Opel Astra is currently one of the most popular cars of its brand. Of course, Astra enjoys its popularity because of its low cost and price-quality ratio. Consequently, due to its low price, the quality also decreases, which makes itself felt in almost all generations as a manifestation of weaknesses. Therefore, the following are common sore points of the Opel Astra, which the owners of these cars most often encountered during operation.

Weaknesses of the Opel Astra

• automatic transmission;
• "Robot";
• Tie rod ends;
• Thermostat;
• valve in the intake manifold;
• Couplings of gas distribution phases.

Now more…

In this case, most likely the automatic transmission cannot be called a weak point, but most likely a radiator, the failure of which contributes to a further failure of the unit as a whole. The essence of the problem lies in the fact that when the radiator was depressurized, coolant leaked into the automatic transmission hydraulic circuit. Therefore, at the moment, when buying, you need to pay attention and ask the buyer if there was a similar problem on this car. It is important to remember that Opel had a revocable company because of this. It is also worth knowing that these problems could only occur on Astra (J) 07-08, and the Astra of new generations has this problem solved.

robotic box.

The owners of the Opel Astra with a robotic box delivered quite a few unpleasant moments. There are enough cases that these boxes were repaired already at 60 thousand km. Therefore, when choosing a car with a robotic box, you need to take a ride and see how the "robot" behaves. In the case of strong jerks and shocks when switching, you need to think about the advisability of buying a car with such a unit. Based on the fact that, in general, the resource of the “robot” is an order of magnitude less than the resource of the “machine” and at present, if the car is 2007-08, then the box has definitely been either repaired or replaced as a whole.

Tie rod ends.

Surely one of the weak points, but the sore of the Opel Astra, can be called weak tie rod ends. Rarely they serve more than 30 thousand km. Of course, these are not expensive spare parts, but it is worth knowing about it, especially when buying. In this case, it is necessary to take a ride and if this problem (characteristic knocks) takes place, then this will save money when buying, which will definitely go to repair the malfunction (replacement of tips).

Thermostat problems mostly appeared on 2010-12 generation (J) vehicles. The peculiarity of this breakdown is that when the thermostat fails, the fan starts to work constantly, which can be signaled by a message on the instrument panel that you need to contact a car service. Consequently, when replacing the thermostat, the gasket changes along with it, through which leaks also often appear.

valve in the intake manifold.

Valve failures in the intake manifold were quite common on cars in 2011 with an engine capacity of 1.4 (turbocharged). These troubles when the car was under warranty were eliminated by official dealers. Therefore, when buying, you need to ask if the indicated problem was identified and eliminated on this car (unless, of course, this is a car with a 1.4 engine).

Weak paintwork of these cars is a fact. Even on cars that are about 10 years old, traces of corrosion can be found. It happens that the paint peels off in large areas. Therefore, it is imperative to pay attention to corrosion when buying. Moreover, it will not be difficult. Particular attention should be paid to the inspection of the thresholds, the joints of the wings with bumpers and the trunk lid.

Couplings of gas distribution phases.

essence "diseases" is that when low-quality oil is filled in and the engine is started, the gears of these couplings begin to wear out over time. As evidenced by the characteristic "diesel sound". If you do not pay attention to this all the time, then this can lead to very sad consequences, up to the overhaul of the engine. When buying, it is imperative to start the car and pay attention to the performance and the absence of such sounds.

The main disadvantages of the Opel Astra

Output.
Of course, we can say that the Opel Astra of all generations has significant advantages. In this case, when buying, you need to decide which engine and gearbox to buy a car with. Most owners and experts agree that the best option for this car is a naturally aspirated (not turbocharged) 1.8-liter engine. and mechanical box. In any case, the choice is everyone's business.

P.S.: Dear current and future owners, write below in the comments about the frequent breakdowns and shortcomings of this car model, identified and noticed during operation.

Was last modified: June 5th, 2019 by Administrator

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12 posts per article “ Weaknesses and shortcomings of the Opel Astra with mileage”

1. Andrzei

   Brad wrote:
   - good automatic transmission 6
   - normal body paint
   - high-quality interior, no crickets
   — the suspension is excellent, I have a flex ride
   - electronics work well and stably (cosmo)
   - soundproofing like on Skoda and WV
   - a little bad visibility on corners - Sedan J 2013, so turn your head
   1.4 turbo, Cosmo, sedan, St. Petersburg, flex ride, navigator, parking sensors, climate, ……..
   Great car. For 4 years, 2 parking sensors were replaced under warranty. All without problems.

2. Daniel.

   100 thousand used to be a run-in and now an indicator of reliability. it's funny when at 20-40 they begin to judge reliability.

