The Vauxhall Fastra 1.7d Shed of Justice
Discussion
On the plus side I calculated MPG at the pump and it's averaged 51.6mpg. very pleased.
Only expense since the wheel has been new Bosch wipers as the originals were GM and I reckon borderline ancient.
Had my first check engine light yesterday ! Had to come soon.
P0234 indicating high boost pressure.
Did a reset and all is good. It was after a long pull from 40ish to 70ish in 5th. So it was at max boost for a long time.
Checked pressures and it peaks at 21psi (1.4bar) and looks like online the max is 1.3bar on the standard tune so is just going over.
In the spirit of shedding I shall not be addressing unless it becomes more of an issue I can go through the gears with my foot down no problem I think it was just the long duration of the pull....
More to follow
Only expense since the wheel has been new Bosch wipers as the originals were GM and I reckon borderline ancient.
Had my first check engine light yesterday ! Had to come soon.
P0234 indicating high boost pressure.
Did a reset and all is good. It was after a long pull from 40ish to 70ish in 5th. So it was at max boost for a long time.
Checked pressures and it peaks at 21psi (1.4bar) and looks like online the max is 1.3bar on the standard tune so is just going over.
In the spirit of shedding I shall not be addressing unless it becomes more of an issue I can go through the gears with my foot down no problem I think it was just the long duration of the pull....
More to follow
Edited by joropug on Thursday 14th March 07:39
2000 mile update !
Over 4 measured tanks the car has obtained a satisfactory:
-52mpg
-52mpg
-50mpg
-48mpg
I'm hoping the decline is due to high speed driving, the 5 speed is not great for motorway usage.
Minor causes for concern:
-Alternator still causes a pulsing of lighting at idle speed but is a 'if it ain't broke' item, and works perfectly otherwise.
-Get overboost warning if I leave it on WOT for a prolonged period (getting up to 70 is the usual reason). I am putting this down to a blocked EGR and inlet pipe but with bolts made of cheese and the thought of the cleaning effort involved, I'm working around it and it's no biggie. It's grim. https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=17...
What's been fixed:
-Decided to replace the front tyres, had a few k left but I'm doing a fair few miles and they were almost 7 years old. £105 for falkens...stark difference to my last car at £188 each...
-I broke the window switch somehow so bought a new one for just £12...
So bargain motoring is not so bad so far, I'm enjoying the low cost low frills motoring. Definitely owe some of it to the swanky head unit, which is superb.
Total costs to date: £1,103.37
01/02/2019 Genuine VX Mats £22.49
05/02/2019 Car Purchase £650.00
09/02/2019 Pumpkin Android HU £220.99
09/02/2019 Radio removal pins £1.65
16/02/2019 Professional Seat Clean & Upholstery Anti-Bac £45.00
17/02/2019 Key Battery £1.99
24/02/2019 SRI Steering Wheel £25.00
09/03/2019 Bosch Wipers £19.25
10/04/2019 Window switches £12.00
12/04/2019 2x Front Tyres £105.00
Over 4 measured tanks the car has obtained a satisfactory:
-52mpg
-52mpg
-50mpg
-48mpg
I'm hoping the decline is due to high speed driving, the 5 speed is not great for motorway usage.
Minor causes for concern:
-Alternator still causes a pulsing of lighting at idle speed but is a 'if it ain't broke' item, and works perfectly otherwise.
-Get overboost warning if I leave it on WOT for a prolonged period (getting up to 70 is the usual reason). I am putting this down to a blocked EGR and inlet pipe but with bolts made of cheese and the thought of the cleaning effort involved, I'm working around it and it's no biggie. It's grim. https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=17...
What's been fixed:
-Decided to replace the front tyres, had a few k left but I'm doing a fair few miles and they were almost 7 years old. £105 for falkens...stark difference to my last car at £188 each...
-I broke the window switch somehow so bought a new one for just £12...
So bargain motoring is not so bad so far, I'm enjoying the low cost low frills motoring. Definitely owe some of it to the swanky head unit, which is superb.
Total costs to date: £1,103.37
01/02/2019 Genuine VX Mats £22.49
05/02/2019 Car Purchase £650.00
09/02/2019 Pumpkin Android HU £220.99
09/02/2019 Radio removal pins £1.65
16/02/2019 Professional Seat Clean & Upholstery Anti-Bac £45.00
17/02/2019 Key Battery £1.99
24/02/2019 SRI Steering Wheel £25.00
09/03/2019 Bosch Wipers £19.25
10/04/2019 Window switches £12.00
12/04/2019 2x Front Tyres £105.00
3608 trouble free miles in and I'm starting to lust after another car .. the astra is an appliance, but manual, no cruise control and uncomfortable seats are pushing me towards buying a decent car again.
Average mpg so far calculated at the pump a reasonable 51mpg. I've done a lot of distance drives in it, 3000rpm at 80 is not great for a diesel but only being 5 speed it has decent grunt in the 60 to 80 range whereas a 6 speed probably wouldn't.
BMW 630i coupe is my favourite replacement at the moment. Just sowing the early seeds with the wife now and preliminary signs are good. Requirements are auto, preferably petrol, comfortable....
