AndyR

Hi Yates, code 68 does relate to power steering fault, which usually means battery doesn't have enough juice for steering to operate so well. The steering is electric, so hence battery would cause this. As you have changed the battery, it could be that the alternator isn't putting enough charge back in to the battery whilst running, which then means battery isn't powerful enough to do steering again. A vicious circle, but it might pay to get the alternator checked out too. Hope this helps. Regards AndyR.

Hi Jane, I've just done a google search, and its coming up as a fault with the alarm system. Has the alarm been set off recently? Also the page i found is saying that if there is a light blinking, it's indicating what to check. If the light blinks for the first 10 seconds, it's indicating door/bonnet/boot is open, or a system fault. It also mentions about some wires behind the rear view mirror, these might have been detached from the ultra sonic sensors, also near the rear view mirror. There is also a link to show how to check these wires. http://forum.vectra-c.com/showthread.php?t=29944 Hope this helps, and please let us all know how it goes. If it works, then it is something to pass onto other Vectra owners. Regards Andy R.

Hi Hans, and welcome to the forum. it sounds like quite a challenge for you to find what you are looking for. Hopefully there is someone on here that might just have one, or know of the whereabouts of one. It certainly a car that stands out from the crowd. Good luck in your search. Andy R.

Hi jayjay, it might be worth getting the battery checked to see if its losing charge. If it is not, then it may well be the steering pump. Probably not something you'd want to hear this close to xmas though.

Hi Timbo, An interesting question to be asking. My curiosity has got the better of me, so i hit google. I put in , " what does HIY/HIX, and H mean on post war vauxhall cars". And it came up with different pages to look at that explain. The best one was on http://vauxpedianet.uk2sitebuilder.com This has a link to Vauxpedia which has loads of info about it. Might be worth looking at that to help understand the meanings of the afore mentioned lettering. Regards Andy.

A friend mentioned that it could be a date it was quality controlled. But again, why would it have sat about so long before being fitted to the car?? One of those mysteries that will probably never get answered..

It certainly was a relief coming away from the test centre with just 2 advisories. And being able to pick the garage owners brains about different bits and pieces. He is a vauxhall man through and through. And a mind of knowledge. All I've got to do now is sort out the speedo drive, as its playing up again. Apparently it could need a new seal, or it could want completely replacing, or it might just be getting wet and need a bit of protection for the winter.

Hi Steve, I've had the same recently with my 1.6 Astra. I put it down to the car being parked outside, and the fact that it has been colder than usual, so the oil is needing a little longer to get circulating on a cold morning. But once its been ticking over for a few minutes, it quietens down and is sweet as a nut from there on. Andy.

Hi Sue, so glad to hear that you have been able to get sorted. I wasn't sure about my own Astra G, so I went on the UK DVLA website and found the info that i posted, in the hope that it would help other Vauxhall/Opel owners. And it appears that i have, even across the to the Netherlands. Have your Petrol stations increased their prices like the UK? Happy motoring. Andy.

Hi Steve, welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear that you are not too impressed at the moment.Lets hope it gets better. What in particular has made you feel this way? I've not had a diesel vauxhall, or an insignia. I am into the astra, and prefer petrol. My previous vehicle was diesel and a plodder, I prefer a bit more get up and go. Regards Andy

Hi Alan, has there by chance been water getting in to a footwell, if the carpets have got wet, they could kick up a bad smell. Hope this helps. All the best. Andy.

Well I know its been a while, but I have an update regarding auto box oil filter. Car went for M.O.T. Thursday, and whilst there I asked about the auto box filter. It turns out that the filter is a gauze one, and it is deep inside the gearbox, which to do, means a total strip down. I was advised that another flush, and fresh oil, and it should be ok. The average change should be about every 40,000 miles. Which hopefully will out last the car, as I've only done about 8,000 in the last year. And the other good news is that she passed with a couple of minor advisories. A couple of brake pipes need cleaning up, and there is a slight blow on the join going into the rear silencer. So all in all, Thursday was a good day.

