Vectra 1.9 cdti engine.
Discussion
Mine is on 75000, just shat its first EGR valve, a friends is on 200k plus and is still used on distance work.
Maintained, they are perfectly fine. There are some horror stories, but there are a hell of a lot of them around. All about context.
Cambelt is officially 100k, in practice 60k is better, water pumps should be changed at the same time, they're only a few quid extra on top of the job.
Maintained, they are perfectly fine. There are some horror stories, but there are a hell of a lot of them around. All about context.
Cambelt is officially 100k, in practice 60k is better, water pumps should be changed at the same time, they're only a few quid extra on top of the job.
Edited by Magictrousers on Saturday 23 February 22:45
Good luck! I bought a Signum 1.9cdti 150 in April 2011. By Dec 2011 it had been in a garage of sorts for a total of 3 months (not consecutively), and stood me 4.5k in repair bills, on top of the £3.5k purchase price. And that was before the DMF totally gave up the ghost and cost me another £1500!!
I would say leave these alone personally. Put me off diesels for life!
I would say leave these alone personally. Put me off diesels for life!
Magictrousers said:
Cambelt is officially 100k, in practice 60k is better, water pumps should be changed at the same time, they're only a few quid extra on top of the job.
Totally agree. There are a lot of reports of these engines shredding cambelts, though as a result of wtaer pump failure, not failure of the belt itself. When you change the belt, make sure you fit a good quality set of rollers, tensioner and water pump too. If the belt snaps it will almost certainly result in broken rockers (though valve/piston damage is very unlikely).My eldest daughter's fiance has a 56-reg Astra with this engine. The inlet manifold needed changing last year because the swirl flap mechanism was knackered. When I fitted the new manifold I also blanked-off the EGR valve at the same time. It's been fine ever since, and currently has around 110K on the clock.
The internet investigation I did before the manifold change highlighted a number of known issues. The following is copied from Honest John:-
"1.9 diesels can be delightful to drive, but give a lot of problems:
Failed inlet manifold swirl flaps (and the flaps can break and be ingested by the engine).
Failed EGRs.
Choked DPFs.
Failed timing belts, often because the waterpump seized. Belt, tensioner, pulleys and waterpump need replacing every 40,000 miles.
Failed oil pumps.
Failed dual mass flywheels.
Failed turbos."
Given the above, and from my experience of working on this engine, I would avoid it at all costs. It's a shame it has so many weaknesses, as it's fitted to numerous cars from Fiat, Alfa, Lancia, Opel, Vauxhall, Saab & Suzuki.
Edited by S7Paul on Wednesday 27th February 21:38
Edited by S7Paul on Wednesday 27th February 21:38
And just to add insult to injury...
The Astra mentioned in my earlier post has just broken down - seems like the gearbox has gone.
Phoning around reveals (yet again) that this is another common, well-known problem that afflicts these cars. Talking to a local gearbox specialist, he's currently got two in his workshop with the same problem, and says the gearbox has basic design issues.
He managed to fix one recently for £600 (including removing & re-fitting the gearbox) as it only needed a bearing replaced. However, if a recon gearbox is needed they are in the £700-£1000 bracket, plus fitting. A new gearbox from Vauxhall is £2400. In summary, it looks like another big bill is heading our way.
The Astra mentioned in my earlier post has just broken down - seems like the gearbox has gone.
Phoning around reveals (yet again) that this is another common, well-known problem that afflicts these cars. Talking to a local gearbox specialist, he's currently got two in his workshop with the same problem, and says the gearbox has basic design issues.
He managed to fix one recently for £600 (including removing & re-fitting the gearbox) as it only needed a bearing replaced. However, if a recon gearbox is needed they are in the £700-£1000 bracket, plus fitting. A new gearbox from Vauxhall is £2400. In summary, it looks like another big bill is heading our way.
S7Paul said:
And just to add insult to injury...
The Astra mentioned in my earlier post has just broken down - seems like the gearbox has gone.
Phoning around reveals (yet again) that this is another common, well-known problem that afflicts these cars. Talking to a local gearbox specialist, he's currently got two in his workshop with the same problem, and says the gearbox has basic design issues.
He managed to fix one recently for £600 (including removing & re-fitting the gearbox) as it only needed a bearing replaced. However, if a recon gearbox is needed they are in the £700-£1000 bracket, plus fitting. A new gearbox from Vauxhall is £2400. In summary, it looks like another big bill is heading our way.
