05 Astra 1.9 CDTI Suspension/front of car banging noise
Discussion
Hello all. Wondered if anyone knew of any problems with my model Astra and suspension/engine bay banging noises.
I had the flywheel replaced under VX warranty a few months ago. Since then there has been an intermittent knocking/donking/banging noise from the front of the car when driving. It seemed to start over on the left of the car but more recently seems to be around the centre of the front of the car/engine bay.
I took it back to the VX dealer who did the warranty work. They checked it and said they couldn't find a fault (the car didn't make a single noise when on the test drive, typical!). So their advice was leave it until it's doing it all of the time then it can be diagnosed and repaired. From what I said they think it may be the Anti Roll bar bushes or something?
It's an annoyingly loud noise when it happens, and it seems to appear when i'm changing gear or slowing down and turning left, sometimes on uneven surfaces, sometimes on flat ones. It makes a banging/pinging noise and I hope it isn't too serious. I'm wondering if everything on the front of the car was disturbed when they did the flywheel change, or maybe something hasn't been put back correctly. It doesn't happen if you go over something like a speed bump though and I can't feel any vibration on the steering.
As mentioned above, it seems intermittent but is very noticeable. Anyone have any ideas? I was thinking of taking it to a different VX dealer and getting their opinion on it. Is this a good idea?
Thanks all.
I had the flywheel replaced under VX warranty a few months ago. Since then there has been an intermittent knocking/donking/banging noise from the front of the car when driving. It seemed to start over on the left of the car but more recently seems to be around the centre of the front of the car/engine bay.
I took it back to the VX dealer who did the warranty work. They checked it and said they couldn't find a fault (the car didn't make a single noise when on the test drive, typical!). So their advice was leave it until it's doing it all of the time then it can be diagnosed and repaired. From what I said they think it may be the Anti Roll bar bushes or something?
It's an annoyingly loud noise when it happens, and it seems to appear when i'm changing gear or slowing down and turning left, sometimes on uneven surfaces, sometimes on flat ones. It makes a banging/pinging noise and I hope it isn't too serious. I'm wondering if everything on the front of the car was disturbed when they did the flywheel change, or maybe something hasn't been put back correctly. It doesn't happen if you go over something like a speed bump though and I can't feel any vibration on the steering.
As mentioned above, it seems intermittent but is very noticeable. Anyone have any ideas? I was thinking of taking it to a different VX dealer and getting their opinion on it. Is this a good idea?
Thanks all.
Mine did something similar. The front top mounts had rotted through with rust - they fill with water and rust like fury. Prise the plastic caps off (top of suspension turrets under the bonnet) and see if there's water in them.
Piece of crap cars TBH - I had mine 8 months and hated every minute of it, even after VXR brakes, remap, suspension rebuild...
Piece of crap cars TBH - I had mine 8 months and hated every minute of it, even after VXR brakes, remap, suspension rebuild...
HellDiver said:
Mine did something similar. The front top mounts had rotted through with rust - they fill with water and rust like fury. Prise the plastic caps off (top of suspension turrets under the bonnet) and see if there's water in them.
Piece of crap cars TBH - I had mine 8 months and hated every minute of it, even after VXR brakes, remap, suspension rebuild...
Blimey! Will take a look then. If so then that's terrible.Piece of crap cars TBH - I had mine 8 months and hated every minute of it, even after VXR brakes, remap, suspension rebuild...
I still have a warranty on it until March next year so may get rid when it runs out.
Thanks.
I had a similar problem with my 1.9 CDTI 150, it was mostly when I was going over uneven surfaces, didnt notice it when changing gear though.
took it to the garage and it was (I think) the struts or something similar to these parts, two little rods, one either side. since being replaced the front end sounds solid now and no knocks.
not expensive, only got me £80 inc VAT including parts and labour. might be worth trying these before anything expensive etc
took it to the garage and it was (I think) the struts or something similar to these parts, two little rods, one either side. since being replaced the front end sounds solid now and no knocks.
not expensive, only got me £80 inc VAT including parts and labour. might be worth trying these before anything expensive etc
They're not piece of crap cars, don't go on one man's opinion.
If the noise only started after the car had work done then your first port of call is back to the dealer and ask the service manager or head technician to come with you on a roadtest so you can let them experience the issue with you present. Not point telling them to drive it and you're sat in the waiting area having a free coffee. Hopefully the noise will happen and a well trained ear will be able to pin point it rather quickly.
With regards to the work that's been done, that's quite a big task and as a result a number of fairly substantial components will have been removed/disturbed so it could be a case of poor workmanship, perhaps a bolt not done up FT (thats "fackin tight" by the way) or a porrly fitted mount. Seems odd that the dealer has checked yet can't find anything as if the noise is as bad as you report, there should be obvious movement somewhere that a pry bar and a well trained technician will find. Unless they don't want to find it.
