Matts CDX - Work In Progress.

[cavalier1990]

For your crankshaft sensor I think the bosch number is:

bosch "0 261 210 128"

Might be a better option than the cheaper made in china ones.

[ilovedmymantas]

I tried that part number on a couple of sites and it comes up with a mk1 2.2 frontera though oddly the hp is the same as mine.

The problem started over a year ago and my searches came up with no bosch one for this engine, I think the red tops used bosch but the xev was siemens .

The original sensor was siemens swk90541, the equivalent's were gm 90458251 or opel 1238914. I did try and find a siemens/vdo one, then and now but no luck.
Actually thinking back that's not strictly true. Shortly after i got the car the water level sensor needed replaced, the original float had corroded badly.
I bought one from china advertised for vauxhall cavalier and land rover from a wholesale site, as a sample. That's still working fine.
I messaged the same site, yoyoparts and got a quote for siemens swk90541 at 29 dollars for a sample. If all else fails i may try them, for now i've got two to try, lemark and QH.

[ilovedmymantas]

I'm hoping it's dirty contacts too.
The lemark sensor has arrived, waiting on the ci one to compare now, just in case I need one.

Apologies for being so tardy with an update. I don't know where the time's going just now

Quick update.

I ended up soldering the camshaft sensor wiring pins together and wrapping in insulating tape (no pic) because I couldn't get all the pins to click into the plugs. I don't know if it was the crimping or the soldering but something went wrong. It worked anyway, no more cam sensor error .

The crankshaft sensor was a different story

- I dropped the car off at the garage with the lemark and the QH branded sensor and the car refused to start with either . I was advised to throw them away!
Last year's kerr nelson sensor was refitted and I was back to keeping the car under 2000 revs and driving like a grandad on a wet sunday lol.

The following week a new kerr nelson sensor i'd ordered arrived. It was from the same company i got the first one but now they're offering the same part for around £6 more with a 5 year warranty - no brainer after the problems i've had! The sensor's been fitted for 3 weeks now and so far no issues or fault codes, yay!

There is a downside, apart from paying more for a receipt to validate the warranty.
I've usually had a few things to get done but this time it was the sensor only. I didn't realise before but i can only assume labour is charged at a fixed one hour rate, it's the only way i can explain £60 to put a car on a ramp, unplug and remove one bolt then replace a bolt & plug - ten minutes at best?

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The next challenge is the mot, due the middle of march.

I had an advisory last year for a f/n/s tyre wearing on the outside. Bit p'd off with that, i've never had that before and the tyres aren't old. I wonder if all these potholes and speedbumps are the cause, knocking the tracking out?
I know i need some welding done and have a leaky oil pan;













More pain

[thomas]

Ouch that hole appearing in the subframe looks like it's in exactly the same place as mine started to 'go' (pics 1,3 and 4).

You might better trying for another subframe, or better, one of the already coated painted ones available. I still have my old subframe (but it's the part-open, not fully boxed-in type), but it's better than that one (repairable) as the rot was only in one place. Free to anyone who'll take it away

[Envoy CDX]

That subframe is borderline past it, but getting replacements will be hard. Very wet engine, are you sure its the sump leaking and not the gaskets?

It could even be the weakened subframe causing the tire wear when I think about it.

Hopefully you'll get it sorted.

[ilovedmymantas]

Ouch that hole appearing in the subframe looks like it's in exactly the same place as mine started to 'go' (pics 1,3 and 4).

You might better trying for another subframe, or better, one of the already coated painted ones available. I still have my old subframe (but it's the part-open, not fully boxed-in type), but it's better than that one (repairable) as the rot was only in one place. Free to anyone who'll take it away

That subframe is borderline past it, but getting replacements will be hard. Very wet engine, are you sure its the sump leaking and not the gaskets?

It could even be the weakened subframe causing the tire wear when I think about it.

Hopefully you'll get it sorted.

Aye it's not looking too cute. Hopefully I can get through the mot this year, probably second time again though that should give me time to find something better. Does anyone have a part number?

Sorry, I should have been more specific about the leak, it is the sump gasket leaking at the front. Personally i'd have pinched the bolts up a little and see what happened.
I do have most of the parts i need, bought years ago at better prices. The x20xev couldn't be just a simple cork one of course, that would be too easy, it had to be metal and rubber one requiring sealant


I have victor reinz gasket and sealant, a perfect condition oil pan with a sensor (that's hopefully working, i intend to test it). The downpipe needs removed to do this apparently so I'll need to replace that too, it's been temporarily patch welded recently.
It's been a couple of weeks since i've had to open the bonnet and after seeing pics in my postimages gallery i wonder if my top strut mounts have gone already. Maybe bilstein gas shocks and sports springs have taken a toll? I'll let the mot tell me, might as well get all the pain at once .
It will pass this year, eventually. After that who knows?