Mine is about to have its 3rd gearbox fitted at Vauxall considering the car has only done 52k the boxes must made of toffee! Other than an egr valve and inlet manifold the latest type it runs well don't think we'll be replacing it with another astra estate shame really we've had a nearly new one every 3 years since 1990!The Astra mentioned in my earlier post has just broken down - seems like the gearbox has gone.
Phoning around reveals (yet again) that this is another common, well-known problem that afflicts these cars. Talking to a local gearbox specialist, he's currently got two in his workshop with the same problem, and says the gearbox has basic design issues.
He managed to fix one recently for £600 (including removing & re-fitting the gearbox) as it only needed a bearing replaced. However, if a recon gearbox is needed they are in the £700-£1000 bracket, plus fitting. A new gearbox from Vauxhall is £2400. In summary, it looks like another big bill is heading our way.
The gearbox replacement ended up costing £1175. The original box was too bad to just replace the affected bearings, so it needed a recon unit. The guy that did the job for us has a steady stream of Vauxhalls going through the workshop - he seems to do little else at the moment except fix busted M32 gearboxes.
In case it's of any use to anyone, this is copied from vxronline.co.uk:
There is a very common issue with these gearboxes - the symptoms can vary, some complain of whining but no movement in the gearstick, and some complain of movement but no whining! but this is what you should be looking out for:
- When you lift the clutch up in 1st gear, while holding the gearstick, it will move back into your hand, sometimes 10-20mm!
- When Driving along in 5th and/or 6th, when you come on and off the throttle, the gearstick 'twitches'
compared to 3rd and 4th which will have nothing.
- Whining in 1st, sometimes 2nd, 5th and/or 6th.
- Corsa's (Only) when turning right at 30mph+ you get a what is best described like a disc rubbing noise.
The problem with the gearbox that gives all of the above problems, is all down to one bearing - the bearing on top of 6th gear, The bearing rollers wear which causes the movement in the gearstick, and also pits causing the whining...
The cause is a combination of things, but mainly down to a poor gearbox design, with a undersized bearing for the torque outputs on top of the 6th gear loading point.
The advice is always catch and repair it early, as it can only get worse and get more expensive!!
If you leave it too long, the outer bearing race can start to turn, which wears the end casing - meaning you will need a new outer Case. And if you leave it even longer it might actually punch a hole in the casing!
In case it's of any use to anyone, this is copied from vxronline.co.uk:
There is a very common issue with these gearboxes - the symptoms can vary, some complain of whining but no movement in the gearstick, and some complain of movement but no whining! but this is what you should be looking out for:
- When you lift the clutch up in 1st gear, while holding the gearstick, it will move back into your hand, sometimes 10-20mm!
- When Driving along in 5th and/or 6th, when you come on and off the throttle, the gearstick 'twitches'
compared to 3rd and 4th which will have nothing.
- Whining in 1st, sometimes 2nd, 5th and/or 6th.
- Corsa's (Only) when turning right at 30mph+ you get a what is best described like a disc rubbing noise.
The problem with the gearbox that gives all of the above problems, is all down to one bearing - the bearing on top of 6th gear, The bearing rollers wear which causes the movement in the gearstick, and also pits causing the whining...
The cause is a combination of things, but mainly down to a poor gearbox design, with a undersized bearing for the torque outputs on top of the 6th gear loading point.
The advice is always catch and repair it early, as it can only get worse and get more expensive!!
If you leave it too long, the outer bearing race can start to turn, which wears the end casing - meaning you will need a new outer Case. And if you leave it even longer it might actually punch a hole in the casing!
S7Paul said:
Car failed to start his afternoon - looks like the Alternator's gone now. And trawling through the forums reveals that it's yet another well-known problem. Unbelievable! Is there any part of this car that isn't utter garbage?
In short mate, no! I had an alternator go on mine too, amongst the miriad of other faults with this engine. If they'd put a decent motor in these cars, would have been fantastic cars. Seem to think my alternator came to over £200 fitted.smiffy220 said:
S7Paul said:
Car failed to start his afternoon - looks like the Alternator's gone now. And trawling through the forums reveals that it's yet another well-known problem. Unbelievable! Is there any part of this car that isn't utter garbage?