As has been said, top mounts, anti-roll bar bushes, anti-roll bar drop links, lower arms bushes, balljoints, track rod ends, inner steering knuckles, loose or worn engine mounts, poorly fitted exhaust, worn driveshaft, worn diff... they can all make a noise so there's no point speculating on a forum, so as said, back to the dealer, be polite and patient, explain the issue and ask that they investigate it further and if they won't listen, another dealer or a reputable independant will be able to give you a second opinion.
Best of luck, it'll be something simple... though first you have to find it!
If the noise only started after the car had work done then your first port of call is back to the dealer and ask the service manager or head technician to come with you on a roadtest so you can let them experience the issue with you present. Not point telling them to drive it and you're sat in the waiting area having a free coffee. Hopefully the noise will happen and a well trained ear will be able to pin point it rather quickly.
With regards to the work that's been done, that's quite a big task and as a result a number of fairly substantial components will have been removed/disturbed so it could be a case of poor workmanship, perhaps a bolt not done up FT (thats "fackin tight" by the way) or a porrly fitted mount. Seems odd that the dealer has checked yet can't find anything as if the noise is as bad as you report, there should be obvious movement somewhere that a pry bar and a well trained technician will find. Unless they don't want to find it.
As has been said, top mounts, anti-roll bar bushes, anti-roll bar drop links, lower arms bushes, balljoints, track rod ends, inner steering knuckles, loose or worn engine mounts, poorly fitted exhaust, worn driveshaft, worn diff... they can all make a noise so there's no point speculating on a forum, so as said, back to the dealer, be polite and patient, explain the issue and ask that they investigate it further and if they won't listen, another dealer or a reputable independant will be able to give you a second opinion.
Best of luck, it'll be something simple... though first you have to find it!
Davie said:
They're not piece of crap cars, don't go on one man's opinion.
If the noise only started after the car had work done then your first port of call is back to the dealer and ask the service manager or head technician to come with you on a roadtest so you can let them experience the issue with you present. Not point telling them to drive it and you're sat in the waiting area having a free coffee. Hopefully the noise will happen and a well trained ear will be able to pin point it rather quickly.
With regards to the work that's been done, that's quite a big task and as a result a number of fairly substantial components will have been removed/disturbed so it could be a case of poor workmanship, perhaps a bolt not done up FT (thats "fackin tight" by the way) or a porrly fitted mount. Seems odd that the dealer has checked yet can't find anything as if the noise is as bad as you report, there should be obvious movement somewhere that a pry bar and a well trained technician will find. Unless they don't want to find it.
As has been said, top mounts, anti-roll bar bushes, anti-roll bar drop links, lower arms bushes, balljoints, track rod ends, inner steering knuckles, loose or worn engine mounts, poorly fitted exhaust, worn driveshaft, worn diff... they can all make a noise so there's no point speculating on a forum, so as said, back to the dealer, be polite and patient, explain the issue and ask that they investigate it further and if they won't listen, another dealer or a reputable independant will be able to give you a second opinion.
Best of luck, it'll be something simple... though first you have to find it!
Agreed, dont take one persons opinion on this as a bad car at all, I have had mine for several years now and with 140,000 miles on the clock I dont really have any complaints. (Touch wood..)If the noise only started after the car had work done then your first port of call is back to the dealer and ask the service manager or head technician to come with you on a roadtest so you can let them experience the issue with you present. Not point telling them to drive it and you're sat in the waiting area having a free coffee. Hopefully the noise will happen and a well trained ear will be able to pin point it rather quickly.
With regards to the work that's been done, that's quite a big task and as a result a number of fairly substantial components will have been removed/disturbed so it could be a case of poor workmanship, perhaps a bolt not done up FT (thats "fackin tight" by the way) or a porrly fitted mount. Seems odd that the dealer has checked yet can't find anything as if the noise is as bad as you report, there should be obvious movement somewhere that a pry bar and a well trained technician will find. Unless they don't want to find it.
As has been said, top mounts, anti-roll bar bushes, anti-roll bar drop links, lower arms bushes, balljoints, track rod ends, inner steering knuckles, loose or worn engine mounts, poorly fitted exhaust, worn driveshaft, worn diff... they can all make a noise so there's no point speculating on a forum, so as said, back to the dealer, be polite and patient, explain the issue and ask that they investigate it further and if they won't listen, another dealer or a reputable independant will be able to give you a second opinion.
Best of luck, it'll be something simple... though first you have to find it!
The only things that have gone wrong for me are things due to wear and tear, cant really avoid that with the amount of miles I do.
Blimey! Forgot about this thread. 
Changed my car in September last year so have nothing more to add to this i'm afraid. Since the work had been completed on my DMF the car never felt the same again. I would have been a bit annoyed if the problem had only been some struts (award winning main dealer missed it).
Hope everyone gets on ok with their Astra.
Changed my car in September last year so have nothing more to add to this i'm afraid. Since the work had been completed on my DMF the car never felt the same again. I would have been a bit annoyed if the problem had only been some struts (award winning main dealer missed it).
Hope everyone gets on ok with their Astra.
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