3. Andrey

   So some people buy for 3 and 4 million and a month later they go to the salon, where the quality is for the money,
   only horses and comfort and the same cart with a tax of 40,000 and so on, and for this money cars used to go 400,000 km for 15 years, and the new Audi with two turbines, where an engine of 150,000 can pass, everything depends on the driving style depends.

4. Eugene

   Astra took a new one nine years ago. With the expectation of three to four years, but already dashed off 200 thousand without jambs. Off-road, of course, the joints got chipped, but in comparison with other cars, I haven’t found it better yet in terms of price-quality ratio

5. Dmitry

   Astra H Z16XER, Easytronic, 2008 Great car, at this age there are not many equal. For malfunctions for 230t.km in the same hands: replacement of heat exchanger gaskets, thermostat. The original front hubs (SKF) run less than 80t.km, the stabilizer struts are the same. Over time, the wiring harness of the rear doors breaks (they tan in the cold), it is treated with a soldering iron or by replacing the wires. Afraid of untimely replacement of engine oil. A3 / B3 full ash -250 moto / hours or 8000 km - and there will be no problems with the engine. Change the oil in the box at least once every 100 t.km, the brake fluid in the robot once every 2 years, and do not forget about the adaptation of the robot.
   Of the little things: after 8 years, the rear wiper motor sticks, — it is treated by disassembly, cleaning and lubrication, the wiper drive gear freezes, — it is treated the same way. The leather on the steering wheel is alive, but on the driver's seat cushion it may require repair, depending on the size of the driver. With normal maintenance on the highway, the consumption is less than 7 liters per 100 km. In the city it depends on traffic jams and the driving style of the driver.

6. Karen

   Astra N 2008 station wagon Z16XER, Easytronic; brought from the Germans with mileage 110,000 (four !! oil changes); I drove 250,000 myself (I'm not a very good driver) - I changed the clutch (in vain, my native was like new) 2 times the timing, the rear wiper wedges; refused condo (just no time to repair); changed the front struts; wheel bearings (front); ignition coils; 2 valves have recently burned out; I change the oil after 15 thousand, I changed some gears in the engine (probably to the camshaft); crickets appeared (probably were originally) around the forehead. glass. MACHINE for the money that he brought (then it was 550,000-13,000 euros to the house) I think it's a great car; keeps the road clearly; consumption brought 6.8 liters, now 7.2 liters (I travel a lot on the highway); only 92 benz.

7. Anton

   I’ll point out right away that we will talk about Astra N, with an engine of 1.8 and a conventional AT, I also do not agree with the indiscriminate commentary of weak and strong sotrons, since it turns out that one has a temperature of +40 and the other has already died and remains with a temperature of +33.2, and average for the ward — all are healthy +36.6. Here it should be understood that for the assembly of the Opel, if it is Russian, I agree there are problems with the paintwork, crickets in the cabin, the interior is of less quality, and the sound insulation is worse, the problems described with thermostat tips and others also occur much earlier. I also had a 2007. and 2012. Russian assembly, and then heaven and earth on a European skated 100 thousand before something began to crumble, before that - only consumables, on the Russian assembly - even the pads wore out faster and by 100 thousand there was no room left that did not change.

8. Andrzei

   1.4 turbo, AT6, Cosmo. 125,000 km. Because I care tenderly like a girl, I do oil changes, I try not to spin unnecessarily, and the engine itself with a turbine, usually does not spin more than 2500 rpm when you just drive. Of course, I have already changed the front discs, pads 3-4 times, and everything is normal! Truly a Star. Convenient, reliable, beautiful, fast, powerful, great car, Opel Astra J.
   2013 release, the warranty has long ended.
   PS All cars have weaknesses. But sometimes you have to find them.
   01/16/2019
   PS 2 I forgot about the shaft seals, right at the top under the valve cover. In 2017 too.

9. semen

   Opel astra h 1.8 automatic v
   Options Cosmo is the most reliable car in its class! And stronger and Shumka there is better than in the current new cars. Now I go to Rio 2018, I took it from scratch. Even it can't compare to the aster H.

In 2010, GM, inspired by the idea of ​​downsizing, released its next engine. With a 1.4-liter volume, thanks to a low-pressure turbine (about 0.5 bar), a power of 140 hp was removed. This power unit is known under the designation A14NET in the Opel model range, and under the LUJ index among Chevrolet models. The 120 hp versions of this engine are designated A14NEL and LUH respectively.

The 1.4-liter GM turbo engine is widely distributed not only in Europe, but also in the CIS countries, as well as overseas - in the USA. Thanks to the "passing" working volume, cars with a 1.4 Turbo engine are gradually arriving in the states of the customs union. In this case, we are talking not only about compact Opel models, but also about Chevrolet Cruze and Buick Encore, purchased in the USA.

