The joys of modern diesels - 2004 (54) Vauxhall Vectra 1.9TDCi #
Posted by Paul Howd on December 24, 2009, 10:00 am
Year of Manufacture *: 54 Engine Code or CC *: 1.9
Basically I was called out to deal with an old Merc E300 TD which was a non start. Turned out it needed new glow plugs (bit of a pain since inlet manifold has to come off and one plug was reluctant to part company from the head). Other problem was that customer had filled it with petrol. Still ran though, New glows and a couple of gallons of fresh diesel and job done!
While I was doing this, he asked me if I could service this vectra for his son. Before I had even looked at it I had, in an earlier conversation praising the old merc, pointed out that I didnt really like modern diesels because of their way of going wrong in ways that are unbelievably expensive to repair.
As soon as I started it I could tell it wasnt right. And when reved a huge cloud of smoke emerged from the engine bay. I also had the P1109 fault indicating problems with the swirl pot mechinisim (actually, you could see by looking at the external linkage that it was FUBAR'd)
Just looking at it we have the best part of a £1500 parts tally, thats without considering other items that may discovererd as job progresses!
He only bought the car last week for £2500. He hasnt even driven it (He bought it in anticipation of ending a ban in January!)
It is basically worthless! I just hope he can get his money back! (that is my professional recomendation!) but it was a private sale so I am waiting for the squadron of pigs to do a fly past!
I tend to advise people to avoid modern diesels these days unless they are doing really high milages (30,000/year or more)
They look good on paper but the downside is that if that little light comes on you will likly have to spend the wrong side of a grand to make it go out again! (frequently a long way on the wrong side!)
Merry Christmas
Re: The joys of modern diesels! 54 plate vectra 1.9TDCI
The Quality and reliability of modern cars must have hit an All time Low. They Look nice, they drive nice, but they are over engineered and extremely unreliable.
I see most modern diesels as a 4 year option, after that its destined for the breakers yard, they just aren't worth repairing. which is difficult for the customer to understand when hes just gone out updated his 15 year old reliable banger and spent his hard earned cash on a beautiful shiny vectra or mondeo diesel.
They Can Design Fancy gadgets but they either cannot make them reliable or dont want to make them reliable.
How Come Car manufacturers used to survive ( sometimes ) selling brake shoes, and service items, points and condensors etc for peanuts and now they are selling items that cost the Customers Thousands of pounds on a day to day basis and they are still going bankrupt. ???? ( When we know that the items cost a Fraction of the Retail cost )
Tony.
Re: The joys of modern diesels! 54 plate vectra 1.9TDCI
We have had a few customers scrapping cars because of excessive cost of repairs this year and it will increase yearly ie: tidy 02 tdci mondeo diesel requiring new clutch/dmf/starter motor owner scrapped because of cost the government are bombarding us with "go green" material,surely it is better to keep a tidy car running for more years than scrap it and make a new one Manufacturers should be forced to adopt a better "green policy" at reasonable cost is it just us ,we think that parts prices are going up dramatically does it really cost hundreds to make a common rail injector or dmf !!! in the end us independants will bear the brunt when quoting for some jobs you feel like the grim reaper
on December 24, 2009, 11:18 am, in reply to "