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Is my astra a dis-astra??

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Evenin guys,

I'm haveing some troubles with my new astra and thought i'd post up here to see if any of you have experienced the same probs before, or have any sugestions.
This might turn into a novel but here goes.

I'll start by providing a lil background info:
I have a 1994 1.4 astra merit, 3dr hatch. Not sure which engine (if indeed ther is more than 1 variant of the 1.4) i have - haven't even got the log book back yet. Uppon buying it i saw it start from cold (definatly) and it started first crack. To drive it felt really nice, not at all underpowered.

Day 1.
Like an exited little kiddy i jumped in monday morning to find the bugger wouldn't start. I did what i used to do in my knackered old 106 - flat out on the gas and turn the key. It was a cold morning but she wouldn't go. Had next to no fuel in it so filled up from a gerry can and after a lot of winding it started. It occured to me later tha perhaps a petrol didn't need full throttle to start - my old 106 was diesel, and maybe i was flooding the engine??
Anyway she was crap to start all that day even when warm. Going with the flooding theory i dont give it any gas and it seems to start better - after maybe 2 or 3 turns. Once she does go theres a sort of low muffled boom very briefly, very quietly.
Thinking back i remember the bloke i bought it from saying something like 'course the lifters are getting on but they'll start forever like that'.

The next problem i noticed was the power, or lack of. Hills i used to fly up in the 1.5D 106 in 4th drop the astra to 2nd, or even 1st, and the engine now seems quite reluctant to rev - like its holding back. Strangely there was none of this behaviour on the 45min test drive.

Day 2.
I'd manage to convince myself that maybe it was just a big ol heavy car with a weedy 1.4 engine - she is 12years old after all. Next problem popped up. Every now and then when accelerating, the car splutters and jolts. Not a major jolt, but enough to be annoying. I wondered if perhaps she isn't getting enough fuel when im pressing the gas hard?

Day 3.
God it just keeps getting worse. The middle 2 vents (above the stereo) aren't getting hot. The 2 others and wherever the feet heater comes from will boild your skin off, but stone cold from the middle. Perhaps a blockage in the waterways? Or even a head gasket? I don't know.

Phew so there we go. As ive no history, ive bought and official service kit and a cambelt - all to be done in the morning. Even if that doesnt cure any of the many problems it'll want doing anyway right?

Anyone with some advisory words will be considered a friend for life :D
Thanks guys
 
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When i had issue starting my 1.4 i sprayed WD40 down on the spark plug and in the HT leads - started better after than.

...but i'm the last person you should take mechanical advice from.
 
welcome to owning a 1.4 there crap on hills
 
LOL astraman
This is only my 2nd car and like i said other was a 1.5 diesel 106, but i swear that would wipe the floor with my astra - can't be right can it?
I thought petrols were supposed to be faster than diesels lol
 
1.4 engines are the worst ones or this kind of thinng lacking power and stutering ask anyone on here
 
I would have gone for the 1.6, but the insurance company unzipped their fly and told me to touch my toes!
I ran and hid behind my 1.4......still cost me 1900 quid for the year tho :(
 
how old are you
 
19
8 points for no ins
0 no-claims
medium crime rating
:( i want to cry
 
think the middle vents are meant to blow cold air only, all the vauxhalls ave been have done anyway
 
no wonder its so high then 1.6 for me is 20£ more than a 1.4
 
Ok so the power prob - realistically can i get anything half decent from this crappy engine?
i.e will a decent air filter, exhaust, chip whatever do anything or should i just live with it till i can afford a transplant (plus all the extra ins after a transplant )
 
live with it nowt makes a diffrence really
 
well youll get small change but note drastic
 
*nightshade sobs in a corner*
still gonna stick a filter and back box on - my kitty can growl and pretend to be a puddy cat
 
yup you can do that it depends how much money you have asell one guy on here has 115 bhp from his but the mods will put your insurance up asell
 
jamie_sri said:
think the middle vents are meant to blow cold air only, all the vauxhalls ave been have done anyway


the middle vents are operated by a button on the dash under the three heater nobs its got a pic of a car on it and a arrow going around the inside ....... well it is on mine i can switch them from hot to cold onll found it by mistake lol
 
i had a very similar problem with my engine in that when youi put your foot down it kind of lurches. I got the valves redone after having a compression check done. Was expensive but seems to have cured the problem.
 
mk3softtop said:
the middle vents are operated by a button on the dash under the three heater nobs its got a pic of a car on it and a arrow going around the inside ....... well it is on mine i can switch them from hot to cold onll found it by mistake lol

thats just the "recycle air" button. not just to get the middle ones to work lol. it draws air back in from inside the car when the button is depressed, rather than from the outside.
 
like if you smell cow sh*t you can recycle it lol
 
you got it lol. but why would you smell of cow ****? i know i dont ever.
 

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