Average mpg so far calculated at the pump a reasonable 51mpg. I've done a lot of distance drives in it, 3000rpm at 80 is not great for a diesel but only being 5 speed it has decent grunt in the 60 to 80 range whereas a 6 speed probably wouldn't.
BMW 630i coupe is my favourite replacement at the moment. Just sowing the early seeds with the wife now and preliminary signs are good. Requirements are auto, preferably petrol, comfortable....
I prefer Fastra or Ashtray but Disastra is also quite apt.
I'm going to give it a month or so and see if I can continue living with it.
The plan was I was moving to a house near work and would be walking. Chain fell through so that's not happening now so plan a) parked on a drive all week has been replaced with plan b) drive it constantly
I'm going to give it a month or so and see if I can continue living with it.
The plan was I was moving to a house near work and would be walking. Chain fell through so that's not happening now so plan a) parked on a drive all week has been replaced with plan b) drive it constantly
kiethton said:
Did 90k miles in 2.8 years in a 1.7cdti 3 door astra when at uni - want the most comfortable and fully shat itself just as I was trading it in - never saw another MOT for the next owner
The comfort is what is killing me. The seat has some metal bar or something where lumbar support should be that digs into the base of my spine. Don't notice on short journeys but on long ones it's awful. Done a lot of motorway miles without cruise control too, forgot how much more comfortable a journey is with cruise !
joropug said:
kiethton said:
Did 90k miles in 2.8 years in a 1.7cdti 3 door astra when at uni - want the most comfortable and fully shat itself just as I was trading it in - never saw another MOT for the next owner
The comfort is what is killing me. The seat has some metal bar or something where lumbar support should be that digs into the base of my spine. Don't notice on short journeys but on long ones it's awful. Done a lot of motorway miles without cruise control too, forgot how much more comfortable a journey is with cruise !
Im running around in one of these at the moment, 1.6 sxi.
Ive already decided im going to run it into the ground. Currently got a groaning knocking noise from front left but everything underneath is solid as the garage said. Replaced most of the components as the drop links are utter tosh on these. Plus last winter the roads broke a couple of springs, oh and the top mounts replaced.
But yeah as you say, theyre so bland to drive and I preferred my older sxi to this.
Ive already decided im going to run it into the ground. Currently got a groaning knocking noise from front left but everything underneath is solid as the garage said. Replaced most of the components as the drop links are utter tosh on these. Plus last winter the roads broke a couple of springs, oh and the top mounts replaced.
But yeah as you say, theyre so bland to drive and I preferred my older sxi to this.
joropug said:
I prefer Fastra or Ashtray but Disastra is also quite apt.
I'm going to give it a month or so and see if I can continue living with it.
The plan was I was moving to a house near work and would be walking. Chain fell through so that's not happening now so plan a) parked on a drive all week has been replaced with plan b) drive it constantly
Asstra!!I'm going to give it a month or so and see if I can continue living with it.
The plan was I was moving to a house near work and would be walking. Chain fell through so that's not happening now so plan a) parked on a drive all week has been replaced with plan b) drive it constantly
Dumpstra!!
Bastrad!!
Shiastra!!
Nobstra!!
Been trying to remember all the names I've called ashtray all these years?;)
Little bit of progress on the shed. Nearing 98k now and going strong. The last few days have been tortuous though as the AC is broken. Urgh.
Firstly, the roof rack covers have been missing since day 1 and judging by the local Astra population have legs of their own. Vauxhall wanted nigh on 60 quid, so bought some aftermarket ones on eBay. They obviously aren't a great match colour wise but neither are the OEM ones from what I have seen. Meh. It's a shed...
Secondly I identified a source of insane low down rattle /vibration. Turns out the air box mount is snapped and that's the cause. More on that when the replacement part turns up. For the eagle eyed, the beautiful duct tape around the airbox was used for testing /to secure it temporarily.
Thirdly, the headlights are badly mismatched. One looks brand new the other is ravaged by sun damage. Strangely all Astra's seem to be impacted on the drivers side cluster , really odd.
Anyway, bought a restoration kit. It's not perfect but it's a massive improvement. Going to touch it up a bit more when I get the chance.
Firstly, the roof rack covers have been missing since day 1 and judging by the local Astra population have legs of their own. Vauxhall wanted nigh on 60 quid, so bought some aftermarket ones on eBay. They obviously aren't a great match colour wise but neither are the OEM ones from what I have seen. Meh. It's a shed...
Secondly I identified a source of insane low down rattle /vibration. Turns out the air box mount is snapped and that's the cause. More on that when the replacement part turns up. For the eagle eyed, the beautiful duct tape around the airbox was used for testing /to secure it temporarily.
Thirdly, the headlights are badly mismatched. One looks brand new the other is ravaged by sun damage. Strangely all Astra's seem to be impacted on the drivers side cluster , really odd.
Anyway, bought a restoration kit. It's not perfect but it's a massive improvement. Going to touch it up a bit more when I get the chance.
Edited by joropug on Saturday 29th June 22:17
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