Astra 1.6 Turbo - misfire/hesitation
Discussion
I have an Astra 1.6 T SRI and it has had a misfire or hesitation since I bought it. It seems worse when it the engine is cold and the weather wet but it does do it in all conditions with a cold engine. It feels like a "damp stutter". It happens when I am driving, at normal acceleration up from 1st to 2nd and 3rd but never 5th or 6th whilst cruising. Once i change gear and start accelerating it speeds up but then it jumps, as if it is flicked off for a moment. If I floor it it doesnt do it, though this is not a good idea in a town! As it is less than a year old I have had it to VX 3 times and although they can feel the fault they will not do anything as it doesnt show a fault code. They say to let it develop. Anyone any ideas?
I think that may be a good idea, thanks rsstman. You hit one thing on the head - they do seem a little useless! When it was in last they said that they had called VX Technical who told them just to let it develop as they cannot do any thing without a fault code.....I remember when garages were able to fault diagnose by trying things - rather than having a laptop tell them the fault and what to change! I will find another dealer and write to VX. Cheers mate.
Thanks for this advice SimonV8ster, as it happens it is in with another VX Dealer today and tomorrow to see if they can solve it. It has also developed a gremlin where the steering wheel controls don't function if the lights are on!
I will let them know of your advice should they fail to identify the cause this time and will get them to fit the plugs. Thanks again mate.
I will let them know of your advice should they fail to identify the cause this time and will get them to fit the plugs. Thanks again mate.
Stormyuk
Thanks for the reply mate. The VX dealer had my car all last week and all they did was to re programme the ECU as they had to change a control unit on the steering controls. They told me they could not get the car to "stutter".
Before it went in I did switch the TC off and it made no difference. On Friday I went to a local dealer that had a couple of 1.6T's and I tried them both and to my surprise they both did the same thing as mine and yours appear to do! Similarly when the VX dealer tried a Corsa VXR, which has the same engine & Turbo that did it as well.
It does seem to be at trait of the car and VX will not do anything until a fault code is thrown up. I must say though that since it was re programmed it has not been anywhere near as prominent. I think we may just have to live with it until VX get enough complaints they do something with the software.
They are good cars though, other than that, don't you think?
I haven't really noticed first gear but now you mention it I will watch for it next time I am out in the car (later today). I have noticed that the gearbox is a bit notchy and can be difficult to get into 1st and reverse - is yours the same?
Cheers mate, Dave
Thanks for the reply mate. The VX dealer had my car all last week and all they did was to re programme the ECU as they had to change a control unit on the steering controls. They told me they could not get the car to "stutter".
Before it went in I did switch the TC off and it made no difference. On Friday I went to a local dealer that had a couple of 1.6T's and I tried them both and to my surprise they both did the same thing as mine and yours appear to do! Similarly when the VX dealer tried a Corsa VXR, which has the same engine & Turbo that did it as well.
It does seem to be at trait of the car and VX will not do anything until a fault code is thrown up. I must say though that since it was re programmed it has not been anywhere near as prominent. I think we may just have to live with it until VX get enough complaints they do something with the software.
They are good cars though, other than that, don't you think?
I haven't really noticed first gear but now you mention it I will watch for it next time I am out in the car (later today). I have noticed that the gearbox is a bit notchy and can be difficult to get into 1st and reverse - is yours the same?
Cheers mate, Dave
Having just been out in mine I can see what you mean about first gear. I think it is just down to the ratio and is nothing to be concerned about regarding the turbo - mine has done 8500 miles, so I imagine it is as loose as it is going to get without breaking!
The car is great and these few niggles don't really affect the enjoyment - it still goes like hell when you floor it and it is great fun on the country lanes around here!
My mate has just bought an Astra VXR and guess what.....it does exactly the same!
Ho hum.
The car is great and these few niggles don't really affect the enjoyment - it still goes like hell when you floor it and it is great fun on the country lanes around here!
My mate has just bought an Astra VXR and guess what.....it does exactly the same!
Ho hum.
Hi.
My Astra hesitation is not as noticable now but I did try others at the dealer and they all seem to do it to one degree or another. As for the trip computer mine shows an average of about 32mpg around town but when i take it on a longer motorway run it usually returns 40 - 45mpg. I am generally a bit heavy on it on the country roads which won't help the 32 mpg!
My Astra hesitation is not as noticable now but I did try others at the dealer and they all seem to do it to one degree or another. As for the trip computer mine shows an average of about 32mpg around town but when i take it on a longer motorway run it usually returns 40 - 45mpg. I am generally a bit heavy on it on the country roads which won't help the 32 mpg!
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