Evenin guys,
I'm haveing some troubles with my new astra and thought i'd post up here to see if any of you have experienced the same probs before, or have any sugestions.
This might turn into a novel but here goes.
I'll start by providing a lil background info:
I have a 1994 1.4 astra merit, 3dr hatch. Not sure which engine (if indeed ther is more than 1 variant of the 1.4) i have - haven't even got the log book back yet. Uppon buying it i saw it start from cold (definatly) and it started first crack. To drive it felt really nice, not at all underpowered.
Day 1.
Like an exited little kiddy i jumped in monday morning to find the bugger wouldn't start. I did what i used to do in my knackered old 106 - flat out on the gas and turn the key. It was a cold morning but she wouldn't go. Had next to no fuel in it so filled up from a gerry can and after a lot of winding it started. It occured to me later tha perhaps a petrol didn't need full throttle to start - my old 106 was diesel, and maybe i was flooding the engine??
Anyway she was crap to start all that day even when warm. Going with the flooding theory i dont give it any gas and it seems to start better - after maybe 2 or 3 turns. Once she does go theres a sort of low muffled boom very briefly, very quietly.
Thinking back i remember the bloke i bought it from saying something like 'course the lifters are getting on but they'll start forever like that'.
The next problem i noticed was the power, or lack of. Hills i used to fly up in the 1.5D 106 in 4th drop the astra to 2nd, or even 1st, and the engine now seems quite reluctant to rev - like its holding back. Strangely there was none of this behaviour on the 45min test drive.
Day 2.
I'd manage to convince myself that maybe it was just a big ol heavy car with a weedy 1.4 engine - she is 12years old after all. Next problem popped up. Every now and then when accelerating, the car splutters and jolts. Not a major jolt, but enough to be annoying. I wondered if perhaps she isn't getting enough fuel when im pressing the gas hard?
Day 3.
God it just keeps getting worse. The middle 2 vents (above the stereo) aren't getting hot. The 2 others and wherever the feet heater comes from will boild your skin off, but stone cold from the middle. Perhaps a blockage in the waterways? Or even a head gasket? I don't know.
Phew so there we go. As ive no history, ive bought and official service kit and a cambelt - all to be done in the morning. Even if that doesnt cure any of the many problems it'll want doing anyway right?
Anyone with some advisory words will be considered a friend for life
Thanks guys
I'm haveing some troubles with my new astra and thought i'd post up here to see if any of you have experienced the same probs before, or have any sugestions.
This might turn into a novel but here goes.
I'll start by providing a lil background info:
I have a 1994 1.4 astra merit, 3dr hatch. Not sure which engine (if indeed ther is more than 1 variant of the 1.4) i have - haven't even got the log book back yet. Uppon buying it i saw it start from cold (definatly) and it started first crack. To drive it felt really nice, not at all underpowered.
Day 1.
Like an exited little kiddy i jumped in monday morning to find the bugger wouldn't start. I did what i used to do in my knackered old 106 - flat out on the gas and turn the key. It was a cold morning but she wouldn't go. Had next to no fuel in it so filled up from a gerry can and after a lot of winding it started. It occured to me later tha perhaps a petrol didn't need full throttle to start - my old 106 was diesel, and maybe i was flooding the engine??
Anyway she was crap to start all that day even when warm. Going with the flooding theory i dont give it any gas and it seems to start better - after maybe 2 or 3 turns. Once she does go theres a sort of low muffled boom very briefly, very quietly.
Thinking back i remember the bloke i bought it from saying something like 'course the lifters are getting on but they'll start forever like that'.
The next problem i noticed was the power, or lack of. Hills i used to fly up in the 1.5D 106 in 4th drop the astra to 2nd, or even 1st, and the engine now seems quite reluctant to rev - like its holding back. Strangely there was none of this behaviour on the 45min test drive.
Day 2.
I'd manage to convince myself that maybe it was just a big ol heavy car with a weedy 1.4 engine - she is 12years old after all. Next problem popped up. Every now and then when accelerating, the car splutters and jolts. Not a major jolt, but enough to be annoying. I wondered if perhaps she isn't getting enough fuel when im pressing the gas hard?
Day 3.
God it just keeps getting worse. The middle 2 vents (above the stereo) aren't getting hot. The 2 others and wherever the feet heater comes from will boild your skin off, but stone cold from the middle. Perhaps a blockage in the waterways? Or even a head gasket? I don't know.
Phew so there we go. As ive no history, ive bought and official service kit and a cambelt - all to be done in the morning. Even if that doesnt cure any of the many problems it'll want doing anyway right?
Anyone with some advisory words will be considered a friend for life

Thanks guys
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