Unofficial Opel Club! Calling all Opel Boys!

[caloystermx5]

guguly, thanks for posting the aircon repair saga mahal pa din pala, so versus the casa how much did you save?

would you recommend the aircon repair shop that fixed your astra? kung ok lang pa post ng location and contact details, thanks!

[guguly]

more than half din ang na-save ko frm the casa estimate. if i opted to use replacements parts (compressor, evaporator, etc), mas malaki pa ang ma-save (maybe another half kasi yung original compressor ang talagang nagpamahal).

except for the radio na nag safe mode, okay naman pagkakagawa, so far. siguro naman, by the time i decide to finally sell ang car, ayos na ayos pa rin ang aircon. kasi it took 5 years and 135k+ kilometer reading bago bumigay ang aircon.not bad service actually, kaso yun nga lang, mahal talaga ang parts ng opel.

yes, i can recommend the mechanic who did the service, as far as airconditioning repair is concerned. somewhere in punta, sta ana ang bahay nya but he has a shop sa fairview. i'll post his number later on. nasa office kasi yung contact number nya.

[caloystermx5]

more than half din ang na-save ko frm the casa estimate. if i opted to use replacements parts (compressor, evaporator, etc), mas malaki pa ang ma-save (maybe another half kasi yung original compressor ang talagang nagpamahal).

except for the radio na nag safe mode, okay naman pagkakagawa, so far. siguro naman, by the time i decide to finally sell ang car, ayos na ayos pa rin ang aircon. kasi it took 5 years and 135k+ kilometer reading bago bumigay ang aircon.not bad service actually, kaso yun nga lang, mahal talaga ang parts ng opel.

yes, i can recommend the mechanic who did the service, as far as airconditioning repair is concerned. somewhere in punta, sta ana ang bahay nya but he has a shop sa fairview. i'll post his number later on. nasa office kasi yung contact number nya.

ok, thanks!

[manager]

more than half din ang na-save ko frm the casa estimate. if i opted to use replacements parts (compressor, evaporator, etc), mas malaki pa ang ma-save (maybe another half kasi yung original compressor ang talagang nagpamahal).

except for the radio na nag safe mode, okay naman pagkakagawa, so far. siguro naman, by the time i decide to finally sell ang car, ayos na ayos pa rin ang aircon. kasi it took 5 years and 135k+ kilometer reading bago bumigay ang aircon.not bad service actually, kaso yun nga lang, mahal talaga ang parts ng opel.

yes, i can recommend the mechanic who did the service, as far as airconditioning repair is concerned. somewhere in punta, sta ana ang bahay nya but he has a shop sa fairview. i'll post his number later on. nasa office kasi yung contact number nya.

guguly, my aircon needs cleaning so pls pm or post details sa shop para mapa estimate ko.

high mileage din astra ko. tiga saan ka?

[edl100]

I think my drive belt tensioner is broken. It has this loud ticking sound that sounds like a diesel engine. Nasira ito on my way to Subic. Nakauwi ako without any mishaps travelling up to 280 kms. I was worried baka matanggal ang drive belt ko. Most opel mechanics say that this part is prone to break down around 50-60T Kms.

Here are the prices quoted to me:

Drive Belt Tensioner (Identical for ASTRA and Zafira)
GM Q.A. -- P6,500 OEM
Thunder -- P5,300 OEM
No German Replacement in stock till Feb.
Fronte -- P4,500 German Replacement

[guguly]

guguly, my aircon needs cleaning so pls pm or post details sa shop para mapa estimate ko.

high mileage din astra ko. tiga saan ka?

kung basic cleaning lang kailangan, kayang-kaya na yan ng reputable aircon shops kasi pare-pareho naman lang ang aircon. in my case kasi, affected ang computer system ng car since nag fulltime on na yung dalawang fan (safe mode) and nag warning lamp na sa dashboard. may electronics involved kaya naghanap talaga ako ng marunong (and may available na pyesang makukunan kung sakali).

actually, i never had my aircon cleaned. kahit sa casa, hindi nila nalinis aircon car. as long as lumalamig,ang pinapalitan lang daw kasi dapat dyan eh yung pollen filter sa ilalim ng dashboard. if you replace it regularly, like i do, no need to have the aircon cleaned.of course, case to case basis ito.

eto nga pala contact nung gumawa ng aircon ko: his name is erning, 09194751236.inquire ka na lang sa kanya.taga punta yan.sa sta ana.dont ask me for directions kasi hindi ako personally nagdala ng car ko sa shop nya.may pinakisuyuan lang akong magdala and magbantay sa pagpapagawa ng car. taga-laguna pa kasi ako.

[caloystermx5]

I think my drive belt tensioner is broken. It has this loud ticking sound that sounds like a diesel engine. Nasira ito on my way to Subic. Nakauwi ako without any mishaps travelling up to 280 kms. I was worried baka matanggal ang drive belt ko. Most opel mechanics say that this part is prone to break down around 50-60T Kms.

