Conference terri::cars_uk

    On a more interesting note tho - anyone have the details on the
    Vauxhall recall?  The way I interpreted it was - any Astra since 1991,
    and any Vauxhall with an airbag, but I didn't catch the full news item.
    
    mikef

    
    Apparently there was an accident in Germany where the air bag failed to
    open, hence the recall.
    
    It would be interesting to know how many accidents have occurred where
    the air bag has worked successfully and considered to have prevented
    serious facial injury. I still get thoughts of the way that dummy's
    face whacked into the steering wheel during the crash test shown the
    'accident' Cutting Edge programme the other week.
    
    There was a seperate issue with brakes on an the Astra.
    
    Royston

    I've been in touch with the local dealer this morning. They're saying 
    that it's the European built cars that are being brought in as a matter of 
    urgency for what I heard through the media to be for "life threatening" 
    problems with both or either of the petrol tank, or airbag. UK built 
    cars will be inspected through a general recall at some indeterminate 
    time in the future "as a precaution". I'm inclined to get on to Vauxhall 
    directly as irrespective of build location they're all sure to be using 
    the same sourced components. 
    
    Are we getting treated as 2nd class Euro-citizens again, because of our
    soft consumer laws!

    Gordon            
    

  
  I caught the article on R1 whilst driving home last night in a new
  Vauxhall with an airbag...
  
  So there appears to be two seperate issues - firstly if you own an Astra
  built after 1991 the petrol tank could blow if you get sparks caused by
  static (sounds more generic than an Astra problem?); and secondly the
  airbag problem - but does this apply to all models fitted with an airbag
  or just Astras, presumably the mechanism is the same whichever model it's
  in...
  
  Chris.

The Guardian this morning had a write-up on this that made it very clear that
the airbag issue concerns all Vauxhalls with airbags.

T

    Do Vauxhall manufacture all their own parts? I wondering if some 3rd
    party makes the part which is prone to failure and therefore other
    makes of cars could potentially have the same problem (and not just
    Vauxhall)!
    
    Just a thought

RE:            <<< Note 2377.3 by KERNEL::SCOBLE "Cantankerous, me!" >>>

�    Are we getting treated as 2nd class Euro-citizens again, because of our
�    soft consumer laws!

    An interesting assertion. Perhaps you'd care to educate me as to
    exactly how it is that our consumer laws are inferior to those in the
    rest of Europe.
    
    Laurie.

    RE: The Astra petrol tank problems.
    
    I can quite believe there is a problem.  During Summer the shock I got from
    the car everytime I got out was quite severe.  I've modified my 'getting out
    of the car' procedure so I don't get the shocks anymore (I'm sure there's a
    note in the conference somewhere about this).
    
    tmp

  
  According to The Independent -
  
  ...
  
  "The company was also contacting owners of all models fitted with airbags
  in order to check the correct positioning of an electrical connector plug."
  
  
  Chris.

�    I can quite believe there is a problem.  During Summer the shock I got from
�    the car everytime I got out was quite severe.  I've modified my 'getting out
�    of the car' procedure so I don't get the shocks anymore (I'm sure there's a
�    note in the conference somewhere about this).

The fact that you got shocks doesn't mean that there is likely to be an
explosion.  It could easily be that the action of your clothes on the seat cover
fabric generated static, and when you get out it is grounded.  From the write-up
in the Guardian (and admittedly reading an awful lot between the lines) the
"fix" will consist of putting an earth strap somewhere on the petrol filler pipe
- it's going to take just 20 minutes, apparently, so it can't be anything more
complex.  In those circumstances, your shocks are almost certainly not relevant.

T
 

    As the base note refers to all Vauxhall recalls, what does anyone know about
    the current 4x4 one?  My '91 Cavalier GSi was recalled about a month
    ago for `checks on the pressure gas accumulator in the 4x4/power
    steering system.
    
    Needless to say, the main dealer managed to diagnose that the work
    needed to be done, even without moving the car from the spot on the
    forecourt that I had parked it on - money for old rope these recalls,
    dealerships must rub their hands together when they happen.
    
    Any one know of any incidents that may have led to my recall?
    
    Paul
    
    

    RE: .10
    
    I'm confused.  I though if I managed to get out of the car without grounding
    the static, picked up the petrol filler pipe, and then the car earthed
    itself via the petrol filler pipe, an explosion would occur.  My point is
    that the shocks I get are probably big enough to cause a spark which could
    ignite petrol vapour if the spark was between the filler cap and the filler
    nozzle.
    
    tmp

>    I though if I managed to get out of the car without grounding
>    the static, picked up the petrol filler pipe, and then the car earthed
>    itself via the petrol filler pipe, an explosion would occur.

    ...ever  noticed  that  the guy filling up yer average passenger jet 
    with Avgas *ALWAYS* clips a grounding strap to the  wing  before  he 
    opens  up  the  tanks....it may not `Ground' the plane, but at least 
    the plane and tanker are at the same potential.

RE .-1
    ...ever  noticed  that  the guy filling up yer average passenger jet 
>    with Avgas *ALWAYS* clips a grounding strap to the  wing  before  he 
>    opens  up  the  tanks....it may not `Ground' the plane, but at least 
>    the plane and tanker are at the same potential.

I think that there would be a big bang after the driver starts the 
engines, grounding strap or not - AVGAS is petrol, a jet needs AVTUR 
which is parafin :-)

Normally grounding is not a problem for cars, or aircraft for that matter 
- the tyres are designed to be conductive so the car quickly assumes 
ground potential when it stops moving and the petrol pump is also 
grounded so no sparks. I think the Vauxhall problem is that the tanks' 
filler neck is not bonded to the car chassis so it could be at some 
potential different to the car and the pump nozzle.

- John (who used to fill aircraft with fuel now and then, in a previous 
life).

    Has anyone had a recall notice for the airbag problem yet?  
    
    Mikef

    
    re last:
    
    A contractor here in Munich (with a UK V6 Cavalier) has.
    
    Mark

    I just got my "Urgent Recall Information" (Fleet received it on 18th
    April and I got it today).  There's a freephone number 0800 318206 open
    6am to 10 pm Monday to Friday and 8 am to 2 pm on Saturday.  There are
    three items on it 
    	Fuel Filler neck
    	Driver and passenger airbag (sticker affixed)
    	Driver airbag only.
    
    Since I don't have either of the latter, I expect my fuel filler neck
    to be done.
    
    tmp

    
    Someone told me theres been a massive recall of 16,000 Astra's.
    Something to do with wiring round the engine? Does anyone have any details?
    
    
    Ian$worried_astra_sport_owner!

    
    I rang the Vauxhall helpline and they told me that it was only 1.7 TDs
    that may have the problem and the recall is only precautionary as its
    just a wiring harness that *MIGHT* rub and over time cause a short
    circuit.
    
    The recall is voluntary.
    
    Ian.