Let down by modern shite......

[Bren]

In true vauxhall fashion, the battery warning light decided to glow on my '07 vectra CDTi yesterday.

 

Having done my homework before taking the plunge with the car, I realised that the alternator was probably at fault, therefore I needed to get home as quickly as possible, while conserving power, as once the battery begins to run down all kinds of things begin to happen - instruments lit up like christmas tree, loss of power steering, displays' corrupted etc.

 

Managed to get home - with engine off battery showed 12.1V. With engine running battery gave 11.7V. Confirmation that the alternator was indeed the problem.

 

Looking on the net, it appears that some pattern alternators are not particularly good, in that they work but the idiot lights stay illuminated! A genuine vauxhall item is best, but at genuine vauxhall prices no doubt.

 

I will be ringing a local auto spark in widnes on monday to see if he can do anything - would rather have the one in the car overhauled and have no more problems. I noticed it looks a pig to remove, this has been backed up by people who have removed them and put them back. Fingers crossed it is'nt going to bankrupt me.

[R9UKE]

I joked with my auto spark when my Mégane was in that Renault must be keeping him in business. He replied "No, modern Vauxhalls are"

[cort16]

The alternator is a pig of a job on these as well it's buried right at back and is swine to get out of the engine bay.

[Akron]

Genuine is best on these IIRC dont they need to be coded to the car aswell?

[Pillock]

A chap I used to work with had an 06 Vectra, same issue, tried messing around with a backstreet garage and they had the car ages. Kept making up different things they thought it was because the alternator "hadn't fixed it". In the end he sacked them off and took it to a Vauxhall specialist who sorted it in a day - with just an alternator.

[ShiteRider]

This happened to my mums' '55 plate 1.9 cdti last month, cost about £350-ish.

[Angrydicky]

Flog the Vectra, buy Vauxhall Royale. Sorted.

[Bren]

I had a very early royale (T reg) over 20 years ago, aquamarine blue saloon. Cracking car save for the thirst and the rot, mainly at the front.

[Barry Cade]

I see this 4 or 5 times a week. One of my most common reasons for towing a car.

[Bren]

Took car to local auto spark who confirmed that the alternator was indeed at fault.

 

£175 for a recon item supplied and fitted with 12 months guarantee - £40 more than having the old one repaired, which would only have had the faulty parts replaced.