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Topic: astra 1.6

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Grad Sailor

07/4/2011 at 3:48pm
Location: Cheshire
Outfit: None Entered

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I just so happened to ask this very question of a Vx workshop supervisor earlier this week whilst under a car up on a 4 post. His advice was to avoid all 150PS motors.

Zafiral

08/4/2011 at 7:27am
Location: Kent
Outfit: ex Caravanner now Static.

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Quote: Originally posted by Grad Sailor on 07/4/2011
I just so happened to ask this very question of a Vx workshop supervisor earlier this week whilst under a car up on a 4 post. His advice was to avoid all 150PS motors.

I was told that from 07 the swirl valves were modified solving the problem.

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All year Dorset!!!

dogscenturion

17/4/2011 at 8:05pm
Location: Greater Manchester
Outfit: elddis crusader scirocco and 1 tent

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Just a little note that i am looking at buying a Almera Tino 1.8 SE and that would pull a van i am sure.

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dogscenturion

Jammyd88

17/4/2011 at 10:48pm
Location: York
Outfit: '91 sprite musketeer EK

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Hi, the swirl valves were modified, making them stronger, they will still break! I have a 56 plate astra (150) it had a new manifold (updated model) just 18 months ago, it's just broke again! And now it's out of warranty. Like most modern cars the main problem is the eye valve, it recycles exhaust gasses back into the inlet manifold. On a diesel plenty of soot also come through, the soot builds up in the manifold on every surface, the swirl flaps eventually get jammed with all the soot. The only fix I know of is to get a remap (boosting the power to 200bhp!) it also disables the egr valve, then buy some egr valve blanking plates which stop any gasses coming through! The flaps will eventually fail anyway as they rely on crappy plastic bearings which wear out. I'd still have the car as it's quick, tows my caravan with no problem and it's good on fuel :)

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'06 astra 1.9 cdti & '91 sprite musketeer EK
Now with hot n cold water, oven, shower, heater, solar panels and some other stuff!

Gillian 58

25/5/2011 at 5:24pm
Location: Manchester
Outfit: swift corniche 1996 Kia ceed CDI

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Look no further than the KIA ceed 1.6 diesel manual or automatic , top notch cars they have a 7 year warranty which proves the confidence in them .
XX Gill

craig26

30/5/2011 at 8:46pm
Location: west yorkshire
Outfit: ford focus 1.6 &avondale leda cheviot

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i have a 1.6 16v 100bhp 58 reg focus and tow a 4 berth avandale cheviot weighing 900kgs the car has a towing limit of 1200kg braked .we recently went from bradford to bridlington with no trouble although it struggles slightly on steep hills on A roads 50 mph in 3rd gear at 2500-3000 rpm. it cruises comfortably on the mway at 60 though. also uses a lot more fuel.

craig b

31/5/2011 at 8:26pm
Location: Leeds
Outfit: Elddis Hurricane xl Mazda 6 ;-)

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i have a 07 plate ford focus TDCi 115bhp estate and it pulled our caravan great at weekend doing 60 mph no problem on motorway even took hills in it's stride i was pleasantly suprised i would recommend one now.

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Craig and jules

Looking forward to our next trip

stacieb925

02/6/2011 at 4:51pm
Location: Chester
Outfit: Gelert horizon

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Tango 55- Apparently Ford still do a C-Max 1.8 diesel but the rear loading capacity is quite small in comparison and it doesn't come with a spare wheel either whereas the standard Focus does. A car well worth considering.

stacieb925

02/6/2011 at 4:53pm
Location: Chester
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I have a ford c-max and that has spare wheel.

moss73

30/6/2013 at 5:33pm
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hi all. i have a vauxhall astra sxi 1.6 estate.i was thinking of buying a caravan. but i didnt know if i can tow a carvan with it. and if i can what size. can any one help please.

dogscenturion

01/7/2013 at 1:31pm
Location: Greater Manchester
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Have a look on your log book, it will tell you the weight, kerb weigh etc of the caravan that you are able to tow with your car...

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dogscenturion

moss73

11/7/2013 at 6:22pm
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no i have not lol. thanks for your help..

Petemate

11/7/2013 at 8:01pm
Location: Kennington OXFORD
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While I respect the views of others regarding the 150BHP 1.9 Tid engines, I reckon a lot of the problems are down to oil and fuel brand. Our first Saab was bought at 51k miles, and spent most of the mileage in my ownership commuting Oxford-LHR. I traded it in at 107k miles. It was a 2006 car therefore with the earlier manifold. At approx 80k miles I cleaned out the EGR valve; not a lot of muck in there and the solenoid side of things was OK. There were very tiny oily deposits around the top of the number 3 swirl valve spindle but no play up and down or side to side.
The present Saab is a 2008 model.
I only used Mobil 1 for oil changes and Shell standard diesel in the first car. There was no need in all those miles to ever top up the oil between services. The newer car was bought in December with 49k miles; as we are now both retired it is only now at 56k miles. I clean out the DPF with a fortnightly blast down to Bovingdon and back on family visits to our daughter. No oil usage yet. I also use only Shell in this car.
I am convinced (after also experiencing similar lack of problems with my Rover 45 TDi owned before the first Saab) that top quality fuel and oil is key. Oddly, as far as I am aware, the Vauxhall recommendation for the Vectra with the identical 150BHP lump is for a slightly heavier grade of oil.
Last point to make - at approx 105k miles on the first Saab, I took the EGR valve off to clean it and need not have bothered - it was as clean as I had left it when refitting it at 80k.
So please do not write off the 150!!
HTH
Pete

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