not sure what this part is or where to find it - sorry!
If you look down the back of the engine (on the alternator side) you *should* be able to see it.
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Thanks DD, I'll have a look when I get home.
In the meantime the car is booked in at Vauxhall for tomorrow morning - thanks again!
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The engine number is often on the V5, it can be a pain to find on the engine itself. Another thread on the 2.2 chain snapping frenzy here:-
www.cavweb-forums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=122350
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Definity register on www.z22se.co.uk and take a long look at the 'Cam Chains' section, closely followed by contacting Benny (Vauxhall trained) if you can get the car to Wolverhampton - he'll change the chain, jet and other items to the revised parts for (I think) £260 - alot less than a dealer will charge. If I were you I would stop driving the car until it's done as all the symptoms sound like IT WILL snap soon and then you're likely to need a new engine. 46k is right on the mileage these fail at too.
HJ's advice is a bit wrong as the cutouts in the tensioner do not indicate the presence of the new type chain. All 2.2 petrol Vectra Bs (and some Cs too it seems) had the small jet and weak chain from the farctory.
Good luck!
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Thanks RoadDevil - I've been on the forums (as recommend by DD) and they're an eye opener.
Unfortunately I don't think it will make it to Wolverhampton - it might, but it's a BIG risk and over and well over hours drive.
Cheers.
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Thanks SpamCan61 - very helpful.
Results so far:
Vauxhall Garage - extremely helpful Service Manager. Said I'd be looking at £500 to get the work done and suggested I phone Customer Services - any contribution was out of his control.
Vauxhall Customer Care - a disgrace.
Phoned them - got a case number by a very dismissive individual, but who seemed to sympathise with my claim as we've had the car since 08/2002 (first registered 09/2001) and kept up a Full Vauxhall Service History.
They advised that they'd have to speak to the Service Manager to confirm claim(like anyone would make it up!) and SM would get back to me - which he duly did - to advise that they'd rejected the claim and would contribute nothing despite a fix being available since March 2002.
I asked him to phone back (as he seemed genuine - no really!) which he did and said he'd got it upto 20% but doubted they'd go higher although he suggested I try. He's also quoted doing the full job at warranty rates, a discount of 10% on parts and it comes in at £360 now.
This clashes somewhat with my expectations of 100% plus an apology from Vauxhall - I had just this when I bought a BMW from auction a few years back and it suffered the Nickasil issue, so I'm very dissapointed in Vauxhall 'Customer Services'.
I personally think this is a much hushed up safety issue - my wife drives this with the young children in. When I think of the motorway journeys we've done (although not many 45k in 6 years says that) I shudder to think of what could have happened - 70mph + motorway + cam chain snap anyone?
Thoughts of small claims (although I have one of those outstanding at the moment - and it seems to favour the judged guilty defendant IMO), trading standards who have been less than useless in my small claims court process, even Watchdog all spring to mind. But the hassle I can live without.
Needless to say, no Vauxhall badged car will ever darken our driveway after this experience.
In the meantime - Help! What should I do?
Many thanks in advance - it really is much appreciated.
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The car is no good as it is, so get it repaired at the £360 quoted cost. If you really want to get legally entangled then when you pay the bill, write "paid under protest", on it. This leaves you open to sue for the cost of the repairs (no guarantee that you'd win though).
My next-door neighbour had exactly the same problem as you, except that his cam-chain broke. He argued that his car had been serviced by the Main Dealer as per the schedule and that no cam chain should break at such a low mileage. In the end he got the work done at no cost to himself by the Main Dealer. He had to be quite assertive though, politely of course, and of course the cost of the work well exceeded what yours will cost as there was considerable damage to the valves and cylinder head. He had bought the car brand new from them though and it was only just out of warranty.
Your Main Dealer ought to be grateful that you identified the problem before major damage occurred, but I don't think they'll see it that way. Furthermore, you bought the car second-hand and you may not have bought it from them I guess.
It is a KNOWN FAULT, there is a fix which Vauxhall carry out, and Vauxhall are demonstrating some goodwill towards you by knocking £140 off the bill for a SIX YEAR OLD car. Sounds fair to me.
