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Opel Astra 2011 problems!

  • 10-10-2024 3:34pm
    #1
    Fiftyplus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 143 ✭✭


    My son's partner bought a 2011 Opel Astra back in March time for 5k. Driving to work Wednesday morning and she came to a halt. Picked up truck arrived and took it to a garage in Naas. Garage came back with a repair quote as follows;

    To replace the clutch and crank seal gearbox side €940.—minimum repair required

    Possible flywheel and starter motor €1340.—we can investigate fully when the clutch is out.

    Clutch pedal €1189--- has a lot of play

    Clutch master cylinder €285

    Timing chain kit €1400.---oil leak and chain slack

    I'm getting this info second-hand but my maths tells me it costs more to repair than the car cost (having also had brakes issues in the last few months).

    Google comes up with a history of clutch problems for this model. Anyone had similar? Thanks



Comments

  • #2
    Esel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,084 ✭✭✭✭Esel
    Not Your Ornery Onager


    Bring (or transport) the car to your own mechanic. You are under no obligation to proceed with repairs with the garage where the car is.

    I can see some or all of those other expensive possibilities being required if you tell them to go ahead. New clutch pedal nearly €1200...

    @Hellrazer would have good advice .

    Not your ornery onager



  • #3
    elperello
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 16,106 ✭✭✭✭elperello


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122707052#Comment_122707052

    Agree with this advice.

    Just to add if your regular garage is a main dealer don't take it there.

    Look for a local recommendation for an independent mechanic place.

    You want to get the car going for as little as possible.



  • #4
    Hellrazer
    Moderators, Arts Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 10,885 Mod ✭✭✭✭Hellrazer


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058373688/opel-astra-2011-problems
    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122707052#Comment_122707052

    Thanks Esel -

    OP get that car out of there -Firstly- Is it petrol or diesel.

    If its a petrol - you dont change the flywheels - theyre solid.Never changed one in my life on a petrol astra.

    Clutch pedal €1200 euros - thats nuts.

    The clutch pedals used to give problems and Opels fix was a new pedal box - its literally a 2 euro spring that you can buy and replace from a factors - any decent mechanic would be able to replace it. - But of course theres going to be play in it if the clutch is gone!!!

    Clutch from a decent indy shouldnt cost more than 500.00 fitted with the crank seal - Id one lad who could do a clutch on a petrol astra same as yours on his lunch break.

    Ok starter might need replacing - €200 max from a factors + labour.

    Clutch master cylinder should come with the clutch kit unless its a diesel.

    Timing chain kit is about 70 euros from the factors plus no more than 2-3 hours labour. Again if its a DIESEL it could be more but nothing like youve been quoted - The new model astra from 2016 on the timing chain is a whopping 2000 plus to do.

    €5154 total from the crowd in Naas - Id say around 1200 - 1500 would be more like it.

    All assuming its a petrol not diesel.

    But even if its a diesel Id be probably closer to €2000 as you probably would need to do the flywheel.



  • #5
    Fiftyplus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 143 ✭✭Fiftyplus


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122707410#Comment_122707410

    Thanks Hellrazer. It's petrol. Plans underway to get the car out!



  • #6
    cml387
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 8,644 ✭✭✭cml387


    It's very difficult to have any faith in main dealers after this story.

    Mind you I always felt my local Skoda guys treated me fairly.



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  • #7
    User1998
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,683 ✭✭✭User1998


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122707635#Comment_122707635

    Who said anything about main dealers?



  • #8
    Oops!
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,280 ✭✭✭Oops!


    Well the start of the horror story here was the purchase of a 2011 Opel Astra, and to add insult to injury for 5 grand. I hope lessons have been learned.



  • #9
    User1998
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,683 ✭✭✭User1998


    Seems expensive alright



  • #10
    Hellrazer
    Moderators, Arts Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 10,885 Mod ✭✭✭✭Hellrazer


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122707713#Comment_122707713

    Its a 3 grand car if even that.



  • #11
    Oops!
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,280 ✭✭✭Oops!


    Completely worthless to anybody that has any idea of what they are looking at. As i said i hope lessons have been learned.



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  • #12
    Fiftyplus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 143 ✭✭Fiftyplus


    An update. Took the car to our local mechanic, result being a bill of 950euro - new clutch, tightened timing chain, fitted new sum cap (previous one wasn't on correctly and leaking oil big time). Fingers crossed, car been fine since. The owner was ready to ditch the car on the initial quote!!



  • #13
    Hellrazer
    Moderators, Arts Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 10,885 Mod ✭✭✭✭Hellrazer


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122887328#Comment_122887328

    Good result - we werent far off the price.

    My only concern is the "tightening" of the timing chain….theres no adjustment on the chains on the astra so Im confused as to what he did.



  • #14
    Fiftyplus
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 143 ✭✭Fiftyplus


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122888906#Comment_122888906

    Not actually sure what he did to the timing chain,'tightening' probably the wrong term. Thanks for the advice Hellrazer



  • #15
    Esel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,084 ✭✭✭✭Esel
    Not Your Ornery Onager


    Possibly replaced the timing chain tensioner?

    Not your ornery onager



  • #16
    Hellrazer
    Moderators, Arts Moderators, Recreation & Hobbies Moderators Posts: 10,885 Mod ✭✭✭✭Hellrazer


    https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122890495#Comment_122890495

    If youve already gone in that far a chain kit with tensioner and guides is only 70 quid (and less to the trade) why just replace the tensioner?

    The guides are know for breaking on them - theyre only a plastic strip so unless he stripped it down and found a guide broken and replaced that and decided the chain looked ok. If it was me and Id stripped it back to the guides Id still throw a new chain on - if youve stripped it to change a guide its literally another 10 minute job to put on a chain and tensioner.

    OP - It would be worth asking what he did with the chain.



  • #17
    Esel
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 23,084 ✭✭✭✭Esel
    Not Your Ornery Onager


    Shows how much I know! 😃

    Not your ornery onager



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