A Dilemma with a Vauxhall Corsa

[Rags]

A mate of mine has a Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 from 2003 which has a tiptronic gearbox - unfortunately, the car wouldnt start and he got the AA (wrongly or rightly) to tow it to Wimbledon Vauxhall. Their diagnosis was a gearbox and clutch issue - a few modules need replacing and an estimated £2.5k bill. Considering the car isn't worth much more than that on a good day, he is in a quandry what to so. Personally I know nothing about vauxhalls and did suggest the below:

Either

1) Get it towed to an indy for further diagnosis- they may attempt to fix rather than replace components - anyone know a good vauxhall indy in London?

Or

2) Stick in on ebay as spares or repair - it still has MOT and Tax (which he could cash in).

Or least preferred

3) Ask them to come up with a cheaper repair solution at the main dealer.

He called me up to ask for advice about what to do with it - thought I would see if PHer's had any better ideas...

[10 Pence Short]

Can't he look for replacement parts from a scrappy and get an independent to fit?

[hornetrider]

For a car of that age and value there is no point in taking it to a main dealer. I'd say get a diagnosis from an 'indie' type normal garage, and go from there.

[Rags]

Yeah the issue stems from the fact my mate knows little about cars and that was his obvious first port of call.

I guess Indy it is, best find a decent one in London for him.

[wolf1]

Is it the easytronic box? If so is just not starting and displaying an F in the dash display?
Before you go to the expence of swapping bits out etc check whether all the brake lights work correctly and are the correct fitment and wattage. Had quite a few with the same fault and it was down to an electrical fault in the brake light circuit.

[anonymous-user]

Rags said:

Their diagnosis was a gearbox and clutch issue - a few modules need replacing and an estimated £2.5k bill.

Allow me to translate........

"We haven't got a fking clue what it will be so will just order the VERY expensive electronic modules in, we'll then get the apprentice to try swapping each one out at YOUR expense in the hope it is indeed one of them that is faulty"

[steveo3002]

highly unlikley its the gearbox,clutch and several modules

get it looked at elsewhere imo

[J500ANT]

I've read about these on www.honestjohn.co.uk - apparently the F fault IS an expensive job.

[TheCarpetCleaner]

Get your mate to register on www.allcorsa.co.uk - and put a post on the mechanical subforum - I have found them to be very useful in at least point you where to go.

Secondly, has your mate got an OBDII reader or anything? Worth checking for codes first (sometimes the ECU light wont come on even if a fault is stored)

Get it away from the main dealer ASAP and to a good recommended indy either way - main dealers are little more than fitters these days IMO.

[HellDiver]

Push it over a cliff, claim the insurance. The Jerkotronic is a truely horrid excuse for transmission. Put the thing out of it's misery.

[davethebunny]

http://www.ecutesting.com/vauxhall_corsa_1_2_easyt...

This is the correct way to sort it.