Hi Folks,
I've been holding onto my workvan since it broke down in 2018. Its been sitting since it failed at 100,000 miles. But never broke down in 15 years prior. Its got a Y20DTH 2.0L engine that I think was made by Isuzu. Diesel specialists say these go strong for 300,000 miles or more. Unfortunately they fitted it with a crappy Bosch VP44VSG16 injection pump that fails. That's whats thrown this code apparently:
PO149 - (5) Injection timing control circuit - intermittent.
Some people say that the solder on the pumps vibrates loose, and if you take it apart and repair you can get it going again.
Other people say this engine isn't like the mechanical 1.7L and everything is computers and modules. Vauxhall want £2,400 for example just to marry a new pump up to the ECU. Everything in the Haynes manual for example says "Can't be done by Diy, take it into an authorised garage".
So I'm thinking they've pulled a craft one here. Put a reliable engine in, and then nickel and dime you with the unreliable computerised parts. Plus they didn't fit a drain plug on the manual transmission, so might be in for a hefty bill there.
It's worth £350 in scrap. £2,500 - £3,000 or more fixed. And needs about £1,500 in repairs - if I can repair it myself without taking it to Vauxhall.
Still, for a 20 odd year old van, it's got not other faults. And I'm a bit reluctant to let it go, as it's always been reliable.
What do you guys think? Just break ties with Vauxhall and go full Toyota?.
Its got a Y20DTH 2.0L engine that I think was made by Isuzu
That's a 90s engine, as far as I know, unlike older Opels - that's a GM unit.
In typical GM unit, it was such a wild incredible success it got canceled after only 4 years 😆.
Diesel specialists say these go strong for 300,000 miles or more
Some people say that the solder on the pumps vibrates loose, and if you take it apart and repair you can get it going again.
The 2.0L as you have is fine - but it is still ruined by the Bosch VP44 fuel injection system and its weak transistor.
The fuel system, in typical 2000s euro-car fashion breakdown both mechanically and electrically.
But people usually do know how to repair these terrible fuel systems.
Vauxhall want £2,400 for example just to marry a new pump up to the ECU. Everything in the Haynes manual for example says "Can't be done by Diy, take it into an authorised garage".
I believe it should be possible to find a person who has the equipment and knows how to work on it.
Where I live, there are guys who know how to repair odd issues with Renault-Dacia diesels and that's all that they do.
It shouldn't be hard to find a person who does the same for Opel-GM products.
GM and GME (General Motors Europe, aka Opel and its subsidiary Vauxhall) are just incompetent -
GME lost something like $20 Billion over 17 years - neither one of those years was profitable, nor was it beforehand.
Reminds me of the Boeing scandal where an official email about the engineering of their product suggested it was "Designed by clowns … supervised by monkeys" - incredible incompetence, bad engineering, and terrible management.
These kinds of companies are always trying to "get rich quick" but they're so bad at it, it never ends up well for them.
Still, for a 20 odd year old van, it's got not other faults. And I'm a bit reluctant to let it go, as it's always been reliable.
Try to find anyone who knows how to fix it for less.
People are able to replace the entire system for about $400
(You'll probably need google translate for this: https://www.drive2.ru/l/8845427/ )
What do you guys think? Just break ties with Vauxhall and go full Toyota?
If you're in the UK, then it's a maybe.
Toyota didn't sell the Camry and Corolla there.
The Avensis and Auris are fine as long as they're manuals and have the correct engine / transmission comb -
but still not the greatest cars out there.
Hi Dan,
Thanks for such a detailed reply. I didn't know 99% of that. I'll probably scrap/sell at this point. Breaking free from these companies and their hold over you can only be a good thing.