Hi all, working on astra today, getting ready for m o t. Whilst checking drive shaft gates and steering rack, brake pipes etc. I noticed that on the cable going to front wheel bearing there is a tag with bar codes and the date 1997 09 30. Is this an assembly date, or whenit was fitted. The car os 52 reg. Andy.

Evening Daniel, welcome to the club. I f you go on the page for Signum owners, I am sure someone will be able to help with your questions. You'll find it below the New Members, and Anything Vauxhall Related sections. Just keep scrolling down until you see the signum section. Good luck in your search. Regards Andy.

Hi Darren, welcome aboard. Please feel free to add any comments of advice, or if you need any help, there are members that may be able to offer pointers. Regards Andy.

Hi Despena77. It does sound like a mind bender. Are there any signs of water leaks around the thermostat? And have you checked your carpets. Wondering if the heater matrix might have a leak which appears once engine is up to temperature. How is the heater? hot/cold or so so? Another point, with it losing water once hot, could there be an air lock in the system that is appearing when thermostat opens. I had that problem on a previous vehicle, it wasn't a vauxhall, but might be worth a look. Hope you get it all sorted, and can avoid having the engine torn down to investigate. Regards Andy.

Hi Colbren, Sorry to hear about your cousin. Condolences to you and the family from us all here on the forum. The Vectra sounds very nice. If you can post a few pictures, it might help with the sale. I am sure there is someone on here who would be interested in keeping it, and enjoying its uniqueness, especially being an ex demo with all the toys added. Regards Andy.

Sounds like you got a bargain there. I am guessing its an alloy wheel too that matches the rest on your car.

Hi Stickyhair, and welcome to the forum. Feel free to comment or post any hints you might have, or help you might need with your Astra. Is yours the mk5 Astra? As I'm running the Astra mk4. Regards Andy.

Hi Chubbs, and welcome to the forum. Firstly, is your light an actual gearbox, or is it a engine? I have looked on other Vauxhall websites, and they don't show an actual gearbox shaped light. but the orange engine light covers both. It states that it is a engine/transmission electronic fault. Secondly, are you experiencing any running faults at all that could be related? The RAC website suggests that it may indicate that the transmission fluid is either getting to hot,or that it might need topping up. Might be worth checking the gear oil level first. Regards Andy.

I too remember them doing away with the old 4 star, luckily my datsun was OK with it, not needing harder valve seats like some cars had to have done. I just adjusted the carb mixture and she was good to go. The days where you could adjust manually, not have a computer to do it.

Hi Trevor, The Astra seems happier on the old E5, but will see how it goes this week, as was only able to get the E10 today. And as it was quite low due to having the fuel shortage, beggars cant be choosers. I always believed that supermarkets got their fuel from the main suppliers, i.e., BP, Esso, and Shell, and it was just transported in the supermarkets own vehicles. Had to use Tesco today as our BP has not had any fuel for about a week. Glad that your Harley is ok with it, nice to know that you haven't got to spend on changing pipes and seals to keep it going, and you can get out and enjoy.

Hi all, As we all know, the start of September was the roll out of the new E10 petrol. Now according to the DVLA website, ALL Vauxhall models can use the new E10, excluding models with the 2.2 litre direct injection petrol engine, code Z22YH, Vectra, Signum, Zafira. Which should use the E5. My Astra is a 1.6 16v petrol, and 19 years old. It was running ok to start with, but in the last week it has been quite gutless, and economy fell through the floor. Wife went out on Monday and put in £30 of E5, and it now is running sweet again, and fuel economy is back to where it used to be, which is good. Has anyone else found this with their vehicles? And have any owners of the afore mentioned models had any issues? Regards Andy.

Hi Maurice, You will need to remove the cover underneath the glovebox, and then look up at the underneath of the heater motor. You should see some wires and a screw holding it in place towards the centre of the dash. It is a fiddly job, as I had the same problem on my Astra. Hope you get it sorted. Regards Andy.

Hi Maurice, so far I've had no problems with using the e10 in my Astra. The only thing i have found, is that a local garage has put quite a price increase on it at the pump. I got caught out, so had to use them, but not again. 142.9 a litre. Whereas the garages in town are only selling it at 136.9. I do think there should be a set price for ALL retailers nationwide. I will stick with it for now. Regards Andy