Astra J - Weird electric behaviour

[pscocoa]

Been very quiet on car front and no real issues with Astra 2012 since I got it 7.5 years ago.  But on the very hot day last week instruments went haywire, codes could not be read as no communication with AA equipment. Abs and gearbox fault lights on. Taken to main dealer who having left it a few days as they were fully booked saying today car is driving normally and they can read codes and no faults showing. Battery tested,  alternator charging ok etc. They will test again tomorrow. Weird - told them to test on uphill as the problem seemed to happen when load placed on engine and transmission

[Sir Tigger KC]

Climate change innit. 

[dave the builder]

Computers , ECUs etc don't like extreme heat and throw a wobbly
Engine ECU is under the bonnet on many astras 
If it's OK now after "turning it off and on again" I wouldn't spend too much time and money chasing ghosts .

though I hear we have a 2 week heatwave due mid August 

[pscocoa]

Thanks Dave - it was still behaving erratically even when left over night. I got it down to dealers with AA following and several warnings showing- dealer wasn't able to touch it for a few days and when they did no codes showing at all. If it is as you say regarding ECU and heat then I suppose they will ring me after further road test today to ask me to pick it up. Surprised others not reporting similar problems from what I can see.

[Doctor Gollum]

Underbonnet temps easily exceed 40 degrees. The problem is most likely in the dash somewhere... But it will throw all its toys out thanks to the way Canbus works. 

Are you still leaving it in the station carpark all day? Or is it otherwise left in the sun

[Marks DTM Calib]

Been very quiet on car front and no real issues with Astra 2012 since I got it 7.5 years ago.  But on the very hot day last week instruments went haywire, codes could not be read as no communication with AA equipment. Abs and gearbox fault lights on. Taken to main dealer who having left it a few days as they were fully booked saying today car is driving normally and they can read codes and no faults showing. Battery tested,  alternator charging ok etc. They will test again tomorrow. Weird - told them to test on uphill as the problem seemed to happen when load placed on engine and transmission

Did it happen whilst stood or whilst driving?

[VXL V6]

Only time I can recall seeing anything like that situation was when an alternator was failing on one of my cars

[STEMO]

Been very quiet on car front and no real issues with Astra 2012 since I got it 7.5 years ago.  But on the very hot day last week instruments went haywire, codes could not be read as no communication with AA equipment. Abs and gearbox fault lights on. Taken to main dealer who having left it a few days as they were fully booked saying today car is driving normally and they can read codes and no faults showing. Battery tested,  alternator charging ok etc. They will test again tomorrow. Weird - told them to test on uphill as the problem seemed to happen when load placed on engine and transmission

Did it happen whilst stood or whilst driving?

Going uphill 

[pscocoa]

Underbonnet temps easily exceed 40 degrees. The problem is most likely in the dash somewhere... But it will throw all its toys out thanks to the way Canbus works. 

Are you still leaving it in the station carpark all day? Or is it otherwise left in the sun

I retired 3 years ago so no car park issue. It was stood for a couple of hours in height of afternoon heat but nothing excessive..

[pscocoa]

Been very quiet on car front and no real issues with Astra 2012 since I got it 7.5 years ago.  But on the very hot day last week instruments went haywire, codes could not be read as no communication with AA equipment. Abs and gearbox fault lights on. Taken to main dealer who having left it a few days as they were fully booked saying today car is driving normally and they can read codes and no faults showing. Battery tested,  alternator charging ok etc. They will test again tomorrow. Weird - told them to test on uphill as the problem seemed to happen when load placed on engine and transmission

Did it happen whilst stood or whilst driving?

Going uphill 

Yes - it has happened twice going uphill. The Eden Camberley workshop manager is taking it home to Guildford tonight - some hills to cope with.  See what tomorrow brings.

[pscocoa]

Seems Dave was right - car was ok on all hills with 20 mile road test. When I went to pick it up guy on reception said that they had quite a few customers in during the 2 hot days with weird things happening.

[STEMO]

Seems Dave was right - car was ok on all hills with 20 mile road test. When I went to pick it up guy on reception said that they had quite a few customers in during the 2 hot days with weird things happening.

Good result, Phil 

[pscocoa]

Seems Dave was right - car was ok on all hills with 20 mile road test. When I went to pick it up guy on reception said that they had quite a few customers in during the 2 hot days with weird things happening.

Good result, Phil 

Cheers Steve - I can see you have been on top form.

[Marks DTM Calib]

It won't be engine ecu, it might be instruments, but I expect you to seer this happen again at some point

Engine bay temps vary very little between hot and warm days (for the obvious reasons) for info, as the primary heat source is at a controlled temperature and much hotter than even the higest ambient temperatures

[TheBoy]

I thought all car manufacturers do extreme climate tests on cars, and mostly use the same components on the cars, no matter what the market.

And it wasn't that hot really.  Hot for the UK, but 45C isn't unheard of in the Med, and the Astra is a fairly common car there...