[Wingman]

I thought I had been reasonably (and I stress reasonably) lucky with regards to suffering oil leaks compared to some other forum members - until now!!

I have suffered the following:-


Sept 2015 - Oil leak, timing chain cover, revealed when engine undercover removed on recall. Had owned vehicle since end July 2015 when purchased 6 months old, 2500 mileage


March 2017 - Suspected oil leak - told it turned out to be split diesel return pipe!! Was not convinced!!


May 2017 - Oil leak, lower sump pan joint resealed


Sept 2017 - Oil leak - timing chain cover again!!


All the above remedial work has been carried out by main dealer who also service the vehicle.


Feb 2018 - Oil leak, suspected timing chain cover again. Vehicle out of manufacturers warranty by one month!!
Rang Vauxhall customer care and raised a case with them and was told to get vehicle inspected by main dealers to confirm and then get them to report back to them. Took phone call from main dealers this afternoon who told me that the leak was from timing chain cover again and they had sent a report to Vauxhall customer care to see whether they will consider repair FOC or not!!


I have told main dealers that they should stress the vehicle low mileage (12840) and that if they do fund the repair I want the engine taken out to reseal the cover properly this time, not just the engine tilted as I suspect has happened before.
If customer care will not play ball then it can continue to leak and I will probably get rid in due course!!
Pity cause I like the car and have always had Vauxhalls (probably this is my 13th - Viva HA, Cresta PC, Brabham Viva HB, VX4/90, 2 Chevettes, Ventora, Cavalier Coupe, Nova SR, Omega 2.5 GLS, Omega 3.2 Elite, Insignia Elite) but have never had one of them leak oil like this.


I am very tempted by Peugeot 5008 or 3008 SUVs. The Grandland does not do it for me - smaller boot space than Antara, the rear seats do not slide forward like the 3008 meaning the space is only like that of a Tiguan. Also don't like the styling compared to the 5008 or 3008.


Sorry for the moan - I'll let you know what the outcome from Vauxhall Customer care is.

 

[Victor]

Sorry to hear about your troubles Wingman, sounds like you've been a victim of poor workmanship. I suppose it's your call on the engine out or nothing out position, I agree with you but you'll just have to wait and see.

Quite a pedigree of Vauxhalls you had there; I'll bet after the Omega 3.2 Elite a lot of other cars would be a let down?

 

[Bigjohnsparky]

WIngman sorry to here you are not having much luck hope it gets repaired once and for all

 

[Wingman]

Heard back from main dealers today. Vauxhall say they will pay 70% of cost of fixing this oil leak with myself having to fund 30%.

Not happy with this so will be speaking to them tomorrow!!

 

[volrider]

70 30 sounds fair, however as they failed to fix this prior to the car going out of warranty they should do it FOC in my view. How much are they asking off you in money?

 

[Wingman]

I don't know but have asked dealer to calculate and let me know bearing in mind that I am also a service club member who gets 25% off of repairs and servicing.

That said I do not think that it is a fair offer. This is a known manufacturing defect caused at the factory in S.Korea that should have been fixed permanently the first time it was reported. As another forum member has stated (Victor?) the only way to properly fix this leak is to remove the engine and gearbox and reseal using the correct specialised sealant. This should have been done last September when the vehicle was still under warranty but I doubt that it was - just mounts undone engine tilted to give minimal access.


I am awaiting a call back from customer car so that I can argue with them further.


In the meantime I have just fired off a "snotogram" to Rory Harvey before he leaves at end of month telling him that unless a more acceptable offer is made this will be the last Vauxhall I buy.

 

[chrisg]

Here is my thoughts, typing very carefully.

I had an oil leak on my sump pan and timing case joint. These were fixed under warranty. Guess what 12 months later the same leaks are there and they want me to pay for them, they have not explained why yet.

A cynical person, certainly not me, would say that they just cleaned the oil off the joint and billed Vx for the warranty claim and Kerching££££.

 

[Wingman]

Had an E Mail from dealer today and they have calculated that should I agree to paying 30% of the cost of fixing this it is going to cost me £350 including my 25% discount for being a service club member.Not happy!!
Interestingly have had reply from Vauxhall HQ after my "snotogram" to Rory Harvey last night.


Thank you for your email addressed to our former Managing Director and Chairman Mr Rory Harvey, Please be advised that Mr Harvey has stepped down from his role and as such I am responding on behalf of his successor, Mr Stephen Norman.I am sorry to read of your recent issues with your vehicle and can understand your reasons for contacting us.Please be advised I would like to take this opportunity to investigate into your concerns further with the Goldsmith and Alcorn Uckfield Vauxhall Retailer, along with the relevant internal departments within Vauxhall. I will endeavour to be back in contact within three working days with a further update.Thank you for contacting Vauxhall and for allowing us the opportunity to assist.Yours sincerely,Joe CostelloExecutive Support ManagerVauxhall Customer Care


This sounds promising so will wait and see. Will post result. Other forum members should note that Rory Harvey has now gone and the managing director of Vauxhall UK is now Stephen Norman.

 

[Wingman]

As an addition to my post above I have been in touch with a consumer advice site and have been told that under the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982 I may have a claim for damages if it can be proved that the previous repair was not carried out using reasonable care and skill.
I would think that by virtue of the fact that the "repair" only lasted about 4 months I could indeed prove the above and therefore claim reasonable damages from the dealer, including the cost of repairs and any inconvenience for not having the vehicle, plus any extra costs involved because of this (hire of another vehicle etc)



I have told the dealer that in the event of Vauxhall HQ not allowing a FOC repair, whilst I do not want to get nasty, the above course of action may be the one that I will take!!

