Mk3 Cavalier Owners Club | Vauxhall Cavalier Dot Com

Didnt win it... arse!

Thanks guys that's invaluable advice. Humbucker - I've been reading your thread already as a point of reference and again it's been of great value for the sheer amount of info. I'm bidding on a low mileage recently serviced engine on the bay as we speak so I might end up with an engine swap yet. Tim...

Obviously I'll check out the oil cooler as I strip it down. Having never done a V6 CHG It'll be a steep learning curve - if it was my Carlton I could do it in my sleep! Will I need to remove the cooler to remove the heads anyway or can it stay in situ? And if it stays in there can it be checked easi...

Looks like a CHG failure on mine then.
I have water in the oil and oil leaking from somewhere near the top of the block towards the back end of the engine.

I'll be ordering some parts then....

So... if the oil cooler fails could it cause alot of white smoke and puddles of oil under the car?

That's exactly what's happening with mine!

He was thinking "Golly I wish I could get my car on Barryboys.

She never replied to it!
In her position I would probably not have done either..

That's what I did.
Mrs Murph is hard as nails so she doesnt need heating anyway!

I'll have to strain the old memory for this! Volvo 343GL (URP422W) Mitsubishi Colt GLS (CMY255T) Triumph Acclaim HL (LGH181Y) Triumph Acclaim HLS (......X) FSO Polonez (E......) Another Acclaim (......Y) Vauxhall Astra 1.6 D (C...LPU) Renault 19 Chamade (90MH2075) Ford Sierra 1.6L (B...) Ford Fiesta...

Cheers - nice and easy then.
I took both the hoses off the bulkhead today and looped the new one I fitted back to the engine. The other pipe was leaking so that'll be replaced.

The Matrix is definately leaking too so that will also be replaced.

Going down to Maidstone to collect a Carlton with a starting issue that a friend and I are going to be looking at, then trying to figure another coolant leak on the cav.

Well it's happening again - only this time the inside of the car is steaming up too.

There is also a leak from underneath again so I suspect the other heater pipe has gone the same way as the first one.

Just in case - how hard is it to change out a matrix on a non aircon Cavvy?

I like the idea but wouldnt it be easier to just fit a variable resistor into your existing setup?
That way you could turn your element down (but not off) when it gets a little warm if you want to.

Unless of course you want the later ones because they get hotter than the ones you have now?

Behind the fusebox.
Yellow holder I think.

Fair point.
I suppose the thing to do is remove the fan switch and artificially heat it while still connected to see if the fan activates.
I have seen it done with a lighter but TBH I've never done it myself.

Does the fan kick in before the car overheats?
Have you tested the fan? - couple of bits of old wire from the plug to the battery will do that easily!

Failing that there's only the rad switch and the relay that can be at fault.

Maybe an air leak at the AFM?

Premier Autos in Blackfen.
They are a Hyundai dealer and not the cheapest for MOT's but as I said - I trust the tester.

A good friend of mine from Bexhill drives up to a place in SE London to get his MOT's done as a mate of ours is the tester there.
He's also a Vauxhall man - the only one I will let test my Carlton.
One mate of ours comes from Didcot to get his Carltons tested there.

Any car pre 95 CAN be tested as a non cat vehicle if the tester *ahem* "can't find the engine number for verification" but you need a good tester who's willing to do it. Most of them are bloody jobsworths, as I'm sure you know. Any car with a pre 92 engine can also be tested as non-cat as ...

We've had a fair bit here and the numpties are out in force! The cav has performed brilliantly - i watched some eejit it an 04 merc utterly failing to get up a hill in front of me before reversing straight at me to turn around - jerk! I got my satisfaction though - effortlessly climbing the same hil...

None in Dartford as yet, but the weather man says we will get some on tuesday.

Might have to get the Frontera out of mothballs!

I had noticed this a while ago, but couldnt get my fingers out of my anorak to post it....

All sorted!
I had a little trouble getting the pipe to route without any kinks but eventually got it.

All is well in the land of Cav again!

No need - it's had loads of fresh water over the last week or two and the heaters will dry your face out quite nicely!