Here are the prices quoted to me:

Drive Belt Tensioner (Identical for ASTRA and Zafira)
GM Q.A. -- P6,500 OEM
Thunder -- P5,300 OEM
No German Replacement in stock till Feb.
Fronte -- P4,500 German Replacement

edl100, is the belt tensioner the part on top or the timing belt area? i might need to replace mine soon, when my timing belt was replaced, they mentioned that a part looked like it needed to be replaced soon. I didn't have time that day so they said i could bring it back (or they could come to my place) since this part is very easy to access and is easy to replace. Right on the dot, my kilometer reading will hit 60,000 kms soon. galing naman ng estimate nila

[edl100]

edl100, is the belt tensioner the part on top or the timing belt area? i might need to replace mine soon, when my timing belt was replaced, they mentioned that a part looked like it needed to be replaced soon. I didn't have time that day so they said i could bring it back (or they could come to my place) since this part is very easy to access and is easy to replace. Right on the dot, my kilometer reading will hit 60,000 kms soon. galing naman ng estimate nila

If you look at the left side of the engine, you will see the belt that runs through the alternator and the compressor. This is the drive belt. You will see the belt tensioner on the bottom part.

I recently replaced my drive belt but I did not replace the tensioner yet. Yun na nga, nasira na after 2 months yung tensioner. The drive belt and tensioner has to be replaced within 45,000-50,000 kms of use since it will really break regardless of use.

My drive belt actually snapped when I was driving 2 months ago. The car will still run and you can still go home but the alternator will not charge. There will be no power steering and no aircon compressor.

I think it is best to keep a spare drive belt and timing belt (kahit replacement brand lang) specially if you will go out of town. There will be no OPEL parts available anywhere outside Metro Manila.

[edl100]

TO those who own Astras, Vectras and Zafiras of any model:

I hope you guys know that we have to change our timing belt before 40,000kms. It was prone to snap by that time. The engine is not free wheeling so there will be a big and very expensive damage to the engine if it breaks down.

Usually, the timing belt breaks at about 80,000 kms but our car has this defect on the tensioners so it breaks up earlier.

THESE ARE THE PARTS AND PRICES

Timing belt -- P2,100 OEM
Pulley1 -- 2,200 OEM
Pulley2 -- 2,400 OEM
Tensioner -- 2,900 German replacement

Water Pump -- 2,000 German replacement
-- 6,000 OEM

Drive Belt tensioner -- 5,500 OEM
3,700 German Replacement

Labor -- ???? hmmmmm?

[cocojam]

TO those who own Astras, Vectras and Zafiras of any model:

I hope you guys know that we have to change our timing belt before 40,000kms. It was prone to snap by that time. The engine is not free wheeling so there will be a big and very expensive damage to the engine if it breaks down.

Usually, the timing belt breaks at about 80,000 kms but our car has this defect on the tensioners so it breaks up earlier.

THESE ARE THE PARTS AND PRICES

Timing belt -- P2,100 OEM
Pulley1 -- 2,200 OEM
Pulley2 -- 2,400 OEM
Tensioner -- 2,900 German replacement

Water Pump -- 2,000 German replacement
-- 6,000 OEM

Drive Belt tensioner -- 5,500 OEM
3,700 German Replacement

Labor -- ???? hmmmmm?

Thank you bro for the info. My Astra 02 is doing 26T km already and I should prepare for this already. But the other thing that is bothering me on my ride for a couple of months now is this erratic noise from my engine. It sounds more like the rattle of the tappets or a knocking sound similar to a diesel engine. It happens only during a slow acceleration from a full stop somewhere around 1,000 to 1,200 rpm. Whats confusing is that sometimes its there sometimes its not. Could it be the fuel Im using (Shell unleaded mainly)?

[caloystermx5]

If you look at the left side of the engine, you will see the belt that runs through the alternator and the compressor. This is the drive belt. You will see the belt tensioner on the bottom part.

I recently replaced my drive belt but I did not replace the tensioner yet. Yun na nga, nasira na after 2 months yung tensioner. The drive belt and tensioner has to be replaced within 45,000-50,000 kms of use since it will really break regardless of use.

My drive belt actually snapped when I was driving 2 months ago. The car will still run and you can still go home but the alternator will not charge. There will be no power steering and no aircon compressor.

I think it is best to keep a spare drive belt and timing belt (kahit replacement brand lang) specially if you will go out of town. There will be no OPEL parts available anywhere outside Metro Manila.

thanks! i can't remember what part was not replaced now. I have to check my replacement list, alam ko kasi may isang part na di napalitan. But those prices sound just about right, malayo ba prices from our jap counterparts??

