Salesman Bullkak?

I was looking for a new car today, asking for a 1.9 Vectra or Astra with the
150 PS engine. They only had the 120PS ones, and he gave me some line about
avoiding the 150 ones "especially that year" ('twas an 05) because "the ECU
valves blow".

WTF is he on about? The only thing I can think of is the EGR valve. Are
there any know problems with the 1.9 150PS engine?

Bob

 

I think the swirl actuator valves are a problem, not sure but I think
it's 150 specific, see comments at the bottom of this article:-

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/index.htm?md=526&

 

have a look at the post "does anyone have a problem with fly by wire"
posted 21/12/07 on this newsgroup.

Bob

 

I think the swirl actuator valves are a problem, not sure but I think
it's 150 specific, see comments at the bottom of this article:-

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/index.htm?md=526&

Thanks for the info - I looked at the Saab page, and it says Saab, Fiat and
GM are fitting replacement parts for the swirl valves. Is this a standard
thing (can't see owt on the AA recall notices) or just when you hand over a
wadge of cash when it borks your engine? It seems like another false
economy over complication to the engine to me. Saves a tiny amount of fuel,
has a huge carbon footprint to manufacture a replacement far outweighing the
fuel savings.

Also worrying is the belt snapping - the 2.0 DTi I have ATM has a chain,
with no replacement period. Why the backward step? What is the replacement
period meant to be, and have they revised it?

Another useful tip on the Astra page is that water gets trapped on the front
suspension turret and causes corrosion - I thought they were galvanised?

Nice to see the "unstoppably fueled by engine oil until death" fault not
listed on these engines! Might invest in an old sock to shove in the air
intake if this happens...

Bob

 

Interesting - did they fix it under warranty?

Bob

 

Yeah, that's the only way I know of stopping an out of control diesel;
mind you it can be a challenge even finding the air intake these
days ...

 

Might invest in an old sock to shove in the air

Mine is visible when the bonnet is lifted. They like to model them on
ramjets nowadays.

Another way would be to try to stall it by stopping, keeping the brakes on,
and "setting off" in top gear, but I don't know if that would work.

Bob

 

yeah -8hr job he reckoned

 

I did a test drive of one this weekend - stalled it reversing it out... Re
started the engine, and it was ignoring the accelerator. For about 10
minutes, there was a horrible burning oil smell and blue smoke. When we got
back, there was none.

Didn't buy it.

Bob.