 

[Bigjohnsparky]

That does sound very promising wingman I do hope you get the repair done properly this time with no leaks coming back and of course FOC.
Plus nice one about R H has stepped down mr Stephen Norman is his successor
And keeping everyone updated about your problems you are having good luck

 

[Victor]

Did an intermediate oil change on mines recently and had the undertray off to check for any oil leaks. Glad to say the bottom end is completely dry. Well, apart from an external leak round the sump plug because Vauxhall never renewed the seal when they did the 2 year service.

 

[volrider]

I might do the same Victor, trouble is I have no ramps etc so its a crawl underneath job, how many screws for the undertray?

 

[Victor]

There are 3 off 13mm screws across the front of the undertray (although 1 was missing from mine) and a couple of 10mm screws. There are also 3 off plastic rivet type fasteners on the bottom plus there's two flanges of the undertray that go up and fasten to the inner wing liner with plastic fasteners. To be honest, Volrider, I wouldn't fancy trying to do it without at least DIY ramps because it's pretty tight below there. In fact it would be better on a proper garage car ramp

 

[smithy]

It would be good to hear how this is resolved.
I have a 2013 Antara 2.2 with 25k miles on the clock.
Exactly the same problem, it was repaired by Vauxhall in May 2017, then went again and repaired in October 2017 and is sat in the Vauxhall garage now being repaired again. Each time at a cost in excess of £1000, to this point it hasn't cost me anything as it was originally covered by the dealership and also subsequent repairs have. They have told me if it goes again that Vauxhall will only give 12 months cover from the initial repair in May regardless of the fact it has had 2 further repairs.
The garage has said that they have followed Vauxhall's repair instructions to the letter and don't understand why it keeps failing?
Coincidently a friend of mines 2012 model upon servicing last week at the same garage has to take his back next week for the same repair.
Surely Vauxhall has to take ownership of this problem? Frustratingly, when asking for assurances that this will be fixed permantly this time their service department manager advised that he couldn't guarantee this and actually advised me that once fixed I was better off getting rid of the vehicle.
Any advice would be appreciated

 

[Victor]

I can understand your concern, I'd feel the same way myself. I's think there must be some of the joint surfaces that have become distorted or don't fit together right, especially when the garage says they followed Vauxhall instructions to the letter. Some of the earlier cases were leaking after repair because they didn't give the sealant long enough to set before reassembling.

How bad is your leak, is it measurable on the dipstick? If it isn't measurable and you don't want to part with your car you might just have to live with it. If you could get one of the old style undertrays it would catch any oil drips better.

 

[volrider]

Here are some images sent to me from a VX engineer of the oil leak around the exhaust front exhaust pipe flexi, this is what he sent me as he was doing these quite regularly he said if it is done properly they wont leak again as he had none come back! He also said that it can happen at any time with one he worked with less than 10K miles! Anyway this will give you guide where to look for the oil leak.





Edited by: volrider

 

[volrider]

Bugger a couple of duplicated images, cant work out how to get rid of them!

 

[chrisg]

It would be good to hear how this is resolved.
I have a 2013 Antara 2.2 with 25k miles on the clock.
Exactly the same problem, it was repaired by Vauxhall in May 2017, then went again and repaired in October 2017 and is sat in the Vauxhall garage now being repaired again. Each time at a cost in excess of £1000, to this point it hasn't cost me anything as it was originally covered by the dealership and also subsequent repairs have. They have told me if it goes again that Vauxhall will only give 12 months cover from the initial repair in May regardless of the fact it has had 2 further repairs.

I don't believe that the garage has been repairing the fault,but claiming the warranty repair bill from VX after cleaning the weep from the joint.
If you've ever been in a main dealer garage they are very busy just doing servicing and warranty jobs take a back seat.They are given unbelievable times for almost all jobs, ie gearbox renewal 5.5 hrs etc...

 

[Wingman]

Right - a result.

Received the E Mail below fromVauxhall Executive Support ManagerCustomer Care Centre, Joe Costello.


Re: Vauxhall Antara Vehicle Registration Number: ................
Thank you for your patience whilst we have been investigating into your case.Please be advised that having discussed the matter with the service manager at Eastbourne Motoring Centre, it has been agreed that between Vauxhall and Eastbourne, we will be happy to cover the full cost of repair on this occasion. Unfortunately, due to the adverse weather conditions there may be slight delays in processing this, I am sorry for any inconvenience that this may cause.I will of course follow this repair and will keep you regularly updated as per the progress.Thank you for contacting Vauxhall and for allowing us the opportunity to assist.Yours Sincerely,Joe CostelloVauxhall Executive Support ManagerCustomer Care Centre
I will be following this up with the workshop supervisor to ensure that the engine is removed and that the technical instructions for this repair are fully followed. Hopefully this repair will last this time!! It has somewhat restored my faith in Vauxhall, but as in my previous post I am not impressed with the Grandland so when I change the Antara in about a years time will be seriously looking at a Peugeot 3008.Went and had a look at one and a 5008 yesterday and liked the 3008 very much. Was not as keen on the 5008 due to its front end styling - looks very "lorry like"
To sum up I hope the contact that I used and this information may help any other forum members who experience the same problems as I have.

 

[Victor]

Here are some images sent to me from a VX engineer of the oil leak around the exhaust front exhaust pipe flexi, this is what he sent me as he was doing these quite regularly he said if it is done properly they wont leak again as he had none come back! He also said that it can happen at any time with one he worked with less than 10K miles! Anyway this will give you guide where to look for the oil leak.

Good pictures of the problem area Volrider. Notice the lower sump has a doubler fitted to spread the load evenly around all the bolts while the upper sump joint doesn't so it will be critical for them to tighten these bolts incrementally to compress the jointing compound evenly when they're re-assembling it.