Vivaro

Hermy

Just been reading jvans thread regarding what van to buy and the Vivaro doesn't exactly get a thumbs up.
I have a '05 Vivaro with 175,000km and so far I haven't had any major failures - touch wood! I hope to get another year or maybe two from it before I replace it.
So I was wondering what maintenance tips would ye recommend as the van heads towards the 200k mark.
I do the basic servicing myself (oil, filters etc.) and it goes to an excellent Opel dealership for anything else.
Thanks.:)

Slidey

Track rod ends and tie rods are the achilles heel really.

As the gearbox seems to be a weak point, maybe changing the oil in the 'box could be a sensible idea.

The other simple thing to fix that goes wrong is the small metal clip on the handbrake cable. This breaks/falls off and then the cable starts to wear into the steel brake pipe on the rear axle locater arm.

On the subject of brake pipes make sure that the 2 pipes that directly connect to the caliper are located right. they should do a complete loop after leaving the caliper. Some people put them back wrong leaving them in one single tight bend and they can then rub on the axle itself

Hermy

Thanks a lot Slidey.

Track rod ends and tie rods are not something I've ever worked on before. Is there anything I can do to make them last longer or is it just a case of keeping an eye on them and changing them when they wear out?

I've been meaning to change the gearbox oil for a while now. Gear selection is just starting to get a bit sticky (mainly when cold) and I'm hoping this will improve things.
Is changing gearbox oil much the same as changing the engine oil?

Slidey

Hermy wrote: »

Thanks a lot Slidey.

Track rod ends and tie rods are not something I've ever worked on before. Is there anything I can do to make them last longer or is it just a case of changing them when they wear out?

I've been meaning to change the gearbox oil for a while now. Gear selection is just starting to get a bit sticky (mainly when cold) and I'm hopinmg this will improve things.
Is it much the same as changing the engine oil?

It is just a matter of changing them when you need to.

Normally with a gearbox there will be a drain bung and a filling bung. You just fill the oil up to the level of the filling bung when the van is on level ground

Hermy

Thanks again Slidey.
I'll let you know how I get on.:)

bruno77

Slidey wrote: »

It is just a matter of changing them when you need to.

Normally with a gearbox there will be a drain bung and a filling bung. You just fill the oil up to the level of the filling bung when the van is on level ground

Dont think the overflow refill method is recommended for these gearbox's. Have a primastar myself, think the manual says capacity is 2.4L (dont have it on me at the moment). There is a dipstick available for the transmission. Your opel garage should be able to source 1 for you. I'm getting 1 from the local Renault dealer, its only been on back-order for the last month!

bruno77

bruno77 wrote: »

Dont think the overflow refill method is recommended for these gearbox's. Have a primastar myself, think the manual says capacity is 2.4L (dont have it on me at the moment). There is a dipstick available for the transmission. Your opel garage should be able to source 1 for you. I'm getting 1 from the local Renault dealer, its only been on back-order for the last month!

Just to correct my last post

The F4R & F9Q engines when fitted with the PK5 or PK6 gearbox has a capacity of 2.7L ± 0.15. This applies to Traffic only, when these gearbox's are fitted to the likes of the laguna 2,Espace,Master etc the capacity varies for some reason! (Renault references due to fact sheet coming from Renault dealer).

Pdfile

Hermy wrote: »

Just been reading jvans thread regarding what van to buy and the Vivaro doesn't exactly get a thumbs up.
I have a '05 Vivaro with 175,000km and so far I haven't had any major failures - touch wood! I hope to get another year or maybe two from it before I replace it.
So I was wondering what maintenance tips would ye recommend as the van heads towards the 200k mark.
I do the basic servicing myself (oil, filters etc.) and it goes to an excellent Opel dealership for anything else.
Thanks.:)

you actually service it so thats a start, i can tell you first hand that the gb is rubbish, suspenion is iffy and the clutch because its a van will be dead pretty swiftly but itsw relyablity lyes upon what its used for.

Very nice van though i mean, it when being launched had alot of toys compared to vans less then a year or two previous. :cool:

Hermy

Thanks Pdfile,
It's been used since new as a taxi so it's never been overloaded.
Quite a few taxi men I've spoken to are on their second gearbox.
I need mine to keep going for a while yet.