Help - What would you do?

paulh

paulh

paulh

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Joined
7 Jun 2008
Posts
1,523
Location
Spalding
My car is a 54 plate vauxhall Astra 1.7cdti with 135k on it. 11 months MOT, 5 tax

A few weeks ago I was driving home from Bradford, where my GF lives at the mo, to Spalding when a hose split near the radiator, as my car has no temp gauge at all I had no way of knowing until the heating stopped working, I pulled over 5 miles later when I guessed something was not right, the car was driving fine at this point. No smoke however it smelt a bit funny so I bet it was very hot.

Anyway, got towed home and car fixed £100 for pipe and labour etc. Our usual mechanic who does all the family cars and has for years said the engine looks and sound fine, no water in the oil etc, but who knows with out taking it all apart.

With the miles I do (1500 a month ish) I don't really trust it any more.

I have a loan (not HP) on my car and still owe about £1800 (I'm going to find out about early repayment tonight after work) It's due to finish March 2012

I could pay off the loan with my over draft, sell the car and start again. But I dont want to sell it privately incase there is a major fault. Could part ex but then left with massive overdraft + new car payments until I can clear over draft.

We buy any car will give me about £1500 for it so I'll be £300 out of pocket but that's not the end of the world, then start again.

My question really is.

Would you guys sell it while I can still get a bit for or keep it till march next year and hope its ok? I dont want to be half way to wherever and it go bang and I've lost it all.

2, What would you get in its place? Must be diesel, 1.7 minimum, max £7500 as low mileage as poss. I would like another Astra, other than the pipe, I've only had to do pads, tyres and cam belt in the 3 years and 60k miles I've had it.

Sorry for the long read, but our experience and advice would be a great help.

Thanks
Paul
 
I'd get your mechanic to fit an after market temp gauge & run it with my eye on the gauge for a week or two. Motor should be sound though, Stop worrying.
 
Same happened to my mates 54 plate 1.7cdti astra van twice infact as he bodged it at the side of the road. The van still runs fine now on 120k (45k miles later!)
 
I think the question he's asking is that, because he may have been driving it for some time with no coolant, could the heat have caused damage to the block.
 
a 2004/2005 Vauxhall Astra doesn't even have a temperature gauge?! I thought that was like a standard fit on cars since about 1990!
 
[TW]Fox;18324855 said:
2008 BMW 5 Series hasn't got one either..
Click to expand...

:confused: How hasn't it got one? Does it have a temperature gauge linked to the iDrive/computer?

Temperature gauges are kind of essential things - they can turn a £100 bill for a split hose into a £5000 bill for a new engine.
 
Gaygle said:
:confused: How hasn't it got one? Does it have a temperature gauge linked to the iDrive/computer?

Temperature gauges are kind of essential things - they can turn a £100 bill for a split hose into a £5000 bill for a new engine.
Click to expand...

probably has an engine overheated/overheating warning on the dash display instead
 
[TW]Fox;18322161 said:
So because a hose went and has now been fixed you want to sell the car?!
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Hades said:
I think the question he's asking is that, because he may have been driving it for some time with no coolant, could the heat have caused damage to the block.
Click to expand...

This! I could have driven it for miles at 70mph before stopping, I only stopped as the heating broke and it made me think coolant!

Gaygle said:
a 2004/2005 Vauxhall Astra doesn't even have a temperature gauge?! I thought that was like a standard fit on cars since about 1990!
Click to expand...


NOTHING! No light, no worning, nothing! (It was only the 2004 year they took it out...it's back on the 05 ones!). The AA man took the **** and said why didn't I look at the gauge, I asked him to show me this majic gauge, he replied with oh, how crap!

It just doesn't feel right anymore, I've not been happy with it for a while, it feels old now, even though it gets a service every year. She's been well looked after but driven hard.

I can pay my loan early and get a new one £6500 over 3.5 years, but what car to get?
 
Gaygle said:
:confused: How hasn't it got one? Does it have a temperature gauge linked to the iDrive/computer?

Temperature gauges are kind of essential things - they can turn a £100 bill for a split hose into a £5000 bill for a new engine.
Click to expand...

This is what I was worrying about on the tow home.
 
[TW]Fox;18327259 said:
No. It will pop up a warning on iDrive if the car overheats, but there is no guage to watch.
Click to expand...

How very pedantic ;)

Still, i find it a bit shocking that a modern car like the Astra hasn't got a monitoring and/or warning system linked to the coolant temperature.
 
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