In short mate, no! I had an alternator go on mine too, amongst the miriad of other faults with this engine. If they'd put a decent motor in these cars, would have been fantastic cars. Seem to think my alternator came to over £200 fitted.I don't want to tempt fate but here goes.
I bought a 2008 Vectra 150 SRi nearly 4 years ago on 48000 miles.
At about 65k it had to have an EGR valve but that was done under warranty.
It's now on 98000 and other than that it's been totally faultless. I drove a 250 mile round trip yesterday and got 58 mpg. Most of my miles are on the motorway so the engine is rarely stressed, 70 mph is only 2000 rpm. I don't pamper it. it just gets a yearly service but I did get the cam belt and water pump done at 80k. The performance is pretty good as well, it'll certainly keep up with most other stuff if you need too.
Having said all that I think I've been lucky so far and I won't be having another one just because of the horror stories that are out there. However there must be hundreds of thousands of these engines out there in various cars and you only get to hear about the bad ones.
I bought a 2008 Vectra 150 SRi nearly 4 years ago on 48000 miles.
At about 65k it had to have an EGR valve but that was done under warranty.
It's now on 98000 and other than that it's been totally faultless. I drove a 250 mile round trip yesterday and got 58 mpg. Most of my miles are on the motorway so the engine is rarely stressed, 70 mph is only 2000 rpm. I don't pamper it. it just gets a yearly service but I did get the cam belt and water pump done at 80k. The performance is pretty good as well, it'll certainly keep up with most other stuff if you need too.
Having said all that I think I've been lucky so far and I won't be having another one just because of the horror stories that are out there. However there must be hundreds of thousands of these engines out there in various cars and you only get to hear about the bad ones.
They will go on, iv seen one with 369,000 miles on it. As long as the car is looked after that goes for any car it will keep going
On the Z19DTH Common issues are
Swirl Flaps. - If they have gone replace them with updated manifold then get the egr blanked out so this wont happen again
M32 Gearbox - The 6th bearing tends to go due to the oil and box overheating - I Would Recommend Changing the Fluid as Part of a Yearly service
Injectors Wiring - Pre - 2007 i think is the year Vauxhall changed the plugs from yellow to blue i believe
Cam-belt / water pump - Ignore the 100k change i would change it 50k or Every 4 Years which ever is first
On the Z19DTH Common issues are
Swirl Flaps. - If they have gone replace them with updated manifold then get the egr blanked out so this wont happen again
M32 Gearbox - The 6th bearing tends to go due to the oil and box overheating - I Would Recommend Changing the Fluid as Part of a Yearly service
Injectors Wiring - Pre - 2007 i think is the year Vauxhall changed the plugs from yellow to blue i believe
Cam-belt / water pump - Ignore the 100k change i would change it 50k or Every 4 Years which ever is first
Seeing as they are probably the most common engine fitted to vauxhalls of this period then it's obvious there will be more reports of issues compared to other engines. For every one with a problem there are probably 20 without a problem. Nobody posts on the internet about their drive to work where the car didn't break down.
I had one and it had a blocked up erg valve. Since I like tinkering with cars I did my research and proceeded to blank off the erg, bond the swirl flaps in the open position permanently, removed the DPF and had it remapped. 200bhp and 300lbft made it a great car for my motorway commute. Not bad on a B road either due to the Bilstein B12 suspension I fitted and the big brake upgrade from the 3.2 gsi. Not a rocket ship but saw off some sporty cars like focus ST's, Alfa 3.2's and golf gti's etc.
The engine is strong but it's the ancillarys that can let it down admittedly. No worse than any other car tho, you get horror stories with them all. The reports of problems are relative to the amount of cars produced tho!
I had one and it had a blocked up erg valve. Since I like tinkering with cars I did my research and proceeded to blank off the erg, bond the swirl flaps in the open position permanently, removed the DPF and had it remapped. 200bhp and 300lbft made it a great car for my motorway commute. Not bad on a B road either due to the Bilstein B12 suspension I fitted and the big brake upgrade from the 3.2 gsi. Not a rocket ship but saw off some sporty cars like focus ST's, Alfa 3.2's and golf gti's etc.
The engine is strong but it's the ancillarys that can let it down admittedly. No worse than any other car tho, you get horror stories with them all. The reports of problems are relative to the amount of cars produced tho!
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