Help with crappy vauxhall insignia.

[matt318]

Wondering if anyone has any advice with my 2010 1.8 vauxhall insignia.
I'm constantly having the service vehicle soon message flash up alongside poor fuel economy and no acceleration. Also the car is hard to start when hot.
The cars been scanned twice. Once by halfords and once by vauxhall but neither can find any stored fault codes. Vauxhall could only find that the radiator temperature sensor was reading slightly high but "nothing to worry about."
The cars costing me a fortune and is driving me mad.
Anyone got any ideas?

[CraigyMc]

matt318 said:

Anyone got any ideas?

Sell it. Buy something else.

[Alan L]

I had one for 4 yrs as a company car, awful thing. It spent so long at the dealers getting things fixed I almost got invited to their Xmas do. Swore I would NEVER have another Vauxhall

[anonymous-user]

CraigyMc said:

Sell it. Buy something else.

This. The NASP 1.8i Insignia is the only car I've ever outright refused to accept from a hire company.

[CYMR0]

matt318 said:

poor fuel economy and no acceleration

How bad? There's an element of "they all do that, Sir," here. If we're talking about 25 mpg or better, and "can keep up with traffic as long as you're two gears lower than you think you should be," it's probably not broken, just a 1.8 Insignia.

[Buff Mchugelarge]

Difficulty starting hot would suggest cam sensor,
Does it have an EGR valve? If it does and it clogged up it may explain the poor MPG.
Awful engine/ car combo though. The SRi Cdti's are quite nice, what a difference an engine makes?

[WJNB]

Given that it is the sales rep. favourite (poor sods) whether they want it or not, why would Vauxhall bother about quality or reliability when the things are supplied via a third party to end users merely needing what is just an appliance?
If your employer 'issues' you with an 'Insignia' you know you're 'Insignificant'.

[CanAm]

It may be too late for the OP, but this warning message on a 62 reg Astra actually means the thermostat (or its own sensor) is faulty!? (Local Vauxhall dealer says it was a while before they found out about that!)
Not a cheap fix as the stat has to be replaced complete with its built-in sensor (£150+)

[M32Guy]

The service vehicle soon message is another sort of EML. It could mean many things but more often than not it's the temp sensor in the thermostat. Usually your cooling fan will be on constantly too. Seems to affect 2010ish Insignias the most

Easy enough to change yourself and you only need to change the actual thermostat and its housing. About £50-60 from your local motor factors. There's a separate housing the thermostat bolts into that doesn't need changed.

A lot of code readers can't get the fault codes from Vauxhalls displaying the SVS message. Op-com or tech 2 are your best bets short of taking it to Vauxhall

Edited by M32Guy on Friday 21st April 17:06

[Jimmy Recard]

M32Guy said:

The service vehicle soon message is another sort of EML. It could mean many things but more often than not it's the temp sensor in the thermostat. Usually your cooling fan will be on constantly too. Seems to affect 2010ish Insignias the most

Easy enough to change yourself and you only need to change the actual thermostat and its housing. About £50-60 from your local motor factors. There's a separate housing the thermostat bolts into that doesn't need changed.

A lot of code readers can't get the fault codes from Vauxhalls displaying the SVS message. Op-com or tech 2 are your best bets short of taking it to Vauxhall

Edited by M32Guy on Friday 21st April 17:06

M32Guy - I guess judging by your name and profile you're an expert on M32s

Just a small question - do you see any benefit or use in changing the gearbox oil regularly or does that not prolong the life of the gearbox in your opinion?

2005 Astra SRi Turbo 200. 115k miles and history unknown before 91k miles (14 months ago). Gearbox currently without any M32 failure symptoms - no lever movement or noises. No idea if it's original, replaced, rebuilt etc.

[xjay1337]

1.8 engine, horrid. Sell!!

[M32Guy]

Jimmy Recard said:

M32Guy - I guess judging by your name and profile you're an expert on M32s

Just a small question - do you see any benefit or use in changing the gearbox oil regularly or does that not prolong the life of the gearbox in your opinion?

2005 Astra SRi Turbo 200. 115k miles and history unknown before 91k miles (14 months ago). Gearbox currently without any M32 failure symptoms - no lever movement or noises. No idea if it's original, replaced, rebuilt etc.

I specialise in rebuilding them so I'd like to think I know a thing or two. I'd highly recommend replacing the gearbox oil at least every two years with either Comma or Fuchs oil. Do not use the oil from Vauxhall and over fill the box by about 1/2 a litre. Plenty more info on my website. Not sure if it shows up on my profile but if not simply Google my username and you will find it

Edited by M32Guy on Wednesday 26th April 21:45

Edited by M32Guy on Wednesday 26th April 21:46

[Jimmy Recard]

M32Guy said:

I specialise in rebuilding them so I'd like to think I know a thing or two. I'd highly recommend replacing the gearbox oil at least every two years with either Comma or Fuchs oil. Do not use the oil from Vauxhall and over fill the box by about 1/2 a litre. Plenty more info on my website. Not sure if it shows up on my profile but if not simply Google my username and you will find it

Edited by M32Guy on Wednesday 26th April 21:45

Edited by M32Guy on Wednesday 26th April 21:46

Thank you, that's very helpful. I'll get round to an oil change in the next few weeks, I hate feeling nervous every time I just want to put my foot down in second gear!