Motor problems 1.4Turbo (A14NET/LUJ). Ventilation of crankcase gases

This engine generally does not cause serious problems, but it has some congenital "sores" that have been recognized by the manufacturer. During the warranty period, these problems were fixed free of charge, but most often they manifested themselves after the warranty period.

The crankcase ventilation system delivers special troubles. As with any turbo engine, engineers had to resort to certain tricks to implement it. But practice has shown that the quality of the implementation of these tricks is lame. In fact, 100% of the A14NET / LUJ engines encountered malfunctions in the crankcase ventilation (CVG) system.

All three components of the VCG system fail:

• diaphragm located directly in the plastic valve cover;
• check valve in the plastic intake manifold;
• corrugated hose from the intake manifold to the turbine.

Usually problems happen with the first two nodes of the VCG system.

Signs of problems with the VKG system of the 1.4 Turbo engine (A14NET / LUJ) are:

• increased oil consumption (oil burns in the cylinders or in the exhaust manifold, seeping through the turbine cartridge or will go out through the seals and / or through the valve cover);
• smoky exhaust;
• hissing sound in the engine compartment (bleeding sound);
• floating speed or engine tripping;
• reduction in engine power;
• increased fuel consumption;
• computer diagnostics will show the following errors: P0106, P0171, P0299, P0507, P1101, P2096 (they indicate a lean mixture or a difference in the calculated and actual air consumption);
• indirect sign: the impossibility of unscrewing the oil filler cap, or after unscrewing it or removing the oil dipstick, the engine speed starts to float.

Due to the failure of one or another component of the system, the pressure in the crankcase and in the cavity of the valve cover will greatly increase under the action of the air pressurized by the turbine. Ignore problems with the VCG system can not be: incorrect mixture formation and detonation occur, oil is squeezed out and shaft seals wear out, the catalyst is clogged, spark plugs fail. Due to the high pressure in the crankcase, the oil from the turbine cartridge stops flowing into it and is instead squeezed out into the turbine or compressor part.

What to do if the operation of the crankcase ventilation system is disrupted?

First you need to make sure that the malfunctions really concern the VCG system. To do this, we do the following:

• open the hood and remove the decorative cover from the motor;
• on the driver's side on the plastic valve cover we see a round casting (see photo below);
• there is a rubber diaphragm-regulator of the VKG system in the casting;
• if it is destroyed / torn, then when the motor is running, air is sucked through the hole, simultaneously making a whistling sound. This whistle stops if you plug this hole with your finger. In this case, the engine speed may begin to "float", the vibration will increase.

This casting contains the rubber diaphragm of the crankcase ventilation system. When the diaphragm is destroyed, air is sucked in through this hole (in some cases, crankcase gases are blown out from here).

Regardless of whether you are convinced that the diaphragm is working, you need to check one more element of the VCG system. The engine must be turned off. Then you need to find the place where the corrugated hose connects to the plastic intake manifold. The hose must be disconnected by first removing the bracket fixing it.

At this point, crankcase gases enter the intake manifold and, through a hose, into the intake tract before the turbine. Thus, crankcase ventilation is ensured. The valves block the backflow of gases from the intake tract (where, due to boost, the pressure is almost always high and there is no vacuum, as in an atmospheric engine) back into the crankcase.

After disconnecting the hose, you need to look into the hole in the intake manifold. The “nipple” of the mushroom valve should be visible there. It is clearly visible by its bright orange or red color. In some cases, you may need a cotton swab, soaked in solvent: Use it to feel and lightly clean the valve to make sure it is present. If the valve cannot be detected either visually or with a stick, then it simply does not exist. The fact is that the valve simply rips off the seat, after which it flies somewhere along the hose towards the turbine.

The mushroom valve of the VCG system must be present in the intake manifold.

The next step is to check the patency of the entire hose and the operability of the second valve located at the point where the hose is attached to the intake tract near the turbine. It is necessary to blow into the hose - while the air must pass freely. And then you need to “breathe” from the hose - while the air from it (i.e. in the opposite direction) should not pass. Often the hose simply cracks, which causes air leakage. If none of this happens, the entire hose must be replaced.

To solve problems with the VCG system, you have to change the plastic valve cover (there are already offers for used ear covers with rebuilt diaphragm), the plastic intake manifold (because the non-return valve located in it is not supplied separately) and the hose with the second valve.

Problems with the turbine 1.4Turbo (A14NET/LUJ)

The turbine of the 1.4-liter GM engine does not die on its own. Its resource can be greatly reduced due to the described problems with the crankcase ventilation system. Beginning lubrication problems and possible back pressure in the exhaust manifold negatively affect the operating conditions of the shaft support bearings.