At no point in my car ownership did i think 'what if i'm not fit enough to do the work anymore?'. That time has come and it p's me off that I have to pay a fortune for repair work when my mantra was prevention is better than cure, hence buying so many parts in anticipation of future problems that would have been fitted.
The car has now become a serious money pit for these reasons yet i still can't give it up, i can't envisage me driving anything else. What's wrong with me

[Envoy CDX]

Nothing's wrong with you per say. I really dislike modern cars, but rising costs, lack of space and also poor (mental) health forced my hand which is why I have a MK1 Yaris now, and I can remember the days when I referred to them as 'modern souless tin boxes' but it has actually been a bit of fun to drive. The issue with not being able to maintain your own vehicles will always be cost, the fact that some people don't care about the work they do and its just an old vehicle so it's hit and miss with how things are done.

The best I've gotten to a mk3 cav is the MK4 Astra I got last year, but thats way from being back on the road at present.

[ilovedmymantas]

I don't know why my post has duplicated, it wasn't there when i first checked . Is there any chance the edit button can be restored?

Nothing's wrong with you per say. I really dislike modern cars, but rising costs, lack of space and also poor (mental) health forced my hand which is why I have a MK1 Yaris now, and I can remember the days when I referred to them as 'modern souless tin boxes' but it has actually been a bit of fun to drive. The issue with not being able to maintain your own vehicles will always be cost, the fact that some people don't care about the work they do and its just an old vehicle so it's hit and miss with how things are done.

The best I've gotten to a mk3 cav is the MK4 Astra I got last year, but thats way from being back on the road at present.

As you mention, mental health can play it's part. The (rarely) sensible me knows it's costing a fortune but I can't stop, not when there are people regularly appreciating it. Yesterday i was talking to a guy in his 30's whose dad had one. two weeks ago it was a teenager i caught on dashcam, a beaming smile as he gave a thumbs up . They did see it without the flaws i know about, a black car in the dark looks good
How times have changed, not too many years ago my 'old car' was dissed by teenagers, now according to my 20yo nephew older car's are appreciated. Funny old world.

In addition to the previously mentioned parts i have a gm oil filter and have just picked up 5l of Castrol 10w40 magnatec for £31.49 - halfords had an online offer of 4l + 1l free and an email discount voucher for 10% off, bargain!

All I need now is a downpipe to get the car almost back to normal-ish. The main problem is i need to get it all done at once.
No point changing oil& filter if there's a leaky sump gasket, if the downpipe's coming off then i might as well replace it too.

Vibration is seriously doing my head in. I do really want to refurbish the cam followers/hydraulic tappets (they must be effecting emissions?) as i'm sure two or three are sticking but i just don't have the ability or confidence to do it anymore

It would be nice to get all the mechanical things fixed for a while, then i could focus on the declining bodywork for a change

When I initially thought 'this car is my last' I didn't expect health and inability to factor into it.
Despite the looming costs i still can't see me driving anything else though, just not as pretty as i'd like.

I'll probably need a new tyre for the mot.I like to keep them all the same, this time goodyear efficientgrip, expensive but worth it.

[cavalier1990]

That subframe looks toast, I did see a couple on facebook marketplace recently and the new one I got was from here:

https://achse24.de/ger_m_PKW_Opel_Vectr ... 2_3%5D=290

Not a bad price considering it's basically a brand new subframe fully coated / painted.

Cheers

Andy

[ilovedmymantas]

Nice find Andy, i've never heard of this site.
I'd gladly pay the price but sadly they're all 'not available'

Would I be right in assuming astra f parts are suitable? It might help with my search. What i really need to find are reliable part numbers for the cavalier, i can't afford to buy the wrong thing.

[cavalier1990]

Nice find Andy, i've never heard of this site.
I'd gladly pay the price but sadly they're all 'not available'

Would I be right in assuming astra f parts are suitable? It might help with my search. What i really need to find are reliable part numbers for the cavalier, i can't afford to buy the wrong thing.

I didn't notice they weren't available, might be able to put your email address in to get a notification if they do become available, but it's when if ever they do. For part numbers you can check here:

https://opel.catalogs-parts.com/#{clien ... group:1-1}

There's a list of numbers for different variations but I'd reckon probably most of them would fit the bill; if anyone knows any different hopefully they
can chime in with more accurate part numbers per model. I know there is one type that the legs are hollow and one that's got a plate built over it. I think that one might be for the bigger engines, 2.0 and above. My 1.8 had the hollow type frame leading me to think 2.0 and above. This is the one I bought and I can't see any discernable difference in them apart from the strengthening plate on the legs of the subframe.

They do come up from time to time on marketplace so worth keeping an eye out there.

