Conference terri::cars_uk

I have just ordered the 1.8i 16V Astra and am hoping that
this is not a problem for both the engines.

Have you tried any other 1.6 16V Astra......is is a problem
for ALL of these Astra's or just yours ??

Barry

    I don't know whether the problem is just mine or the 1.6 16v.. nor do
    Vauxhall!! Remember that this is a brand new engine, whereas the 1.8
    has been around for a while.
    		Jon.
    

    They didn't have any ex-DECcies working on the engine management code,
    did they ;-) ??
    
    Ooo, sorry, that was loooooooww!

How come Vauxhall have created a new 1.6 engine but are sticking
with an old 1.8 engine....any ideas ??

Barry

    
    
    
    re: stalling problem 
    
    As its 16v and newish, I assume its fuel injected not carburised (sp?).
    Some where in this conference it was mentioned that the electronic
    management for fuel injected engines cut off the fuel on over-run till
    the revs. drop to around 1500.
    
    I have a problem on cold mornings where I set off down the hill on
    over-run till I get to a junction half way down, and the engine stalls.
    I attributed the problem to a combination of cold/auto-choke/the above.
    
    My engine isn't 1.6 16v, but it is 1.4 16v (and made by Rover). Perhaps
    the problem you describe is to do with the fuel cutoff?
    
    Andy

Didn't the 2.0 16v engines in calibras have this same
problem? 

    re .6
    
    Yes. Amongst others.... :^)
    
    Clive

The overrun cutoff should only operate when the engine is at (nearly) 
normal operating temperature (well the Ford ECU works like that!).

- John.

    Update:
    
    My dealer has now said (after having the car for a week) that they
    can't find a fault and they can't reproduce the problem.  They have
    said I can have the car back.
    My feelings are that the car is dangerous and my wife (who uses it the
    most) has refused to drive it, having nearly been shunted on her last
    stall on a slip road.
    I think the dealers attitude of 'reproduce the problem in front of us
    and we'll take it from there' is not acceptable, although I can't blame
    them. Should I tell Leaseplan to take the car back and I'll order a
    different car?
    
    	Jon.
    
    PS When I put the car into the dealer it had over half a tank of petrol
    and they claim to have done over 150 miles testing. Should I put in a
    claim to the dealer for a refund on the petrol they've consumed?
     

I'd explain the situation to Leaseplan and give them the 
option of either replacing the car and sending yours back
to Vauxhall, or giving you a similar relief car until the 
garage has fixed the problem, however long it takes. If 
the car is dangerous to drive, and it sounds like it is, I 
would insist that they follow one of the above. 

As for the petrol, it's definitely worth a try - you should
not be out of pocket because the garage cannot find the 
problem.

    I would talk to car fleet first to check if you should be dealing
    direct with Leaseplan or if Car Fleet should act on your behalf.
    
    Royston

    I had an intermittent engine problem with my old Astra. Ralph motors in
    Basingstoke did say that there was a unit they could borrow and attach
    to the engine management system. A panel in the car was available for
    the driver. You then drive around as normal and when the problem occurs
    you are meant to press this button and it stores the last 'n' seconds
    of EMU data.
    
    Hopefully this captured data is enough to diagnose the problem.
    
    One thing and another this never actually happened but it might be
    worth asking about.
    
    Ian.

    measure the amount of petrol you put back in.
    
    If this equates to 150 miles, then at least the garage tried. If not
    then counterclaim that they didnt test it enough.
    
    Huw.

Barry,

The 1.8 16v engine is a newish one - only about a year old !

Andy

    Bring back manual chokes!
    
    All this EMU stuff gets so complicated, it takes a month of Sundays
    trying to rectify what would have been a relatively simple problem on
    normal carburettor/points systems!
    All for the sake of catalysts and 'green cars' (give us a break!) 
    
    And they claim it's progress?
    
    Tim

    After two years of a tuned carburreted car, trying to get it to idle,
    etc. I'm all for injection system, though I do see your point ;-)

I used to have a 1.6i Ford Orion. I had it serviced and experienced a similar
problem - when cold it would cut out. It was almost impossible to keep it going.

Eventually, after a heated discussion with the service manager at the garage, they
ran a full injection test and discovered a loose wire.

This loose wire controlled the enrichment cutoff circuit. In other words, when
cold it was supposed to enrich the mixture to encourage the engine to run, then
turn it off when the temperature rose above a certainpoint. This loose wire meant
that some part of this sequence was not happenning.

This whole thing took a month, alot of hassle and an arguement. The garage agreed
to pay, and to not charge me for the series of cars which they loaned me!

This included a 1.3 litre Sierra (yes 1.3! Probably the slowest car on the road!)

Don't know if this helps any - but at least it isn't your money that bought the 
car!! :-)

regards

iwm

    Regarding the base note...
    
    Finally, after 3 weeks the car was returned fixed. The first dealer was
    dumped and the car transferred to a second dealer.  They did 2 miles
    roadtesting (as opposed to 150 miles by the 1st dealer) and then
    dismantled the injection system and found a soot coated throttle valve
    which should have been shiny!
    Car returned and has been working OK since. Shame I had to return the
    16v Cavalier hire-car!!
    
    Thanks to Leaseplan, in particular Leigh Hudson.
    
    Jon.