Hello po,

I'm brand new here, just registered to do some research and see if I could get some help to my questions without having to bother anyone. First of all, thanks for taking the time to hear me. I'm only going to type a lot so you have an idea of what all the problems are. Any help is very appreciated!

My father purchased an Opel Astra from someone he knew, the paperwork is confusing - it is either a 2001 or 2002 Opel Astra G Caravan. I can't figure out from the inside passenger door or above the radiator what it is either. It's a 4-cylinder automatic, 4 doors with a hatchback - basically looks like a wagon but it is called a caravan.

The car is having several issues for which I have no idea where to begin finding replacement parts. The labor can be done by me, as I've owned German cars my entire life and can probably do everything non-computer related on my own with the help of my father. It won't be FUN, but we will do it. It's just that we cannot find the parts and do not know where to begin finding them. Everyone we've spoken to in Pampanga has absolutely no idea what a real AUTO PARTS store is. Not just simple parts, but real auto parts. Something 10 times better than Ace Hardware.

I've read the following posts just so that you know I've tried finding some answers on my own, all I keep hearing about is Thunder (Thunder something on Quezon Avenue somewhere) as being a good place to go for work - but do they sell parts?:

http://tsikot.yehey.com/forums/showthread.php?t=70666

http://tsikot.yehey.com/forums/showthread.php?t=46170

http://tsikot.yehey.com/forums/showthread.php?t=67285

http://tsikot.yehey.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5360

I'm currently in Pampanga and really (desperately) need to start finding parts for this car. I'm willing to go to Manila of course, I'm almost willing to fly to Singapore or Taiwan if I have to (tickets are only 1000P to 1500P at the moment) and according to the web there are Astra dealerships there. Again, that is the worst case scenario having to go all that way but I won't have any other choice if I can't get to the bottom of this.

Here's a list of the issues:

1.) The radiator has a small hairline crack in it that I discovered tonight, I think the thermostat or the thermostat gasket is faulty and needs to be replaced. Water is not circulating through the engine block all the way, and the reservoir that holds the water has begun spewing water out (just tonight) because the engine is getting way too hot.

2.) Because the radiator has a small hairline crack, does anyone know where to purchase a product called "JB Weld" or another similar product that is strong enough to seal the crack? It's not a big crack, but it is thin and maybe 2-3 inches long. The radiator in the car looks like it's made of hard plastic not metal, so I'm not sure what sealant besides JB Weld would work. I know JB Weld very well, it is an outstanding product I wish I had brought here with me.

3.) The car looks like it needs new rotors, and with that front brakepads, perhaps inner and outer bearings, and rear brake shoes. But the stock rotors may also just be shaped with a small groove on them. According to my trike driver mechanic friend they can be turned and it's just the design, but it won't hurt to look for new rotors, and definitely new brake pads.

4.) What would really be helpful would be a service manual, a large service manual or a .pdf file that I could find that explained more than the small little manual that is stuck in the glove box. Anyone know of a real service manual for a car like this?

5.) I noticed the car is having fan problems, and I know the previous owner had the A/C fixed before selling the car to my father. The fuses that the car uses are pretty big, and are 30, 40, 60, and 80 Amps. Where can I find spare fuses for this car? Half of them are 60's, and given that the fan (inside the cab of the car) has been shutting down intermittently I'm not sure if it's a relay somewhere or if something else is loose. It must be a relay or connection because the fans and A/C and entire console will stop working with exception to the Speedometer and Odometer and stuff.

6.) The car doesn't want to start very well and the starter solenoid is having problems relaying the key ignition to the engine. Yes, the car still starts, but sometimes it takes 50 times switching the key back and forth to get it started.

Obviously, my father bought this car under misrepresented facts. He is a mechanic as well and a "friend of his" sold the car before moving back to the U.S.. In the 60 days that he's owned it, all of these things have occurred with exception to the rotors and brake pads which he already knew needed to be replaced. It's becoming a total nightmare and my father who has a bone disease and doesn't get around all that well.

If anyone here has any idea where I should start with this list of issues I'd be most grateful. I've been using Google to search Opel Astra G Caravan (everything) for the last 2 days and can't find a good answer. I think a good service manual would be impossible to find at this point. As for the other parts, all these:

Thermostat and/or Thermostat Gasket
Rotors
Front brake pads
Inner and outer bearings
Rear brake shoes
JB Weld or another sealant
Extra Fuses
Starter solenoid

I just need to find a real auto parts store that will be able to replace Opel Astra products - call them, email them, go there, whatever is necessary and start getting these things done.

If any of you think that you'd get the "Filipino price" for all these major parts and could round them up at a part store, and that the difference is much better than the "Foreigner price" for parts, (as it usually is with everything), and if would be willing to help, I'd pay you some of that difference for your assistance.

We work together to get the best deal for me, and in turn, I'll hook you up for your time. Hey, who knows, if I call these places and get the prices and they markup 3,000P to 7,000P total maybe it would be worth your while? You could make 4,000-5,000P easy if you're interested, then go buy an iPod for your Opel - hehe.

Thanks so much for your time guys!

Salamat po!

Justin

you can respond here of course or send an email to itsortalookslike*gmail.com