New engine, any comeback

plastic glass

Bought a 06 astra in August this year off a dealership. There was a 3 month warranty. On sunday the car broke down. It overheated. Have just got a call from an authorised opel garage telling me I need a new engine which is going to cost me 5 grand. Is there any point going back to the place I bought it? I mean if the underlying issue was there when I bought it would I have some comeback if I was able to somehow prove this? Or is just a case of let the buyer beware?

Am gutted to say the least. Am sure nobody else would like to be in a similar situation

debabyjesus

Did you check any fluid levels since you bought the car?

Did you notice any lights on the dash before it broke down? Temperature gauge?

SCOOP 64

Don't think those Astra's have a temperature gauge like my Zaria , i think just a warning light, but i wish it had one,easier to keep a eye on if its goes up.

plastic glass

debabyjesus wrote: »

Did you check any fluid levels since you bought the car?

Did you notice any lights on the dash before it broke down? Temperature gauge?

I checked the oil and the oil was fine. The temp guage came on when I was on the motorway and got off as soon as I could. was on a busy road and was trying to get to a quiet patch of road and was almost there before it just conked

bazz26

Unless you can prove that the car had the problem during the warranty period then I cannot see how you could have any comeback with the dealer.

I'd also look at getting either the current engine rebuilt or sourcing a second hand reconditioned one. Spending €5k on an almost 8 year old Astra would be madness and money down the drain. I'd also look at getting a price from an independent garage or mechanic as a main dealer's pricing will more expensive and not worth the money on a car of that age.

You could probably buy another working 2006 Astra for less than €5k.

amandaf675

go to the main dealer, collect your car!

if it over heated, it shouldnt need a new engine, it should need the head skimmed and a new gasket and a water pump more than likely!
Bring the car to another garage and get this work done for about 500!

plastic glass

bazz26 wrote: »

Unless you can prove that the car had the problem during the warranty period then I cannot see how you could have any comeback with the dealer.

I'd also look at getting either the current engine rebuilt or sourcing a second hand reconditioned one. Spending €5k on an almost 8 year old Astra would be madness and money down the drain. I'd also look at getting a price from an independent garage or mechanic as a main dealer's pricing will more expensive and not worth the money on a car of that age.

You could probably buy another working 2006 Astra for less than €5k.

thanks. Yeah I wont be going down the 'spending 5k on a car I bought for 6k route'. Will get a second opinion alright.
By the way he said that the engine he would be putting in would be a reconditioned one.

corktina

I agree a new engine for an 8 yr old car? What you need is an 8 yr old engine and 10% of the main dealer price!

plastic glass

amandaf675 wrote: »

go to the main dealer, collect your car!

if it over heated, it shouldnt need a new engine, it should need the head skimmed and a new gasket and a water pump more than likely!
Bring the car to another garage and get this work done for about 500!

the authorised dealer told me that the astra could not be skimmed. I don't know if it impossible on these cars or if its just as a authorised dealer he wont do on these car. Will definitely be getting a 2nd opinion. thanks

amandaf675

Even if it cant be skimmed, a new reconditioned engine and labour for 5k? Thats ridiculous!
Try local breaker yards, for a second hand one out of a crashed car!

Tea 1000

Go back to the place you bought it and ask them, no point in speculating.

plastic glass

Tea 1000 wrote: »

Go back to the place you bought it and ask them, no point in speculating.

thanks. I just have. They are trying to say that the damage was done when I drove with the light flashing. It was for less than 3 minutes (and actually stopped flashing before it cut out). I am not sure if he is being truthful or if he is just trying to absolve all blame.

He is coming back to me though so I will wait and see. I think he is checking the warranty (which is only 3 months so just out of luck there). By the way he was talking I think he was thinking I may have a longer warranty and is already trying to wrangle out of that so not much hope with any comeback.

authorised dealers from now on I think

Neilw

plastic glass wrote: »

They are trying to say that the damage was done when I drove with the light flashing. It was for less than 3 minutes (and actually stopped flashing before it cut out). I am not sure if he is being truthful or if he is just trying to absolve all blame.

Driving an already overheating engine for 3 mins could easly do a lot of damage.

plastic glass

Neilw wrote: »

Driving an already overheating engine for 3 mins could easly do a lot of damage.

not what I wanted to hear but thanks. I guess that is that then. Jesus didn't think engines were that sensitive.

so options? go down the 2nd opinion route and try get an engine from a breaker. what price should I be looking at here. estimate obviously

plastic glass

I should also add that the authorised dealer came back with a revised figure of 3.5k including labour.

Chippy01

Apparantly those Astra engines are prone to overheating and killing the engine. A friend of the OH had the same problem in her '05 Astra.
IIRC, it cost her around 3 - 3.5k for a re-conned engine (fitted), but I think they would only give a 6 month warrantee on it.
It's not the first time I've heard about this issue with those Astras either.

Nonoperational

I think you were just unlucky. I'm not a mechanic but I wonder why it can't be skimmed?

Tea 1000

plastic glass wrote: »

thanks. I just have. They are trying to say that the damage was done when I drove with the light flashing. It was for less than 3 minutes (and actually stopped flashing before it cut out). I am not sure if he is being truthful or if he is just trying to absolve all blame.

