Unwanted noise under hard acceleration on VX220 Turbo

[WantanewV12V]

My wifes car is just passed its 4th anniversary, 45000 miles and she has owned it since new. The car has always been serviced by the Vauxhall dealer that we bought the car from. We now seem to be getting to the end of their expertise.

We put the car in for a service recently and had the timing belt seen to. I asked for a noise to be investigated that occurs under hard acceleration. They completely failed to even find the noise let alone cure it. They have had the car over the past 3 days to find and so far have reported finding a number of rattles and fixed them and also managed to find the ABS light on which require a complete hub unit replacement. The cost has now mounted to over £500 which on top of the servicing and timing belt recently has added a significant 4 figure bill over the past two months.

However the main noise still persists. It is most easily provoked when pulling out in first quickly at a junction but can be provoked in any gear. It is what I describe as a graunching noise, like a mechanical vibration. The mechanic is now suggesting (after his calls with a VX dealer) that the entire engine bay may need stripping down to find out what it is and that it might be an engine mount.

My biggest concern is that they don't appear to know what they are doing. Is the car safe to drive ? Is it going to require significant surgery just to find out what is causing it ? Is it something we can just live with ?

Should I pay the £530 incurred and locate someone who knows what they are doing ? Any recomendations in the Cheltenham, Evesham, Worcester, Stratford area where I should go to ( further if necessary) ?

[Denno B]

That sounds like an engine mount has gone, the side mounts are the ones that tend to commonly give way. Don't bother taking it back to vauxhall, i'd recommend sports car services in Halesowen if that's not too far for you, the guy Mike specialises in vx's and will diagnose that problem in minutes. I wouldn't drive it hard until you get it fixed though. I had the same problem on mine and just replaced both sides mounts with parts from autovaux, £79 for the pair and got Mike to fit them, think he charges about £44 an hr and it's about an 1hr-1.5hr job from what i recall. The engine doesn't need stripping for that though! The number is 01215505377 if that's any help.

[pincher]

I'd agree with the engine mount diagnosis from what you are describing. Mileage is probably about right for them to go (and some go much, much earlier than that).

Here's what one of mine looked like when I changed them;



Not quite how it should look!!

Edited by pincher on Monday 26th April 20:48

[vxsmithers]

another vote for engine mounts. mine went at less than 30k miles, and should be changed as a pair otherwise the other will go if it hasn't already gone shortly - its not too serious, just don't rag the car until they're changed.

vauxhall have been consistently poor at looking after these cars, so a local friendly independent who does motorsport is your best bet if you can't get to back on track or plans (guildford) or courtney sport (Norfolk). There are other more specialists around, but these are the ones I have used and had no real problems with.

There are people on vx220.org who do jobs like yours for small cost / beer money, just not sure there are many near you - could be worth a post there as there is a vast knowledge there.

[WantanewV12V]

Thanks guys - appreciate the help. I will try Halesowen as not too far away. It's getting an opinion from someone who knows what they are doing that counts. I will go gentle (my wife is ill at the moment so down to me). I will also try the VX220 site.

Edited by WantanewV12V on Monday 26th April 22:10

[Steve Maund]

Give Liam a call @ MMG,0121 323 5149, Specialist in VX and Lotus, based in Sutton Coldfield, he's on holiday till next Tuesday I think.

Steve

[WantanewV12V]

Steve Maund said:

Give Liam a call @ MMG,0121 323 5149, Specialist in VX and Lotus, based in Sutton Coldfield, he's on holiday till next Tuesday I think.

Steve

Thanks Steve

[DJHH2004]

Hi

I have same / similar sound when driving in first and second gears (and somtimes third) when I rev hard and get to around 2500 / 3000rpm - this only happens when driving, not when the car is stationary.

I live on the London / Essex border and would like to know a reliable garage that could validate the problem or idenitify the problem in not the mount - anybody know one?

Thanks

Edited by DJHH2004 on Thursday 10th June 19:12

[DC]

DJHH2004 said:

Hi

I have same / similar sound when driving in first and second gears (and somtimes third) when I rev hard and get to around 2500 / 3000rpm - this only happens when driving, not when the car is stationary.

I live on the London / Essex border and would like to know a reliable garage that could validate the problem or idenitify the problem in not the mount - anybody know one?

Thanks

Edited by DJHH2004 on Thursday 10th June 19:12

Back on Track at Guildford comes highly recommended in Lotus and VX200 circles and should not be toofar from you. They have provided consistently high service for me. http://backontrackmotorsport.co.uk/