One specific problem with the turbine of the 1.4 Turbo engine (A14NET / LUJ) was acknowledged by the manufacturer. The problem is that the return spring of the actuator that controls the internal bypass valve of the turbine weakens over time and does not do its job well. Because of this, more and more exhaust gases slip past the turbine wheel in medium and high load modes, designed to spin the turbine impeller. The responses of the motor and its power as a whole are reduced, an “error” P0299 (low turbine pressure) may be recorded.

The actuator, as conceived by the manufacturer, cannot be replaced separately. However, there are already offers of non-original actuators. But its installation must be entrusted to specialists, since it requires adjustment and a special approach to mounting the actuator stem to the valve.

Turbocharger engine 1.4 Turbo (A14NET / LUJ). The photo clearly shows the internal bypass valve and its actuator.

Destruction of engine pistons 1.4Turbo (A14NET/LUJ)

The saddest and most common problem with a small GM turbo engine is the destruction of its pistons, the partitions between the compression rings.

The problem is known for cars operated in America and in the CIS countries. Most often found on cars 2010-2013 of release. Pistons can be destroyed both at a run of 20,000 km, and at a run far beyond 100,000 km.

The manufacturer does not report the exact reasons for the destruction of the pistons, but it is not difficult to determine them:

• the destruction of the pistons occurs due to detonation, which occurs when using low-quality fuel. This reason also covers "chip" engines, where, due to the increased pressure in the combustion chambers, detonation can also occur when operating on fairly high-quality fuel;
• malfunction of the crankcase ventilation system, causing improper mixture formation (too lean mixture).

The destruction of the pistons of the 1.4 Turbo engine (A14NET / LUJ) occurs due to detonation that occurs when working on low-quality low-octane fuel or with the wrong composition air-fuel mixtures.

Where to buy contract engine 1.4 Turbo (A14NET / LUJ)?

The Opel / Chevrolet / GM 1.4 Turbo (A14NET / LUJ) engine can be bought from the warehouse of Ravto.by, which has its own site in North America. In the USA, Ravto.by independently dismantles cars for spare parts and sends the parts to warehouses in Minsk and Moscow. For every detail and, especially, for the engine, Ravto.by stores and transmits to the client information about the actual mileage.

What is very important when buying an engine or automatic transmission, the mileage on power units and transmissions from the USA is an order of magnitude less than on European ones. In addition, motors taken from American cars have a minimum number of hours due to less stressful and devoid of traffic jams. The Ravto.by site is located in the south of the United States and dismantles cars from this warm and not densely populated region.

Evgeny Dudarev
website

Contacts in Minsk
+375 29 239 29 39 MTS
+375 29 119 29 39 Velcom
+375 29 125 12 12 Velcom

Contacts in Moscow
+7 925 299 94 38 (wholesale)
+7 915 269 27 37
+7 965 177 32 23

What is the reason for the difficulty in engaging the first and second gears of the F17 manual gearbox on a cold Astra H?

This is the normal operation of this unit. The design of synchronizers physically does not allow gears to be engaged with a large difference in shaft speeds in the box. This is especially evident when switching up at very high engine speeds and down - under normal conditions.

In addition, we note the “strictness” of the clutch pedal, which is typical for many Opel models: problems with gear changes can occur when it is not fully depressed.

Comment ZR. The F17 manual is not young. Now it is being produced according to Opel's drawings by Aisin, which is serious about the quality of the oils poured into the units. Therefore, owners are advised not to experiment with non-recommended oils in the hope of improving the quality of shifting.

Why was there no recall campaign for Insignia with a 1.6 turbo engine due to problems with spark plugs?

The service campaign has been announced and is still in effect. Spark plugs from the original factory supplier had an electrode that fell off and remained in the cylinder, resulting in serious damage. Candle supplier changed.

The nature of the repair of a damaged motor depends on the specific case - the replacement of the entire unit or its individual parts. The work is done free of charge. On eligible vehicles, old-style spark plugs are replaced with new ones. This campaign also extends to Egypt, Turkey and other countries where there are high temperatures. And only for Russia, it also included updating the firmware of the motor control unit in order to guarantee that conditions leading to the destruction of the spark plug electrode were excluded.

What causes the piston group to collapse on supercharged 1.4 engines?

Yes, there is instruction number 2130. It is recommended to lubricate the splines of the input shaft of the box, along which the release bearing and clutch disc move. Note that problems with gear shifting can also arise due to operational reasons not related to those described above.

The owner needs to contact the dealer and our customer support center - we will tell you if this bulletin applies to a particular vehicle. Free repairs (removing the box and lubricating the splines) are carried out only on cars with a valid warranty. Otherwise, the repair will be paid.

How to solve the problem with vibrations on the body of Astra H cars with 1.6 and 1.8 engines? Will there be a modernization of gears and solenoid valves of the timing system? Why was there no recall campaign to replace the air conditioning recirculation damper?