Cheers

Andy

P.S. I do have a spare subframe lying round the back of my garage, if your're really desperate I could dig it out for you.

[Envoy CDX]

I don't know why my post has duplicated, it wasn't there when i first checked . Is there any chance the edit button can be restored?

Nothing's wrong with you per say. I really dislike modern cars, but rising costs, lack of space and also poor (mental) health forced my hand which is why I have a MK1 Yaris now, and I can remember the days when I referred to them as 'modern souless tin boxes' but it has actually been a bit of fun to drive. The issue with not being able to maintain your own vehicles will always be cost, the fact that some people don't care about the work they do and its just an old vehicle so it's hit and miss with how things are done.

The best I've gotten to a mk3 cav is the MK4 Astra I got last year, but thats way from being back on the road at present.

As you mention, mental health can play it's part. The (rarely) sensible me knows it's costing a fortune but I can't stop, not when there are people regularly appreciating it. Yesterday i was talking to a guy in his 30's whose dad had one. two weeks ago it was a teenager i caught on dashcam, a beaming smile as he gave a thumbs up . They did see it without the flaws i know about, a black car in the dark looks good
How times have changed, not too many years ago my 'old car' was dissed by teenagers, now according to my 20yo nephew older car's are appreciated. Funny old world.

In addition to the previously mentioned parts i have a gm oil filter and have just picked up 5l of Castrol 10w40 magnatec for £31.49 - halfords had an online offer of 4l + 1l free and an email discount voucher for 10% off, bargain!

All I need now is a downpipe to get the car almost back to normal-ish. The main problem is i need to get it all done at once.
No point changing oil& filter if there's a leaky sump gasket, if the downpipe's coming off then i might as well replace it too.

Vibration is seriously doing my head in. I do really want to refurbish the cam followers/hydraulic tappets (they must be effecting emissions?) as i'm sure two or three are sticking but i just don't have the ability or confidence to do it anymore

It would be nice to get all the mechanical things fixed for a while, then i could focus on the declining bodywork for a change

When I initially thought 'this car is my last' I didn't expect health and inability to factor into it.
Despite the looming costs i still can't see me driving anything else though, just not as pretty as i'd like.

I'll probably need a new tyre for the mot.I like to keep them all the same, this time goodyear efficientgrip, expensive but worth it.

Not sure at the moment, a good few changes will be coming in the next few months (hopefully).
But its always nice when cars get a nod of approval,tyres are important but that subframe is questionable sadly. Hope you get it through another year though. But based on the type of work needed, its almost like its time to pull the engine and do everything at once. Fingers crossed you can get a good price on the downpipe, and labour if you're not doing it yourself, the sump goo takes forever to go off though - the genuine gm stuff is damn sticky.. I mean the over-alls I was wearing went in the bin as they stuck to themselves and yeah... fun :/

[ilovedmymantas]

There's a list of numbers for different variations but I'd reckon probably most of them would fit the bill; if anyone knows any different hopefully they
can chime in with more accurate part numbers per model. I know there is one type that the legs are hollow and one that's got a plate built over it. I think that one might be for the bigger engines, 2.0 and above. My 1.8 had the hollow type frame leading me to think 2.0 and above. This is the one I bought and I can't see any discernable difference in them apart from the strengthening plate on the legs of the subframe.

They do come up from time to time on marketplace so worth keeping an eye out there.

Cheers

Andy

P.S. I do have a spare subframe lying round the back of my garage, if your're really desperate I could dig it out for you.

I still haven't found numbers and thanks for the offer. I will need the 2.0 subframe, i've also got the added weight of defunct aircon .

[ilovedmymantas]

Not sure at the moment, a good few changes will be coming in the next few months (hopefully).
But its always nice when cars get a nod of approval,tyres are important but that subframe is questionable sadly. Hope you get it through another year though. But based on the type of work needed, its almost like its time to pull the engine and do everything at once. Fingers crossed you can get a good price on the downpipe, and labour if you're not doing it yourself, the sump goo takes forever to go off though - the genuine gm stuff is damn sticky.. I mean the over-alls I was wearing went in the bin as they stuck to themselves and yeah... fun :/

I don't use the edit button much but it's handy. Thanks for reinstating it .
Along with the sump and gasket sealant i also bought the victor reinz sealant remover. Hopefully that works if i ever get it done. If not, it won't be my overalls that are ruined

[ilovedmymantas]

The car passed it's mot on friday at the second attempt. The subframe welding was ok but they found a n/s/r 50p sized hole that took a couple of days to get round to .
Trying to stay positive, it's now 30 years old and exempt from Scottish lez's

[Robsey]

Congrats on the pass.

It is done now for another 12 months.
Woohoo.

[cavalier1990]

Getting a pass on a cavy is a major life event in our circle, like a wedding or birth lol!

Well done on the pass