vauxhall vectra c life 2007 1.8 16v - slight tapping on start up lasts about 6 secs , - MrEdd65

Hi i have a slight tapping sound when i start my car , car still runs fine , idle is fine , but am wanting to sell and would like to resolve before selling . Only thing i can think of is it my be one or both of the camshaft postion seloniod , it is asif oil is delayed to the camshafts because after 6 seconds noise stops and only does it when engine is cold . Any help would be much appreciated Paul

Edited by MrEdd65 on 14/06/2015 at 23:17

vauxhall vectra c life 2007 1.8 16v - slight tapping on start up lasts about 6 secs , - bathtub tom

What's the service history, how long have you had it and what's it's mileage?

vauxhall vectra c life 2007 1.8 16v - slight tapping on start up lasts about 6 secs , - MrEdd65
87000 some history for last 3.5 years
vauxhall vectra c life 2007 1.8 16v - slight tapping on start up lasts about 6 secs , - elekie&a/c doctor

Not so sure it will be the cam solenoids.These direct oil to the dephaser gear wheels on the front of the cam drives.Oil to the camshafts is feed direct from the engine block.Is the correct oil being used?I think an oil and filter change would be the next step.

vauxhall vectra c life 2007 1.8 16v - slight tapping on start up lasts about 6 secs , - MrEdd65
Ok cheers for that I will give oil change and fit new filter , will update later Cheers Paul
vauxhall vectra c life 2007 1.8 16v - slight tapping on start up lasts about 6 secs , - craig-pd130

Does that engine have hydraulic tappets? If so, they can be noisy on a cold start-up when they get older, until the oil pressure is sufficient to 'pump them up.'

An oil & filter change can help - also check you're using the correct grade of oil.

vauxhall vectra c life 2007 1.8 16v - slight tapping on start up lasts about 6 secs , - MrEdd65
Hi can you recommend an oil that I can use car has done 87000 miles and is an 07 plate and has been serviced regularly Cheers Paul
vauxhall vectra c life 2007 1.8 16v - slight tapping on start up lasts about 6 secs , - skidpan
Hi can you recommend an oil that I can use car has done 87000 miles and is an 07 plate and has been serviced regularly Cheers Paul

Use only the oil spec recommended by the manufacturer. In the dark ages it always used to be said to use a thicker oil as the car aged. It was bad advice then and is bad advice now. As an engine ages the oil pump will become less efficient and would struggle to pump a thicker oil. that thicker oil would take longer to circulate especially when the engine is cold accelerating wear. The tappets would also take muck longer to quieten down if they are gettin a bit tired.

Any decent web site will tell you the spec, brand is pretty immaterial, there are very few if any carp oils.

vauxhall vectra c life 2007 1.8 16v - slight tapping on start up lasts about 6 secs , - old-school-tech

I have seen these cam pulleys with the same symtoms as yours, when the engine is switched off for a period of time the oil can drain out and cause them to rattle when its started up again until the oil reaches them...In one case its been the same for almost 2 years with no other side effects..

My local vaux dealer keeps these pulleys on the shelf.

vauxhall vectra c life 2007 1.8 16v - slight tapping on start up lasts about 6 secs , - MrDaz

I think there was a technical bulletin from Vauxhall which stated renew the solenoids but take to out the small guaze filters before fitting them

vauxhall vectra c life 2007 1.8 16v - slight tapping on start up lasts about 6 secs , - MrEdd65

Have you any idear of price Thanks Paul