Usually vibrations are associated with malfunctions of the engine or its mounts. Most often, soot on candles and problems with ignition coils are to blame. Less commonly, we encounter clogged fuel injectors.

Installing a damper on the right drive, which many owners hope for, will not get rid of vibrations. It is designed to solve the problem with different lengths of drives and the resulting asymmetry of traction during acceleration and deceleration, but nothing more.

The timing variators and valves were modernized about five years ago and have not caused problems in recent years. Old-style parts have long been out of stock.

The recirculation damper replacement campaign lasted from 2008 to 2010. Old-style parts with a short axle were changed free of charge to modified ones with a long one. The updated nodes arrived on the conveyor in the fall of 2008, and they began to be installed in the services in the spring of the same year. Those who did not have time to carry out repairs as part of the action will have to do it at their own expense.

How are the problems with the rapid failure of seat heating, the sound of the rear brake pads and the leakage of the thermostat housing on Astra J cars being solved?

All of the above nodes have already been upgraded. Since August 2014, the seat heating conductors have been changed (they are different, depending on the type of upholstery). On older vehicles, the dealer will replace the failed heater with a new one under warranty. Changes to the rear brakes were made in 2013. They touched mainly on the brackets of the caliper brackets. In the same year, a technical bulletin for dealers was published on the elimination of knocks in old-style nodes.

The thermostat consists of two half-shells: the rear one is metal, and the front one is made of plastic. Contrary to rumors, the same assembly is installed on Opel Astra J and Chevrolet Cruze cars with 1.6 atmospheric engines. The plastic part lacked rigidity. It has recently been modified along with the gasket of the half-hulls. Depending on the specific case, the dealer changes only the gasket or installs updated parts instead of both.

When will the promised applications for the IntelliLink multimedia system be available? How does the manufacturer solve problems in the system? When will the latest software updates be available?

We're sorry, but there will be no new applications for the current generation of IntelliLink. Work stopped: additional functions require a lot of resources, and this would affect the operation of the main systems. The next generation of the IntelliLink system that we are currently developing has enough performance to enable new applications to emerge.

We have already made some updates to the software. If the system malfunctions after modification, please contact your dealer and our customer support center. The next update is scheduled for March-April this year. But, unlike the previous ones, it will be irreversible (“rollback” is impossible). Therefore, machine owners will be asked to review the list of changes before making a decision.

What causes automatic transmission oil cooler tubes to flow on Astra J and Zafira C machines?

Leaks are due to the material of the tubes, which does not withstand prolonged exposure to very low temperatures. Opel has announced a service campaign 14‑P‑036. It provides for free replacement of tubes with modified ones, made of more frost-resistant and elastic material.

The campaign covers cars from 2010-2014, so it is divided into several stages. The promotion is valid only for Russia - in other countries there are no problems with such leaks.

What is the reason for the strong vibration when stopping at a traffic light in position D of the automatic gearbox selector? Why do jerks and jerks occur when shifting gears?

Most often, vibration is associated with the inclusion of a software "neutral" (PN). This can be checked by moving the selector to manual shift mode: the vibration should decrease. Otherwise, the motor or its mounts are faulty.

The PN function causes the torque converter to rotate passively: the engine-box pair is disconnected. This is done for the sake of the environment. In motors with an automatic flywheel, the flywheel is much less massive than on machines with a manual gearbox. Therefore, its role as a vibration damper is played by a torque converter. Software "neutral", in fact, turns it off - and the vibrations increase. On 1.6 naturally aspirated engines, this problem was very common and was overcome by a software change. Similar cases with 1.4 turbo engines are rare, so the manufacturer is still looking for solutions.

Shocks and jerks when shifting gears have a lot of reasons. For example, at very low or high ambient temperatures, this behavior of the automatic transmission indicates a temperature adaptation mode. The control program is trying to protect the box. Gearshifts occur at increased oil pressure, at higher engine speeds or as quickly as possible to avoid clutch slippage. Together, this creates a sensation of impact.

Another reason is the adaptation of switching when the driver changes the driving style (an active driver replaced a calm one; after a uniform movement along the highway, the car drove into a stormy metropolis). However, jerks should stop after a couple of clicks on the gas pedal.

Of course, malfunctions can also be the cause of jerks - from low oil levels to worn clutches. Our “automatic machines” have wear adaptation, but it will only smooth shocks up to a certain threshold.

Comment ZR. Opel is one of the few manufacturers that recommend periodic oil changes in "automatic machines". During normal operation under normal conditions, the Germans advise changing the fluid in the GF6 box (on most cars with a gasoline engine) at a range of 80,000–100,000 km, and in difficult conditions, twice as often. The intervals for the AF40 unit (on diesel engines) are 120,000–140,000 km and 70,000–75,000 km, respectively. It is imperative to change the oil even after a slight overheating of the unit - it quickly degrades! Some of these recommendations are spelled out in the maintenance regulations.

