timbo343 Posted June 8, 2016 Posted June 8, 2016 (edited) The missus is need of a newish car, her Clio Mk2 is playing up to no end at the moment. The blower fan has been replaced and works when it wants, it loses power every now and then, it had a juddering party trick when idling and sometimes doesnt want to start oh an can cut out at lights. She says its hard to get 1st gear and kangeroos in 1st gear s she turns off the ignition and the car fails to start. It takes about 3 or 4 attempts to get it started. One of her friends is selling a 59 plate Vauxhall Corsa Active Ecoflex Cdti with about 50K miles on the clock. I was wondering if anyone on here either drives on or knows about up to date corsas. I had a corsa B, S reg for my first car back in 2003 which was ok, it had 43k on when i bought it from the auctions but got rid of it as the engine started to tap, i got the engine replaced and things got worse from there, to the point where the mechanic didnt put the gear linkages in correctly so had to drive home in 3rd and couldnt get reverse. Then once that had got started, once the engine had warmed up, when i turned the ignition off, it sounded like someone had dropped a bag of spanners. She will be doing about 30 mile round trip to work a day (about 5 days a week) and she needs a reliable car. I still think Fiestas are the small car to have but when you need a reliable car, you will take owt. Thanks in advanced. PS, do does this model of corsa come with a 12v electrical socket? Edited June 8, 2016 by timbo343
Chris_ Posted June 8, 2016 Posted June 8, 2016 I've got a 09 Corsa D CDTI with 62k on it. I've had it for a couple of years now (had a petrol Corsa D before, no issues with that either, apart from being a bit sluggish at times) and I've not had any issues with it. I get around 50mpg even with my short journeys to work and nipping around town. It has a 12v socket at the front. 1
CHiLL Posted June 9, 2016 Posted June 9, 2016 I'm not sure about other models of Corsa, but I once had a Corsa D Life 2007 (56 plate) 1.0L petrol. It blew up on me going up the M6 a few years ago. Turned out that the pipe connecting the coolant overflow to the engine was made of plastic and simply sheered off, meaning all of the coolant left my engine. This caused the engine to run dry, overheat and die. The head gasket blew, something else fried (can't remember what) and the pistons were flooded with water. It cost me about £500 to get the car on the road. Needless to say, I traded it in not long after that. So what that, I'd tend to avoid a Corsa myself, at least the 1.0L engines anyway. 1
Patrick Posted June 9, 2016 Posted June 9, 2016 Had various fiestas in the past and had been very reliable. Worth looking at if you can find one within your budget/mileage etc. 1
Oaktech Posted June 9, 2016 Posted June 9, 2016 My wife had a 57 plate corsa CDTi for 3 years and it was fine - she's now swapped (actual, no money changed hands) it for an 07 Meriva because she wants the height for getting the little one in and out. 1
Duranis Posted June 9, 2016 Posted June 9, 2016 Sounds like the Clio just needs a decent auto electrician to take a look at it as all the problems you are describing sound like an electrical fault. Might be as simple as a worn cable or bad connection somewhere. Shame your not local as I know a really good auto electrician that basically rewired my BRM a few years ago and solved a bunch of issues that 2 other garages couldn't figure out. Personally I would pick a KA or Fiesta for something small and reliable, parts for them are super easy to get and they are pretty bulletproof. A mate of mine used to have a Corsa which gave him quite a bit of trouble but to be fair I think it was mostly because he drove like an idiot and never serviced it or got things sort properly. 1
timbo343 Posted June 9, 2016 Author Posted June 9, 2016 thanks for all the replies. Ive been told there's 1 or more pennies in the CD player so not sure how we are going to get them out.
