a car parts wise.

[Mr Skrunts]

I don't mind paying for the job to be done properly, but getting quoted £1350 + vat (minimum) for labour alone plus parts at vauxhall prices is just too extreme, especially as I have read a few horror stories on here that the dealers don't really give a stuff.

I would be happy to sent to one of the lads on here and have it sorted as I know it would be done properly.  But I pay towards a service/agreement that I can claim up to £500 (inc vat) towards repairs and for that reason need to take it to an AA approved vat reg garage to be eligable to claim.

I know the cars are not worth a fortune these days but after jumping in the Elite the other day just to turn it around it was just a totaly different experience to driving the 2.2 CD. its been parked up since january, after charging the battery the car started 1st time, .  Would love to keep it on the road for a few more years.

Am checking with non dealer local garages tomorrow.

But would possibly be interested in prices (via PM ) to Check compression on the heads and possibly renew both head gaskets/skim heads etc, new timing belt/tensioner. (may require flushing) plus oil/filter change and engine service along with breather pipes cleaned out and new rocker gaskets.

[Mr Skrunts]

Good point Varche, I even have a donor V6 but its only a 2.5

On the plus if I pulled the engine from the 2.5 GLS its only done 65K but has been stood a while but started 1st time last time I tried. (would still need timing belt/tensioner as well)

Elite only done 103K so dont know it if the 2.5 would make a straight swap, would be less power but then could keep the cams from the 3.0 to swap into the 2.5.

I would spend money on the 2.5 GLS.  But its the toys, leather, electric memory seats and the sunroof that I miss about the Elite, oh yes and the extra grunt.

[tidla]

Whats the ongoing issues?

I find a cylinder pressure test a lot more useful than a compression test.

[TheBoy]

I suspect, even forgoing the £500 from the AA, it'd still be cheaper to use one of the guys here? Drop 'em a PM, see what they say, then make a decision

[Stuart30]

The AA warranty thing is well worth having,but by Christ the approved garages don't half take the wee wee.

My Saab 93 2.2 (GM lump same as Vectra C) needed a swirl flap thingy...about £15/£20 online,but oh no cant use that sir has to be direct from Saab at £371 

Then labour and and the fault finding labour (The very nice AA man already did that  )...Bill came to just shy of £500.

All im saying is the AA service/Warranty thing is fine but expect a simple job to be double if not triple the normal price.

[Mr Skrunts]

They certainly know how to take the mickey, I just don't tell them the AA are contributing towards the bill anymore.

[chrisgixer]

Surprised nobody has asked the symptoms...?

[Mr Skrunts]

Surprised nobody has asked the symptoms...?

  True

Problems started a while back, and thinking it all through may simply be a couple of different problems.

In the bad winter a few years ago the car froze solid and when started the water pump impeller must have come off and the car started to over heat, off to the garage and new water pump fitted etc.  Left the garage went for a test drive, ok at low speeds but hesitant (misfire) at full throttle into the higher rev range.

Problem settled and was ok for a while then every now the problem returned (more often when the engine got to full running temp).  I then ended up buying the 2.2 and ran that for a while till the tax ran out and then SORN it and went back to using the Elite. 

January this year I was helping a mate move the contents of her business and during the long bouts of idling I noticed the heater was getting colder and colder (temp gauge was showing normal)  when we were done the car was driven home, (normal speeds) and the temp gauge started to rise quite fast, pulled over, turned engine off and sat for a while, restart the car, temp fine so drove carefully for a couple of miles and the temp raises again. did this 3 times and then parked up at home and left the car parked.

So possible ongoing electrical fault (interior light when switched on seemed to dim/brighten with the engine miss.) thoughts that it might be a cable connection from the fitting of the water pump job, (maybe stretching an electrical connection that was'nt pushed back on firmly enough.(or the plug gaps, new plugs have been fitted, read a post about curing an ongoing misfire by mark dtm, but plugs were fitted after the misfire started)

Also the overheating, considered it could have been the heater matrix, maybe crud, or air lock.

Must admit, car started first time with a freshly charged battery and drives ok, but only turned car round so the engine never got chance to warm up, had checked header tank before starting and it was empty (but had been stood 8/9 months

[JamesV6CDX]

If the car could come to me for 2 weeks I'd do you an excellent rate, as I could dip in and out as and when suits me, but not free till mid to late October

[TheBoy]

How long was it run on insufficient/no antifreeze?

[Mr Skrunts]

James PM me your post code and I will look into it.

TB I have no idea as I trusted other people to keep an eye on the car for me so sadly I took their word that things were ok.