Who makes genuine GM oils? Is the GM dexos2 product fully synthetic?

Oils for us are produced by several American and European suppliers, including Mobil and Fuchs.

GM dexos2 is not a specific product, but a quality tolerance. It can be assigned to an oil on any basis, as long as the requirements of the standard are met.

Why doesn't the Astra H have hood soundproofing? For what reason is the metal protection of the engine not solid and does not cover the generator from dirt?

Instead of the usual “quilted jacket” of sound insulation, this car uses a special inner hood panel. It is made almost solid and has dome-shaped stampings, which act as an acoustic reflector and diffuser. This is quite enough for cars with gasoline engines. Diesel modifications, in addition, have the usual soundproofing. It is available for order and, if desired, it can be installed on the hood of gasoline cars. For this, only pistons will be needed.

When designing a factory crankcase, any manufacturer first of all thinks about a compromise between the physical protection of the units and their adequate cooling. In fact, this element is not designed to protect against dirt.

The installation of continuous (not factory) protection seriously violates the thermal regime in the engine compartment. This can lead to overheating of the units. This became especially important with the advent of modern motors and gearboxes, which are already seriously thermally loaded. Do not forget about the change in the power structure of the car body. Unlike non-standard protections, factory ones are tested in crash tests.

Will there be updates to navigation maps?

The list of update numbers, when they appear, is published on our website (www.opel.ru) in the accessories section. You can purchase and install them through official Opel dealers. Updates are installed at will and at the expense of the client. Note that many other manufacturers have a similar policy. Of course, you can include the cost of all future updates immediately in the price of this option, but this approach is more typical for the premium segment.

Why does the F17 CR (Astra H Caravan) box have a very “short” fifth gear?

Gear ratios are selected to obtain optimal vehicle performance, and this is always a compromise. Caravan has a big difference between curb and gross weight (empty and loaded). Therefore, in order to obtain acceptable traction-speed dynamics, “shortened” gears were used, which are just encrypted in the “CR” index.

What does the term "automatic transmission ranking" mean on Opel Antara and Chevrolet Captiva cars?

This term, in our opinion, was born on the forums of the owners due to an incorrect interpretation of the service documentation. It has nothing to do with automatic transmission.

In some dealerships, when servicing cars, they write out a larger amount of engine oilthan is required in reality. Is it possible to somehow influence this situation?

In the production of automobiles, modernization and design improvements are constantly going on. The information in the owner's manual also changes. Therefore, it is possible that the amount of oil prescribed may not correspond to a particular vehicle. However, the differences usually do not exceed 200-300 ml.

The owner of the machine can ask for admission to the repair area at the time of filling the oil or any other operation of interest. If a clearly overestimated volume of liquid is written out for a car (more than 0.5 liters for 4-cylinder engines), then contact our customer support center or demand to put an underfilled package of oil in the trunk.

Why doesn't General Motors CIS LLC dictate the cost and maintenance technical regulations to official dealers? When will the information on the lists of maintenance work be made publicly available?

Maintenance price standards are not rigidly fixed, as this contradicts the antimonopoly legislation of the Russian Federation and does not reflect the economic situation in different regions of the country. The dealership is an independent retailer and therefore may set prices it considers reasonable. Since 2015, GM has been posting average retail prices for spare parts on its website (www.opel.ru) to help owners better navigate the market. However, it should be noted that, according to the requirements of the Federal Antimonopoly Service, the importer does not have the right to dictate its pricing policy to dealers, and any attempt to impose prices by force can be considered as collusion.

Maintenance regulations (list of works) are available from any dealer, and can also be requested from our customer support center. And we will definitely think about posting this information on the site.

We dictate technical maintenance regulations to dealers. Since 2011, Opel has changed it every six months. Always ask the dealer for a printout of the current regulations.

Customer Support Center "General Motors CIS": 8-800-700-13-65, ss [email protected] Contact with any problems at the dealer level. You can find out about the current maintenance regulations and service campaigns at the hotline. The same information can be tracked on the myOpel portal, on the official website www.opel.ru.

Previously, the questions of car owners - readers of ZR were answered by specialists of companies

30.11.2016

Opel AstraJ- the fourth generation of the popular model, which many consider not only the most beautiful, but also the most successful car in the golf class. Smooth shapes, large wheels, muscular arches and excellent optics with diode eyelashes - such a car is simply obliged to attract attention, because marketers worked on it no less than design engineers. And these efforts were not in vain, since the car was one of the leaders in sales in many countries of the world. More than six years have passed since the start of sales, which means that it is already possible to draw certain conclusions regarding the reliability of the car.