pow Posted June 10, 2016 Posted June 10, 2016 Nothing wrong with a CDTI Corsa, they are reliable little cars. Just aviod the M32 gearbox (my 1.6 diesel alfa has one) as they enjoy a new set of bearings every 80k. 1
Norphy Posted June 10, 2016 Posted June 10, 2016 thanks for all the replies. Ive been told there's 1 or more pennies in the CD player so not sure how we are going to get them out. Take the head unit out and take the lid off the head unit I suppose. CD players are mostly air so hopefully shouldn't be too hard. 1
Chris_ Posted June 10, 2016 Posted June 10, 2016 thanks for all the replies. Ive been told there's 1 or more pennies in the CD player so not sure how we are going to get them out. I can't remember the last time I played a CD in the car! I just plug my phone or MP3 player in to the aux in. 1
abillybob Posted June 10, 2016 Posted June 10, 2016 My ex girlfriend had a corsa and the handbrake cable snapped twice on it. It developed a fault with the starting motor and then the gearbox needed repairing, this was a 59 reg corsa, 1.4 5 door with only 57,000 miles on the clock and it had been driven carefully. My uncles dad also has a corsa, has no end of issues with mechanical problems, he just doesn't bother changing it and gets it fixed instead as he's getting on a bit now, the last problem was his head gasket this is a 57 reg. I had a courtesy car corsa when my Honda went in for repair and hated everything about it, the way it drove and the road noise where terrible, the seating position was awful, Everything you touched in the car felt 'cheap/plasticy' there was no foot rest by the clutch which drove me nutty... I think what I'm trying to say is there's a lot better for the money. Believe it or not the nicest car I've ever drove was a 54 reg Nissan Micra which was also a courtesy car. Brilliant little motor, the gearbox was soooo smooth it was lovely considering the age!!! 1
JoeBloggs Posted June 10, 2016 Posted June 10, 2016 My sister has a 59plate corsa not had any trouble had it 3-4 years now 1
timbo343 Posted June 10, 2016 Author Posted June 10, 2016 Nothing wrong with a CDTI Corsa, they are reliable little cars. Just aviod the M32 gearbox (my 1.6 diesel alfa has one) as they enjoy a new set of bearings every 80k. The M32 Gearbox? How to tell if it's got this?
Tesla Posted June 10, 2016 Posted June 10, 2016 The idling issue can be fixed for about 60 quid at a mechanic. It'll be the throttle body needing cleaning out, i had the exact same issue on my mk2 clio! first gear and idle were woeful.
pow Posted June 10, 2016 Posted June 10, 2016 Yeah I've done a clio, cost me about £4 in a bottle of carb cleaner. The throttle body needs cleaning out and then it's all fine.
timbo343 Posted June 10, 2016 Author Posted June 10, 2016 Is it 5 or 6 speed? Reverse next to frist? I think the corsa is 5 speed and with reverse next to 1st. The idling issue can be fixed for about 60 quid at a mechanic. It'll be the throttle body needing cleaning out, i had the exact same issue on my mk2 clio! first gear and idle were woeful. This guy hear has the same problem which I call its party trick https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcZ9MpAfFHI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsyVODdLBBA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBVS3UvHNcc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXTUi4lpFAg https://www.youtube.com/user/ClioTom1994/videos To be honest, I think the OH has convinced her self that the clio is end of life. We plugged in the diagnostics and didn't get any codes. We did get a P0120 before changing the accelerator but nothing now and its still got a problem. Plus it creaks and rattles like mad.
