My V6 Vectra Stop-gap Shed!
Discussion
Sold my beloved 550i last week to free up the money in it to put towards an XFR. I simply refuse (and can't afford) to go down the PX route and lose out to the tune of thousands of pounds. I'd rather do it myself the interesting way...
I set out on the hunt for something under a grand, local, petrol, manual, with a decent mot, petrol and wanted ESP in case the wife used it.
This came up...
It ticked every box on my list, even ESP! 11 months mot, full proper history from the first owner then just a huge stack of bills from the guy I got it off who's owned it from 2008. Also got recent brakes and new tyres!
It's also the 3.2 V6 manual, and topish Elite spec on 98k.
Bad bits after 15 minute drive home... it's tatty on the outside, aircon doesn't work, blower motor noisy - now fixed, annoying dash warning for front fog light - now fixed, leccy mirrors don't work - now fixed.
But, I'm playing the timing belt lottery.. A mates mate said he'll do it for £20hr which should bring it in under £200, but is it worth it on such a cheap car? I'm currently thinking of seeing how it stands after a month, if it behaves maybe get it done as I'll probably get the money back for it.
Either way, I think it's a right thing for £430!!!
I set out on the hunt for something under a grand, local, petrol, manual, with a decent mot, petrol and wanted ESP in case the wife used it.
This came up...
It ticked every box on my list, even ESP! 11 months mot, full proper history from the first owner then just a huge stack of bills from the guy I got it off who's owned it from 2008. Also got recent brakes and new tyres!
It's also the 3.2 V6 manual, and topish Elite spec on 98k.
Bad bits after 15 minute drive home... it's tatty on the outside, aircon doesn't work, blower motor noisy - now fixed, annoying dash warning for front fog light - now fixed, leccy mirrors don't work - now fixed.
But, I'm playing the timing belt lottery.. A mates mate said he'll do it for £20hr which should bring it in under £200, but is it worth it on such a cheap car? I'm currently thinking of seeing how it stands after a month, if it behaves maybe get it done as I'll probably get the money back for it.
Either way, I think it's a right thing for £430!!!
I'd definitely change the belt, particularly at mate's rates.
It will also make it miles easier to sell on when the time comes, you'll get a fair chuck of the expenditure back I reckon.
The aircon condensor was holed on mine. It's in a pretty vulnerable spot and mine had been mullered by stone strikes.
The aircon system isn't the strongest on VXs of this vintage, we've also had to replace the compressor on the Zafira, but cold air is pretty essential over here so I had to just pay the bloody bill & get it done. Plus a biggish barge with a hefty V6 needs cold air, shirley!
Anyway, top shedding, bloody well done!
It will also make it miles easier to sell on when the time comes, you'll get a fair chuck of the expenditure back I reckon.
The aircon condensor was holed on mine. It's in a pretty vulnerable spot and mine had been mullered by stone strikes.
The aircon system isn't the strongest on VXs of this vintage, we've also had to replace the compressor on the Zafira, but cold air is pretty essential over here so I had to just pay the bloody bill & get it done. Plus a biggish barge with a hefty V6 needs cold air, shirley!
Anyway, top shedding, bloody well done!
Fine shed.
On the belt - looks like you can easily remove the plastic covers and check that it is tracking centrally on the pulleys. These belts very rarely just snap, they get a wobbly tensioner or bearing and come off the edge of the pulleys, wearing the belt into a thin strip, which eventually does snap.
£200 is a bargain though, I'd just do it.
On the belt - looks like you can easily remove the plastic covers and check that it is tracking centrally on the pulleys. These belts very rarely just snap, they get a wobbly tensioner or bearing and come off the edge of the pulleys, wearing the belt into a thin strip, which eventually does snap.
£200 is a bargain though, I'd just do it.
FWIW I would just get the belt done....! And I would be surprised if you can get it done for less than that ! My Alfa independent specialist would charge about £400 for a belt change but that would include the tensioners/water pump etc. Besides, after it is done you can use all the performance without being wary of the belt snapping... ( I speak from experience of my first Alfa 156...having just bought it from a mate, it was booked in but I drove it for a couple of days to work ....of course it snapped the day before it was due to be done. )
And as has been said, the car will be worth more when you come to sell it on, especially as it looks like you will be improving it during your ownership.
And as has been said, the car will be worth more when you come to sell it on, especially as it looks like you will be improving it during your ownership.
Cheers for the opinions. I'm getting it done asap, thought that if the belt goes I might get £200 scrap for it so only lost £230, but then the car would probably cost a fair bit more to replace.. So I'd probably be about £500 worse off if it went after replacing the car. Doing the belt on this that I'm otherwise happy with suddenly makes sense.
Already got soome cut/polish headlight restore s
t coming, I quite like the yellowness! But I'm not sure how good they'll be as actual lights when it gets dark.
Blower squeak isn't getting better, might try some better oil as access ain't bad.
Already got soome cut/polish headlight restore s
t coming, I quite like the yellowness! But I'm not sure how good they'll be as actual lights when it gets dark.Blower squeak isn't getting better, might try some better oil as access ain't bad.
philmots said:
Cheers for the opinions. I'm getting it done asap, thought that if the belt goes I might get £200 scrap for it so only lost £230, but then the car would probably cost a fair bit more to replace.. So I'd probably be about £500 worse off if it went after replacing the car. Doing the belt on this that I'm otherwise happy with suddenly makes sense.
Already got soome cut/polish headlight restore st coming, I quite like the yellowness! But I'm not sure how good they'll be as actual lights when it gets dark.
Blower squeak isn't getting better, might try some better oil as access ain't bad.
Blower will have been contaminated with water coming in because the vent by the windscreen is blocked. There is a "flap" on on the plastic strip at the bottom of the windscreen. Open it up and pull out all the leaves etc that's rotting in there. It'll squeak for a bit then eventually if it's like mine it'll blow the resistor pack that controls the fan speeds 1,2 and 3. 4 will still work though.Already got soome cut/polish headlight restore s
t coming, I quite like the yellowness! But I'm not sure how good they'll be as actual lights when it gets dark.Blower squeak isn't getting better, might try some better oil as access ain't bad.
The only real solution is a new fan....or unblock the vents before it happens but I'm going to say that option passed the previous owner by.
Edit: this link shows the drain to check. http://www.vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk/index.php?t...
http://www.vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk/index.php?t...
Edited by Munter on Tuesday 31st May 09:36
Apparently it was unblocked a year or two back.. He's just lived with the squeak ever since.
I have been on the Vectra forums and seen a few lads DIY.. They've removed the glovebox and drilled into the bottom of the blower case right where the lower bearing is and used some spray grease (not wd40) and given it a good blast. Apparently this shuts it up for good!
Job for the weekend, that.
I have been on the Vectra forums and seen a few lads DIY.. They've removed the glovebox and drilled into the bottom of the blower case right where the lower bearing is and used some spray grease (not wd40) and given it a good blast. Apparently this shuts it up for good!
Job for the weekend, that.
It's got a bit of go, it sounds good, it's very comfy, few knocks here and there but seems fine! Stable at speed etc.
My wife didn't believe me but it's purely coincidence that it's the 3.2 in a decent spec, just wanted a cheap car.
I'm just hoping I can get my money back for it inc what spending on the belt.
My wife didn't believe me but it's purely coincidence that it's the 3.2 in a decent spec, just wanted a cheap car.
I'm just hoping I can get my money back for it inc what spending on the belt.
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