A bit of history:

In 1991 to replace Opel Cadet a new generation of golf class models with the sonorous name " Aster" (translated from Latin " Astra" means star). Since then, three generations have changed, the premiere of the Opel Astra J took place in 2009 at the Frankfurt auto show, but the car debuted on the market only in 2010. Starting in 2011, a sports version of the hatchback became available to customers, which received the index " GTC". After a minor facelift in 2012, the Astra J sedan appeared. Opel Astra J, 2010 model year, was developed in Rüsselheim, Germany, and shares the same platform with.

The novelty was created from scratch, the manufacturer relied on unconventional, for the Opel brand, design, spacious interior, increased safety, comfort and handling, as well as advanced technologies. The new wheelbase, combined with an increased track distance and a successful rear suspension design, gave the car controllability, excitement and stability on the road, while maintaining a decent level of comfort. The list of equipment also includes a mechatronic chassis with electrical adjustments, adaptive lighting, a system for tracking markings and recognizing road signs. The novelty was assembled in Germany, Poland, Great Britain, and also in Russia at the plant in Shushary.

Advantages and disadvantages of the Opel Astra J with mileage.

Previous Opel models are very much criticized for poor body protection against corrosion, among motorists the statement was very popular: "If you put an Opel in a quiet place, you can hear how it rusts." The manufacturer took this drawback into account and completely galvanized the car body, but, unfortunately, this did not give the desired result. It cannot be said that the body rots as before, but the appearance of bugs on it after the winter is a common thing (it is worth noting that the manufacturer gives a 12-year warranty on the body). When inspecting, special attention should be paid to: thresholds, wheel arches, tailgate and door edges.

Power units

The Opel Astra J engine range consists of atmospheric 1.4 (100 hp), 1.6 (115 hp) and turbocharged 1.4 (140 hp), 1.6 (180 hp) gasoline power units. Diesel engines 1.3 (85 hp), 1.7 (110-170 hp), 2.0 (160 hp) are also available. As operating experience has shown, power units are very reliable, and rarely cause trouble. In terms of dynamics, turbocharged engines look preferable to outdated atmospherics, but you need to understand that such engines will be more expensive to maintain and repair. So, for example, every 180-200 thousand km a turbine needs to be replaced, and this pleasure is not cheap (700-900 USD, with work).

Common engine problems include: a short thermostat life of 30,000 km (many owners solve this problem by installing a more reliable thermostat from Cruz) and failure of the coolant level valve in the tank. On the 1.6 motor, a system for changing the valve timing on two shafts is used, this not only increases the power of the unit, but also makes the motor less reliable, the weak point is the solenoid valve of the phase regulator. Once every 60,000 km, cleaning or replacement of valves is required, a noise resembling a diesel rumble will signal the need for this procedure. If this procedure is neglected, then expensive engine repairs are inevitable. The car is equipped with electronic throttle, sophisticated design meets eco-standards Euro 5, but its resource, unfortunately, is not great, 60-80 thousand km. To extend the life of the throttle and injectors, they should be flushed as soon as you feel a deterioration in traction, also, try to fill the car with high-quality gasoline.

Diesel engines with fuel system common rail(TDCI) are very sensitive to fuel quality. And, if the previous owner refueled with low-quality diesel fuel, you will have to replace the fuel injectors, injection pump, EGR valve and catalyst (repair cost 2000-3000 USD). When choosing a diesel version of a car imported from Europe, conduct a detailed diagnosis of the power unit. The fact is that these cars are very economical, and abroad they are wound on more than one hundred thousand kilometers, but in our country they are sold all the time with a mileage of 50-80 thousand km.

Transmission

Opel AstraJ It is equipped with a five- and six-speed manual transmission, as well as an automatic six-speed transmission. As operating experience has shown, mechanical transmissions have proven to be the most reliable, but things with automatic transmissions are worse. So, in particular, the owners blame for an extraneous unpleasant sound when the car stops, and jerks are felt when shifting gears. The reason for this behavior of the transmission, in the service, is explained by a software failure of the transmission control unit. Flashing the unit slightly improves performance, but does not completely solve the problem. At each maintenance, check the oil level in the box, as it often leaks due to the manufacturer's use of low-quality oil supply pipes to the cooling radiator. If you neglect the rules for operating an automatic transmission, the transmission will last no more than 150,000 km (replacement will cost about 2000 USD).

Salon

Interior finishing materials are of average quality, as a result, the appearance of crickets is a matter of time. The main sound sources are: a decorative overlay on the center console, a plastic overlay around the door windows, a ceiling light, and front seat adjustment mechanisms. Opel boldly integrated a lot of modern electronics into the Astra, unfortunately, the sores were not long in coming. The most significant ones are arbitrary reboot of all on-board equipment (the reason has not been established), failure of the standard alarm system, spontaneous lowering of windows and failure of the air conditioning compressor.

