Sven Nielsen, Technical Director from MEYLE, says the following difficulties may arise with the Vauxhall Astra and Zafira:
Intense strain and high surface pressure wear on the tie rod end. Noise and play in the steering.
Increased diameter of the ball joint of the tie rod end to 25 mm which increases the load bearing capacity ensures a significant longer lifetime.
The Alternator on 1.9 CDTi Diesel Models– Vehicle has known faults with the TVD/crankshaft pulley failure which causes excessive vibration within the drive belt system and results in the premature failure of the alternator pulley and/or bearings.
The vehicle also has a known fault with the Air conditioning module which can cause a 75mA discharge and result in the battery becoming discharged.
This can cause the alternator to be exerted to excessive load and result in the failure of the rectifier/regulator.
The Starter Motor is commonly affected by the failure of the dual mass flywheel again on diesel models. The dust contamination can cause either the starter motor to
A few notes about the Vauxhall Zafira B/Astra H (2005 on):
For this particularly series of Zafira/Astra, Vauxhall list only one or two specifications for engine oil which should be covered by Comma Long Life 5W30 and Comma Syner-Z 5W30. For the 2006-2010 models the usual recommendation is Comma Long Life 5W30 however, there might be some cross over at the tail end.
There have not been any VOSA recalls for Vauxhall Zafira, though some 2009 models had a problem with the steering column becoming loose, causing a knocking noise.
Oil pressure switches are the most commonly sold Cambiare part for this car. Technicians looking to resolve an oil pressure light problem or tracing an engine oil leak should start their diagnosis here.
Poor starting could be the result of a failing crankshaft sensor. Technicians who are trying to diagnose poor starting, cutting out or poor performance should bear this part in mind. Cambiare suggests that monitoring the output from the sensor with a diagnostic scanner is the best method for diagnosis.
Andrew Page has announced that it is entering a partnership with the Unipart Group, on the same day it left the Parts Alliance
Bilstein has released details of its many Mercedes W124 upgrade options to allow enthusiasts to uprate, enhance or totally restore the handling of their cherished E-Class. As the OEM supplier to almost all of Mercedes creations, the Bilstein B8 dampers are the obvious fitment when bringing a W124 back to better than ‘day one’ condition.
Mercedes E200 2.1d 2009 on - Fault code P2005, no noticeable drivability issues. P2005 suggests a fault with the intake manifold intake runner solenoid is stuck open – indicating a wiring issue, solenoid/actuator, or a mechanical fault. Usual cause is on high mileage vehicles where the mechanism fails.
Air suspension - Error message in the instrument cluster
Reference number(s): LI32.22-P-049709
Fault symptoms: Instrument cluster shows warning message -STOP car too low or fault-.
Fault code: C155664 C156A00 C156C00 C156D00 C157200
Causes: Relay for air suspension compressor
Remedy: Replace relay for air suspension compressor. Work off fault codes.
Relaunched in 2009 after an absence of several years, the Mercedes E-Class incorporated Start-Stop technology in many of the models across the range, particularly in the eco-friendly Blue EFFICIENCY versions.
As many examples are well within reach of the independent sector, workshops and the technicians undertaking service and repair work on these variants, need to bear in mind that all post-2009 E-Class models are designed to use high performance batteries such as the VARTA® Silver Dynamic AGM. In addition, those with a Start-Stop system will also require specialist knowledge and equipment to ensure the correct removal and installation process is followed.
Despite being subject to inevitable wear and tear during the lifespan of the engine, the front end auxiliary drive (FEAD) system has not traditionally been subject to any particular maintenance or replacement schedule. However, some vehicle manufacturers are now beginning to introduce FEAD system maintenance into their service schedules, which opens the door for the independent sector to apply similar service principles to the auxiliary belt and the associated components, such as tensioners and idlers, that together make up the FEAD system and take advantage of a genuinely new revenue opportunity.