pow Posted June 10, 2016 Posted June 10, 2016 (edited) I never got any codes with the one I did it to either, does the EML flash or is it the one under the fuel light? DO you also have the joyus sunroof leak? 5 speed box will be fine Edited June 10, 2016 by pow
v4learning Posted June 10, 2016 Posted June 10, 2016 MY OH works for a Vauxhall Dealership so if you have any questions I would be happy to ask him for you
timbo343 Posted June 10, 2016 Author Posted June 10, 2016 Yeah I've done a clio, cost me about £4 in a bottle of carb cleaner. The throttle body needs cleaning out and then it's all fine. Is that all it is? To be honest, she has lost confidence in the car now and fears everytime she gets in it it wont start. I had a look to see where the throttle body was and noticed i had to take off the top of the engine (the plastic bit) so didnt go any further. I never got any codes with the one I did it to either, does the EML flash or is it the one under the fuel light? DO you also have the joyus sunroof leak? 5 speed box will be fine Is that the 5 speed on the corsa? As for the sunroof on the clio, not had the leak from the sun roof but had it from the windscreen as some numpty from autoglass hadn't fitted it properly and broke the scuttle drains under the windscreen and dropped the near side windscreen nut down into the drain area under the windscreen. I only found the nut a few weeks ago to make sure the drain hole was clear. Yep the nut was down there. The leak was coming from the top of the windscreen so ive put a load of black sealant in there, im not too sure if it leaks now but the passenger footwell was soaked, i mean it took days for the sound proofing to dry out. MY OH works for a Vauxhall Dealership so if you have any questions I would be happy to ask him for you Ah Ha! that's is good to know and thanks. Just need a ford mechanic on here now .
timbo343 Posted June 10, 2016 Author Posted June 10, 2016 And heres the problem with the clio https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9ftsS4ZT8WhNjZYdEt5eTdKcHM/view?usp=docslist_api. Ive experienced the loss of power, i just had to drop the clutch and give it a few revs, it was like there was no power at all.
timbo343 Posted June 11, 2016 Author Posted June 11, 2016 So we've been for a test drive of the corsa. I cant remember if i mentioned but its the 1.3L ecoFLEX Active diesel 5dr with air con. Its doen 51k on a 59 plate. We took it around town and a few miles on the motorway. Seems very nippy and the steering is responsive and light. Seems well built and it felt like i was driving a little tank with the diesel engine lol. The indicators are a little stange, it has the lane change indicator which im used to on the fiesta but on full indicator the stick goes back to the default poistion.. weird. There are a few light scratches on the car which could be t-cutted out and a few rusted stone chips which can be dremmelled out but overall its in sound condition and has been looked after, oh theres one little broken thing, one of the airvents flaps are still in contact but the middle verticle bit is missing so they are uniformed. The parcel shelf is.missing but im sure we can pick on up at a scrappers.or on ebay. It has some ok ish tyres on, radicals on front and nexens on the back with plenty of tread. I saw one of our neighbours who has 4 vauxhall cars and mentioned it to him. I said we were getting a 1.3 diesel and he said just be careful, the 1.3 has a bad write up but the 1.7 will run and run. He advised to change the cam belt sooner rather than later so will get a major service, cam belt change and MOT done in september. Gearbox seems ok too. As we were coming to the end of the test drive the gear changes werent as smooth but we parked it up, turned engine off to look round it. When starting the engine again and driving round the corner the gears seemed fine again.
difinity Posted June 11, 2016 Posted June 11, 2016 I think it's a chain rather than belt on the 1.3 CDTi engine, they can go slack and snap the camshaft. Diesels are also trickier to work on at home when there are faults. There is no, lack of fuel or spark to diagnose, it's all high pressure diesel lines or lack of that causes issues. (I was trained by a Ford mechanic, but worked on everything from Ladas to Porsches, back in the day). I'd also check the clutch, and a quick acceleration then braking test, whilst not holding the steering wheel to identify any suspension/braking issues.
Tesla Posted June 13, 2016 Posted June 13, 2016 My Mums old Diesel corsa was a nightmare (Corsa C, not D, though) and again have heard slightly bad things about the smaller diesel engines. Indicator Stalks are weird to get used to, i should mention my OH has a 1.2 64 plate Corsa...
timbo343 Posted June 13, 2016 Author Posted June 13, 2016 My Mums old Diesel corsa was a nightmare (Corsa C, not D, though) and again have heard slightly bad things about the smaller diesel engines. Indicator Stalks are weird to get used to, i should mention my OH has a 1.2 64 plate Corsa... I think the Corsa D engines are a new generation?
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