Driving performance Opel Astra with mileage

The Opel Astra is equipped with a MacPherson-type independent front suspension, at the rear, traditionally for all generations of the German brand, a torsion bar semi-independent beam with springs and shock absorbers on the axle is installed. The design feature of the Astra suspension is that at sub-zero temperatures it begins to tap when driving on a rough road. Often, the cause of a knock in the suspension is a detached shock absorber boot. This problem is solved quite simply - you need to install the anther in place and secure it with sealant or clamps. Brake calipers can be another source of sound in a healthy suspension, the problem is eliminated by installing special gaskets between the calipers and brake pads. If, on the dashboard, the indicator " BRAKE”, most likely you need to reinstall the software.

Traditionally, for most cars, the stabilizer struts most often fail, replacing every 30,000 km. Thrust bearings do not live much longer, their resource is 40-50 thousand km, approximately at the same run, the stabilizer bushings will need to be replaced. The service life of original shock absorbers does not exceed 100,000 km, non-original ones can last less than 50,000 km. Ball bearings, wheel bearings and shock absorber springs are well adapted to our roads, and with careful operation they will last 100-120 thousand km. Silent blocks of levers, on average, serve 120-150 thousand km. The steering is quite reliable, among the shortcomings we can distinguish: wear of the rack bushing (knock when driving on bumps, play in the steering wheel, oil smudges on the rack) and a small resource of steering tips (30-50 thousand km).

Outcome:

Opel AstraJ– an inexpensive, economical and reliable vehicle for everyday use. Thanks to the combination of modern appearance, decent dynamics and good handling, the car will be a good option for young and practical motorists.

Advantages:

• Small fuel consumption.
• Low cost of maintenance and repair.
• Comfort suspension.
• Lots of options available.

Disadvantages:

• The tendency of the body to form corrosion.
• The unreliability of most electrical equipment.
• Noisy suspension.

"Please describe the problems and "sores" of the used Opel Astra J 2010-2012. Are there any questions about the reliability of the 1.4 turbo A14NET engine? Is it worth considering buying such a car?"

About the possible disadvantages of Astra J, we, including. However, let's repeat. If the car did not have an accident past or was restored in accordance with the required technologies, there should be no complaints about the state of the body. But there may be questions about the equipment. For example, cruise control failures, “blinking” brake lights due to a faulty sensor. Due to a defective air conditioning drain hose, water can enter the passenger compartment and flood the control unit. On cars of the first years of production, the air conditioner may attract attention for another reason: the compressor clutch may fail, which will be indicated by a characteristic hiss from under the hood.

In general, Astra J likes to "make some noise". So, if during a test ride, tapping is heard from the suspension side, their source can be both shock absorbers and rattling brake calipers. And if the manufacturer eventually coped with the first one (or already managed to change it under warranty), then the second thing is still there.

The 1.4 14NET turbo engine is still a rare guest in our area, servicemen have few "repair" statistics on it. But on the club forums of Russian Astra J owners there are plenty of stories that develop according to the same scenario: first, the "ESP service" error lights up, then the Check Engine, the engine starts to triple, in some cases its work is accompanied by white smoke. When contacting a company service, a lack of compression is found in one of the cylinders, an autopsy shows the destruction of the partitions in the piston due to detonation. Dealers in this case sin on fuel, therefore, samples of gasoline and engine oil poured into the car are taken, and the further solution of the problem depends on the persistence of the car owner (in the pre-trial order, dealers assumed from 30 to 100% of the repair cost).

It is still difficult to say how widespread this problem is and what caused it, the use of low-quality fuel, a violation of the operating rules, or a design flaw in hardware or software, but such stories are at least a reason to approach the diagnosis of the purchased car as responsibly as possible.

By the way, in addition to the 6-speed "mechanics", quite reliable, the version with the 1.4T engine was also equipped with a 6-band automatic transmission. Of the possible "sores" of the latter, jerks can be noted when switching (as a rule, it is "treated" with a new firmware), as well as sweating and requiring replacement of the cooling circuit tube.

As you can see, the Astra J does not promise to be completely problem-free, and the small turbo engine has already managed to be noted by Russian owners by no means children's "diseases". But is it a reason to abandon this model? Not at all! Modern classmates have no less sins, and against their background, Astra can be considered a strong middle peasant. But the choice of car should be approached responsibly, especially if the choice still fell on the version with a turbo engine. From the point of view of reliability, maintainability and cost of maintenance, atmospheric engines 1.4 and 1.6 will be preferable, but you will not get a return in dynamics from them.

Ivan KRISHKEVICH
website

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