Vauxhall Astra G Petrol (1998 - 2004) - 1.8 CDX engine problems

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Mon 29 Apr 2002 23:41
1.8 CDX engine problems - Godfrey H
A friend of mine has a new Astra which has had driveability problems from new. Symptons are engine shunt and kangaroo hops when changing gears at speeds below 25 mph. Main dealer is giving my friend the run-around. Anybody had a similar problem or know of a specific problem for a particular production batch?

Edited by Pugugly {P} on 18/02/2008 at 21:09

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Tue 30 Apr 2002 09:39
Re: New Astra 1.8 CDX problems - Honest John
Standard problem thw world over with this engine. Have had complaints from Australia over exactly the same thing. It's all about complete combustion and that's why when the engine is running on enriched mixture you dont get instant response to lifting off the pedal.

HJ
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Tue 30 Apr 2002 11:09
Re: New Astra 1.8 CDX problems - Charles
Godfrey

Same thing happens with mine. Just use lower gears overall when warming up so that your revs do not drop below 1500 rpm and things are better. Normally within 5 minutes of startup the problem disappears once the cold start higher idling speed has settled down to normal.

HTH

Charles
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Tue 30 Apr 2002 13:27
Re: New Astra 1.8 CDX problems - John S
Charles

5 minutes? Mine hits 1500 rev/min for a few seconds (less than the time it takes to get off the drive), and then sits a couple of hundred rev/min above normal idle for a couple of minutes, and doesn't give any driveability problems at all. Is that what you mean?

Must admit it I try not to let it drop below 1500 revs though - luggging the engine and all that, even though it seems to pull happily from that figure.

Regards

John
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Tue 30 Apr 2002 14:29
Re: New Astra 1.8 CDX problems - Charles
John

I was being approximate. Thinking about it more carefully you are right; an initial rev flare up to 1500 RPM and then a couple of minutes a bit higher than normal while an auxiallary air pump is running. Bye the way, we are both talking about Ecotec engines aren't we ?!

Charles
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Tue 30 Apr 2002 14:57
Re: New Astra 1.8 CDX problems - Godfrey H
Yes we are talking about the Ecotec engine here. This behaviour occurs even after the engine sholuld be fully warm. From what you say the engine is never coming out of warm-up mode. Thanks very much I will pass on this information to my friend.
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Tue 30 Apr 2002 15:29
Re: New Astra 1.8 CDX problems - John S
Charles

Yes, on a 4 month old 1.8 SXi. Can't hear the air pump on mine though.

Regards

John
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Wed 1 May 2002 08:20
Re: New Astra 1.8 CDX problems - Big Vern
John S wrote:
>
> Yes, on a 4 month old 1.8 SXi. Can't hear the air pump on
> mine though.


Air pump, hummm... they may be hearing the sound of the air conditioning compressor that runs for aout 30 > 40 sec on start up in the morining or after standing for a long time.
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