Lethargic, noisy 00 Corsa

ninty9er

My dad was driving my car today and said that it's very quick to respond to the pedal at first but that the rev counter was moving faster than the speedo.

He's driven other Corsa's with the same engine (1.0 12v) and says they're much more peppy and no way as tractorish sounding as mine.

There's also a funny loud ticking sound when the engine is switched off, like the sound in movies when carnivals whirr to a stop or a bike with a pleck hitting off the spokes as it gets slower. I've never taken any notice and it lasts less than 5 seconds but is this unusual???

It's been unused for a few months, will this rectify itself now that it'll be driven on a regular basis again. The ticking is bugging me now that its been pointed out. What can I do or will it have to go to a dealer (having just been serviced last month)

AMurphy

Does the engine actually rev up, ie do you hear it revving, or is the rev counter incorrect or non-linear. Sounds like a slipping clutch.
Where exactly in this "ticking" coming from, engine, dash, under the car, boot... could be anything from a heated piece of sheet steel "pinging" to some relay inder the dash... More info please.
From the description of something in a spoke, probably is. Check if it responds to the interior air fan being on or off. Leaves in teh fan is not unknown, they pluck the fan blades.
Or something stuck in the Rad fanshroud, or the shroud itself hiting the fan, so if in the engine, leave the car sunning and check if it matches the rotation of the radiator fan. If the fan is obstructed, it often leads to fan failure.

Gerry

ninty9er wrote:

My dad was driving my car today and said that it's very quick to respond to the pedal at first but that the rev counter was moving faster than the speedo.

He's driven other Corsa's with the same engine (1.0 12v) and says they're much more peppy and no way as tractorish sounding as mine.

There's also a funny loud ticking sound when the engine is switched off, like the sound in movies when carnivals whirr to a stop or a bike with a pleck hitting off the spokes as it gets slower. I've never taken any notice and it lasts less than 5 seconds but is this unusual???

It's been unused for a few months, will this rectify itself now that it'll be driven on a regular basis again. The ticking is bugging me now that its been pointed out. What can I do or will it have to go to a dealer (having just been serviced last month)

"Tractorish" - does the car sound a bit like a diesel, and how many miles are on it? Timing chain could be on the way out, a friend of mine has an 01 corsa, chain was making the car sound like a tractor after 60k miles.

Lemo

Might not be relevant but I was talking to a garage owner I know recently when a noisy Corsa went past. He remarked that they have a problem with oil leaking from the oil sensor that usually ends up in a new engine being required.

This may be nothing to do with your problem but it's better to mention it just in case!

ninty9er

Thanks for the feedback.

AMurphy: the ticking is coming from under the bonnet. when opened, mor specifically it seems to be coming from just in front of the driver under the bonnet, It is not constant, just when the engine is switched off.
The revs are going up with the counter, I'm satisfied its not the counter

Hope it's not the chain, thats pricey isn't it??

Oil sensor sounds more frightening. Yes it sound diesely when ticking over and accelerating

mike65

Sounds like the timing chain is worn so the timing is out hence lacking power.

Hows the idle?

Mike.

ninty9er

The idle is fairly low. the gearstick shudders like a transit van's would

I bought it a few months ago off a relative in the trade so i could probably get it done. He's going to put it through the NCT in June for me, so I suppose the chain should be changed then. Otherwise how much. I know it will seem like a lot to me as a student but i suppose it's not something that has to be done very often

its at 87000 and was serviced about 12 weeks ago

PauloMN

Don't forget that's a 3 cylinder engine, it would sound very different, and probably bad, to someone who is used to the sound of a 4 cylinder. I remember people getting into my old Charade thinking there was something wrong with it because of the sound.

ninty9er

It not just the sound, it's not a breathless sound but diesely. I looked under the bonnet to find out when the belt was last changed and there was no marking, I'd say i'll have to get it checked pronto

ninty9er

Would Opel be able to help if I emailed directly to the OPEL HQ

Anan1

ninty9er wrote:

Would Opel be able to help if I emailed directly to the OPEL HQ

Why not just bring it to a mechanic?

ninty9er

Anan1 wrote:

Why not just bring it to a mechanic?

I recently bought it and have since heard of a few recurring problem themes with corsas, I would have brought it to a mechanic, but I stopped into a local Toyota dealer who had a similar car yesterday and asked if i could have the keys to start it and hear the engine.

It sounded just like mine so I think there may be no problem at all after all, but i will get it checked out as soon as i have a bit of cash in my back pocket