Ron
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£360 sounds a good deal from a dealer, in your circumstances I'd get them to do it, pay the bill and then attempt to get as big a contribution from Vauxhall afterwards. What, if anything Vauxhall give seems to be a total lottery - see www.z22se.co.uk for tails of woe (or triumph). Somewhere on there I think is an account from someone who needed a new engine, paid a well into four figures sum without having heard of the problem, subsequently found out through the online information, complained to Vauxhall and got a full refund.
I think there's also some information on there suggesting Vauxhall will contribute for claims under 60k miles with FSH until Dec this year(?). This engine is basically a USA engine used in a lot of stateside GM products - the chains are snapping there too which is probably why they won't openly admit there's an issue as it would probably finish GM to fix it. If they keep sweeping it under the carpet eventually it will go away as the affected cars enter old banger territory. Other than the chain issue it's a good modern engine - I changed my chain myself two years ago, took me the best part of 2 days, I think Benny can do it in three hours!.
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Thanks RoadDevil, I've read those tales on z22se and am just totally disgusted with GM's mixed attitude.
I'm just going to pay the bill, which the Service Manager has done well to reduce to a minimum and never ever buy a GM car again. The contribution from GM is never going to be what I expect and the grief that will come may way for, what, an extra 10% possibly? No thanks.
Trading Standards will also be getting a call but I don't expect anything from that.
I'll also be writing to GM's UK head office, not for an enhanced contribution, but to show how they've just lost a loyal customer for life. I don't think they'll shed many tears though!
Thanks again,
Chips.
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Thanks Ron.
Just to clarify though I did buy the car off this particular dealer 6 years ago. I don't want to become legally entangled, I'm still in the process of trying to recover monies from a Small Claims judgement from 10 months ago - pure (expensive) hassle to go down that road again in my opinion.
I'd agree with the level of goodwill if this was a wear and tear issue or warranty claim - however it's a design fault and a safety concern.
However I think I'm the only one who feels this way = so maybe that should tell me something!
Cheers,
Chips.
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I'd say it's still worth a bit of effort to make a reasoned and firm argument (FVSH, 6 years ownership, loyal Vauxhall customer, etc) to vauxhall aiming for a full refund of cost, especially as you've saved them from maybe having to fund fully or partially a complete engine replacement - you might be surprised, confronting them with their own internal document (available from www.z22se.co.uk, et al) detailing the issue appears to be a tactic which causes them to cave in. Personally, the amount of effort I'd expend would be proportional to how much £360 mattered to me. Some of the people who've persisted with alot of effort on their part probably can't afford to lose that kind of money - how many headaches is it worth.
I get the feeling most manufacturers are going to be similar to deal with in similar circumstances - Vauxhall doing a full recall on this would probably send them on their way to meet Rover!
At least you'll get the car back with plenty of life left in it and be safe in the knowledge your car isn't going to join the long list of failed 2.2's.
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Quick update on this.
I wrote an emotive yet totally factual letter to Vauxhall Head Office (Customer Care), they have now agreed to reimburse me with 90% of the cost.
They've done the right thing in my opinion.
Thanks again all!
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Good and unexpected result then ?
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It was indeed - I nearly rested at 20%, but Mrs.Chips provided the extra inertia.
10/10 for the dealership - unbeknown to me, they had also put my case forward. In fact the service manager asked Mrs.Chips if she'd heard anything from Vauxhall Customer Care when she picked the car up.
So after the cheque arrives we will have only stumped out £36. To make the deal even sweeter the invoice states that the Aircon has been regassed. I recently had this done on my car (530d) and that was a LOT more than £36!
All in all, we're happy.
'might even buy another Vauxhall again!
Cheers!
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'might even buy another Vauxhall again!"
That was my unposed question !!
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Well done SLT, and well done to your wife as well for providing the added motivation.
Good for Vauxhall too in making the right decision.
£36 ??? Less than the cost of a tank of fuel !!! What a result !
Just proves the value of this forum too.
Ron
1995 C280 Elegance (for comfort)
1995 Corsa Swing (for daily commute)
2005 206CC Allure (for fun)
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