[edl100]

thanks! i can't remember what part was not replaced now. I have to check my replacement list, alam ko kasi may isang part na di napalitan. But those prices sound just about right, malayo ba prices from our jap counterparts??

You will be surprised but the prices for a HONDA is almost the same or even more expensive specially for a CRV or an ACCORD.

To think Honda parts are all Taiwan or Japan made. All Opel parts are either made in UK, Germany or some european country so mas mahal ang shipping cost.

[edl100]

Thank you bro for the info. My Astra 02 is doing 26T km already and I should prepare for this already. But the other thing that is bothering me on my ride for a couple of months now is this erratic noise from my engine. It sounds more like the rattle of the tappets or a knocking sound similar to a diesel engine. It happens only during a slow acceleration from a full stop somewhere around 1,000 to 1,200 rpm. Whats confusing is that sometimes its there sometimes its not. Could it be the fuel Im using (Shell unleaded mainly)?

Hmmm. The best is to really know where the sound is coming from. At 26T kms, mababa masyado ang mileage to have a mechanical problem.

It may be a knocking sound from the valves due to the low octane gas. I used to have that problem when I was using unleaded. Try using Petron Blaze for a few months and see if it improves.

If it does not solve the problem, I suspect a drive belt tensioner problem. It can easily be checked.

[edl100]

BTW, Elerick the home service mechanic is not in the country anymore. He is working for HOLDEN (OPEL) of Australia with a one year contract. He will be back by June 2006.

[natasatanas]

uy, at least he will be coming back pa rin, i hope for good though because nahiyang na ako sa kanya.

[caloystermx5]

You will be surprised but the prices for a HONDA is almost the same or even more expensive specially for a CRV or an ACCORD.

To think Honda parts are all Taiwan or Japan made. All Opel parts are either made in UK, Germany or some european country so mas mahal ang shipping cost.

ok, konting pampalubag loob

[angelo]

hi there... i guess this must be the right place to ask about opel cars. im planning to buy an '01 opel astra A/T * 255k. problem is, the thing that pumps the fuel from the tank to the engine is busted. i've always wanted an opel astra, na lang iniisip ko yung maintenance nung car. mahal na nga daw yung parts, mahirap pa makakita. anyway, i was just wondering kung alam nyo possibly kung magkano magagastos ko para dun sa car, and kung ikamamatay ko nga ba ang maintenance nito. thanks in advance!

[guguly]

TO those who own Astras, Vectras and Zafiras of any model:

I hope you guys know that we have to change our timing belt before 40,000kms. It was prone to snap by that time. The engine is not free wheeling so there will be a big and very expensive damage to the engine if it breaks down.

Usually, the timing belt breaks at about 80,000 kms but our car has this defect on the tensioners so it breaks up earlier.

I bought my Astra in March 2000. Had it regularly serviced sa casa but they replaced my timing belt at 72,000 kms na, kahit na nagpapa service ako doon almost every 10k. I remember this very well kasi mahal pagawa ng timing belt casa. Is this every 40K timing belt replacement a GM service policy o nalimutan lang nila palitan yung timing belt ko noong 40K?

[natasatanas]

hi there... i guess this must be the right place to ask about opel cars. im planning to buy an '01 opel astra A/T * 255k. problem is, the thing that pumps the fuel from the tank to the engine is busted. i've always wanted an opel astra, na lang iniisip ko yung maintenance nung car. mahal na nga daw yung parts, mahirap pa makakita. anyway, i was just wondering kung alam nyo possibly kung magkano magagastos ko para dun sa car, and kung ikamamatay ko nga ba ang maintenance nito. thanks in advance!

sir, sana if u could get an astra na running fine and wala sira mas ok. fuel pump ata yung sinasabi mo. plus get the manual tranny if can find one. maintenance is ok, medyo pricey pyesa pero sure na it will last u a loooong time! di naman hard to comeby parts, thunder and fronte, even home service mechanics, can handle that for u. its a very good and reliable car. it has its pros and cons pero its a keeper for me.

[angelo]

sir, sana if u could get an astra na running fine and wala sira mas ok. fuel pump ata yung sinasabi mo. plus get the manual tranny if can find one. maintenance is ok, medyo pricey pyesa pero sure na it will last u a loooong time! di naman hard to comeby parts, thunder and fronte, even home service mechanics, can handle that for u. its a very good and reliable car. it has its pros and cons pero its a keeper for me.

well yun nga ang gusto ko, to have a car that i can keep for a long long time. and i was thinking that opel astra is the one for me. i've been reading feedbacks about opel astra... some say that it is economical... pero may nagsasabi din namang hindi. if the astra really is underpowered, then malakas nga ito sa gasolina. nga pala, nakakita ako ng astra na manual, yung reverse nya eh nasa 1st gear. mukhang nakakalito. anyway, what's the difference between the 99 astra and 2001?