He is coming back to me though so I will wait and see. I think he is checking the warranty (which is only 3 months so just out of luck there). By the way he was talking I think he was thinking I may have a longer warranty and is already trying to wrangle out of that so not much hope with any comeback.

authorised dealers from now on I think

I don't think an authorised dealer would be any more likely to honour a warranty without trying to apportion blame!

plastic glass

Tea 1000 wrote: »

I don't think an authorised dealer would be any more likely to honour a warranty without trying to apportion blame!

maybe. but might be more worried about their reputation?

Gary ITR

plastic glass wrote: »

not what I wanted to hear but thanks. I guess that is that then. Jesus didn't think engines were that sensitive.

so options? go down the 2nd opinion route and try get an engine from a breaker. what price show round be looking at here. estimate obviously

A sh engine from a breaker and a good indy to swap it. I don't know what an engine would go for but you may also want to consider changing the clutch while the engine is out also timing belt, water pump along with a service. Probably budget around 1k for all of the above including labour for swapping the engine then plus the actual cost of the engine

Tea 1000

plastic glass wrote: »

maybe. but might be more worried about their reputation?

Nope, they have the franchise to back them up!

gctest50

Nonoperational wrote: »

I think you were just unlucky. I'm not a mechanic but I wonder why it can't be skimmed?

On some engines ( some Rover - can't remember ) the metal in the head goes "soft" after getting overheated - so it will just go again after you repair it

lifer_sean

Gary ITR wrote: »

A sh engine from a breaker and a good indy to swap it. I don't know what an engine would go for but you may also want to consider changing the clutch while the engine is out also timing belt, water pump along with a service. Probably budget around 1k for all of the above including labour for swapping the engine then plus the actual cost of the engine

+1 on an indy to fit a s/h engine.

However you will probably find it very difficult to get a secondhand engine for one of these. They give trouble and are difficult to rebuild => very high value secondhand. 1k+ if you can get one, and fit it afterwards.

Timing chain on these.

There is a problem with skimming the heads on these but not impossible. If I remember correctly the bolts on the timing cover dont line up to the side of the head after the head is skimmed, since the head now sits lower. There is a workaround but I forget the details, possibly a thicker head gasket.

Gary ITR

Nonoperational wrote: »

I think you were just unlucky. I'm not a mechanic but I wonder why it can't be skimmed?

Head could be cracked or warped along with possible damage to the block, possible oil lost too which could have caused it to seize

Lots of possibilities.

plastic glass

Gary ITR wrote: »

Head could be cracked or warped along with possible damage to the block, possible oil lost too which could have caused it to seize

Lots of possibilities.

I think the mechanic said that you can't skim astras in general. Not saying that the above hasn't happened to mine also but it didn't seem to be specific to my actual car, it was more you can't skim astras, full stop.

Gary ITR

plastic glass wrote: »

I think the mechanic said that you can't skim astras in general. Not saying that the above hasn't happened to mine also but it didn't seem to be specific to my actual car, it was more you can't skim astras, full stop.

So when a headgasket goes in an Astra its a new engine?

New one on me if it's true but I'm always willing to learn :-D

zzantara

Opel supply a complete Factory Reconditioned Engine at reasonable cost.
The Engine costs approx €2800 and a main dealer will fit it for approx €500.
The Engine is guaranteed by Opel for two years.
I have experience fitting many of these units,they work out best value in the long run.
At least you can be sure of a definite solution to your problem at a set cost.
If you need any help in sourcing one please pm me.

plastic glass

zzantara wrote: »

Opel supply a complete Factory Reconditioned Engine at reasonable cost.
The Engine costs approx €2800 and a main dealer will fit it for approx €500.
The Engine is guaranteed by Opel for two years.
I have experience fitting many of these units,they work out best value in the long run.
At least you can be sure of a definite solution to your problem at a set cost.
If you need any help in sourcing one please pm me.

Thanks Zzantra but that means spending 3300 on a car I bought for 6k. Think I may be better off cutting my losses if I have to spend that much. Not ruling it out yet though. Thanks for the advice

JohnBoy26

amandaf675 wrote: »

go to the main dealer, collect your car!

if it over heated, it shouldnt need a new engine, it should need the head skimmed and a new gasket and a water pump more than likely!
Bring the car to another garage and get this work done for about 500!

The fact that the engine ''conked'' is an indicator that it badly overheated. The engine could well & truly be cooked and in need of a replacement.

TheFarrier

gctest50 wrote: »

On some engines ( some Rover - can't remember ) the metal in the head goes "soft" after getting overheated - so it will just go again after you repair it

I'm no mechanical genius, so this could be a stupid question. Would it be possible to get a head from the engine of a scrapped Astra and fit it to the engine of OP's car? If the existing head can't be skimmed, is warped or cracked or whatever.

L-M

Apparently this is very common on these Astra's. A friend of mine going through the same at the moment and finding it hard to find an engine.

aisr1ofk43dpy5

Had the same story last year found it very difficult to find a secondhand engine. Got one eventually for €1200 got it fitted for €500 including new clutch.

There is a risk of course as you won't no anything about the engine you're getting.

gctest50

TheFarrier wrote: »

I'm no mechanical genius, so this could be a stupid question. Would it be possible to get a head from the engine of a scrapped Astra and fit it to the engine of OP's car? If the existing head can't be skimmed, is warped or cracked or whatever.

It would usually be easier/better/etc to just get the whole engine from the scrapped astra

No reason it wouldn't work though subject to these and a few more :

- is it the exact same engine in the scrapped astra ?
- does it have "stretch" head bolts ?
- why was the scrapped astra scrapped ?
- how long has the scrapped astra been laying there ?
- who is going to stand over it/pay out if it doesn't work out ?