Problem with Corsa
Discussion
Hi everyone,
I have a 1.2 Corsa 2001 89.000Km.
A few months ago it started cutting me off while I was driving, the letter F flashes on the dashboard and it won't start again until two minutes after. It seems like it starts cutting off when the engine gets warm.
The mechanic said that, after I paid for a few things to be changed and the car gone back to having the same problem, it is the gearbox. He actually said that it is two small parts inside the gearbox but it is cheaper to change the whole thing which will cost me £450!
I took it to another mechanic and he said that it IS the gearbox but to have the car working again I will have to take it to a main dealer to reprogram the car with gearbox and that will cost me another £200.
Now, I know absolutely nothing about cars!
Can someone please, please help?
Thank you all.
I have a 1.2 Corsa 2001 89.000Km.
A few months ago it started cutting me off while I was driving, the letter F flashes on the dashboard and it won't start again until two minutes after. It seems like it starts cutting off when the engine gets warm.
The mechanic said that, after I paid for a few things to be changed and the car gone back to having the same problem, it is the gearbox. He actually said that it is two small parts inside the gearbox but it is cheaper to change the whole thing which will cost me £450!
I took it to another mechanic and he said that it IS the gearbox but to have the car working again I will have to take it to a main dealer to reprogram the car with gearbox and that will cost me another £200.
Now, I know absolutely nothing about cars!
Can someone please, please help?
Thank you all.
This thread - http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=120... - suggests a couple of cheap things to be checked (maybe this is what your mechanic has tried?).
When the car cuts out and won't start, does the engine turn over (try to start)? If so, this suggests the crank position sensor.
If the car does nothing when you turn the key, it suggests that the clutch actuator is the problem. If you can get at the gearbox when it happens, give it a whack with a hammer. If the car then starts it's the actuator!
There are companies which will rebuild your own actuator - saving the need (and cost) of recoding.
When the car cuts out and won't start, does the engine turn over (try to start)? If so, this suggests the crank position sensor.
If the car does nothing when you turn the key, it suggests that the clutch actuator is the problem. If you can get at the gearbox when it happens, give it a whack with a hammer. If the car then starts it's the actuator!
There are companies which will rebuild your own actuator - saving the need (and cost) of recoding.
Hi again
Thank you for your quick responses.
I have read that thread and that's actually why I decided to post here lol
They have actually changed this crank sensor a few months ago and the problem is still there
How can I find the gear box? lol
So you think that the gearbox is not the actual problem?
Thank you for your quick responses.
I have read that thread and that's actually why I decided to post here lol
They have actually changed this crank sensor a few months ago and the problem is still there
How can I find the gear box? lol
So you think that the gearbox is not the actual problem?
That would suggest that the clutch actuator is faulty. There are a lot of web sites offering to rebuild your own actuator unit from £150, but if I were you I'd try to get a personal recommendation from someone who has used one of the companies, as some of the web sites look a bit dodgy to say the least!
It might also be better to wait until in the week (PH always seems quieter in the weekend) when someone with more specialised knowledge may be able to give you better advice
In fairness, if your mechanic is offering to remove, repair and refit the clutch actuator for £450, that doesn't seem a bad price
It might also be better to wait until in the week (PH always seems quieter in the weekend) when someone with more specialised knowledge may be able to give you better advice
In fairness, if your mechanic is offering to remove, repair and refit the clutch actuator for £450, that doesn't seem a bad price
The clutch actuator changes gear, so is a part of the gearbox. Maybe your mechanic wants to swap the whole box because it's easier, although I wouldn't want to swap in a second-hand box which could be just as bad as what you've got (and £450 seems to me to be very little money for a new gearbox, fitted).
My knowledge is mostly Italian cars - Alfa/Lancia - and I avoid the semi automatics/selespeeds like mad, so hopefully someone will come along who has more detailed knowledge.
PH = pistonheads
My knowledge is mostly Italian cars - Alfa/Lancia - and I avoid the semi automatics/selespeeds like mad, so hopefully someone will come along who has more detailed knowledge.
PH = pistonheads
Edited by sunbeam alpine on Saturday 17th January 20:10
Oh, and mechanic said he'll replace the whole thing, not fix it...
Is that something that mechanics usually do? Do you have any advice for me? Maybe take a bloke to talk to him? Or ask him any other question to certify that he's being genuine?
Also, my other question was, would I really need to take my car to a dealer to have it reprogrammed?
Sorry, but this is so new to me and I really don't fancy spending all that money for nothing...
Is that something that mechanics usually do? Do you have any advice for me? Maybe take a bloke to talk to him? Or ask him any other question to certify that he's being genuine?
Also, my other question was, would I really need to take my car to a dealer to have it reprogrammed?
Sorry, but this is so new to me and I really don't fancy spending all that money for nothing...
Sorry - I was editing my post while you replied. What you could do is ask your mechanic to put on paper what he's proposing and then post that on here.
As I said earlier - if they repair your clutch actuator there will be no need for reprogramming - if they replace the box, there may be reprogramming needed.
As I said earlier - if they repair your clutch actuator there will be no need for reprogramming - if they replace the box, there may be reprogramming needed.
Thank you so very much for this!
I actually have to ask him to put all on paper in English, because, although he DID put all on paper, everything is in Russian, as my female friend who came with me to see this guy, is Lithuanian and she speaks his language.
I will post what he says here, and hopefully you will be able to help me.
I think you fell from heaven!!
Thank you so much!)
I actually have to ask him to put all on paper in English, because, although he DID put all on paper, everything is in Russian, as my female friend who came with me to see this guy, is Lithuanian and she speaks his language.
I will post what he says here, and hopefully you will be able to help me.
I think you fell from heaven!!
Thank you so much!
) 
All of these problems could be caused by the clutch actuator, but what your mechanic has written suggests to me that he isn't 100% sure of the problem.
You really do need a specialist for this - either a main dealer or a good independent who has the right equipment to read and analyse the error messages.
Just changing parts could end up expensive, which is maybe why your mechanic has suggested replacing the whole gearbox. I don't think that the price of £450 you quoted earlier on will be enough for a new/reconditioned gearbox, and a secondhand gearbox may bring its own problems.
Does the car drive at the moment? Do you have a licence for a manual gearbox car? If so, I'd be tempted to try and get rid of the car.
You really do need a specialist for this - either a main dealer or a good independent who has the right equipment to read and analyse the error messages.
Just changing parts could end up expensive, which is maybe why your mechanic has suggested replacing the whole gearbox. I don't think that the price of £450 you quoted earlier on will be enough for a new/reconditioned gearbox, and a secondhand gearbox may bring its own problems.
Does the car drive at the moment? Do you have a licence for a manual gearbox car? If so, I'd be tempted to try and get rid of the car.
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