Mk3 Cavalier Owners Club | Vauxhall Cavalier Dot Com

Since tinkering under the bonnet a few weeks ago, my rad dash- light has been on. Thought I'd broken a level sensor wire - pretty brittle after 21 years, but the breaks were only to the cable sheath, so I cleaned-up the contacts. No change.
Today I thought I'd tackle it again, thought I could maybe clean the float.
Here's what I found;

Thought I could clean it up but realised the float, which appeared to be covered in what I can best describe as a salty substance was the salty stuff.

The float plastic's so badly degraded it just crumbles. ( if I thought I could repair it i'd try )
Quick call to my local vx dealer ( turns out it changed to Arnold clark a year ago ) - remembered why I don't try there anymore. £ 44.82 ! I was so shocked I forgot to ask for the updated part/no.( he mentioned there was one )
A quick web search ( e.g. Alibaba) appeared to suggest I could buy 100 from china for 10 dollars- don't think i'll go down that route, (need it by Monday) though It does make me wonder why genuine parts can be so expensive. My genuine one was made in spain, not uk - is that much different to being made in china ? Probably only politically
Anyway, it looks like it's a trip to the breakers tomorrow. I know they didn't have any cavs left a few years ago so what can I use instead ?
The part no. is 90228348.
Does anyone know the updated part number or what cars are suitable to get one from?

Take the part along and see if any from more modern Vauxhalls are a pattern for it. There's no guarantees obviously but volume manufacturers generally keep costs down by:

1. making parts applicable to as many models across their range as possible, and
2. not redesigning parts through successive generations unnecessarily

well, no joy at the breakers. Couldn't even find a similar shaped bottle in any of the Vauxhalls. The caps are now all plain from what I can see, with the sensor bottle-mounted.
For now i'll do regular checks , should be ok, i've never had a water-loss problem.
There's only 7 quid difference between a used one and new, so i'd get the new one but only as a last resort. Until then...
Plan a; wait a little & see what I can find online
Plan b; order a sample one from china
One way or another it'll get sorted

Turns out this type of cap was only fitted to 4 vehicle types, no wonder it's so expensive.
So I've sort of gone with plan B .
I've ordered from here : http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product ... 74257.html
Feedback's good though I might have to wait up to a month for it
It works out at 11 quid with the free delivery. Even if it gets the full force of customs it's still less than half-price - on my budget it's the best choice.

Nice find you'll have to update this when you receive it to say what the quality is like & if it works as I'm going to need one soon.

I'll report when it arrives....... i'll miss the warm glow from the dash on those dark country roads

Well, the sensor arrived safely after 19 days, despite the best efforts of the global postal workers..............


Have to say the quality looks very good, better than the sale photo with the untrimmed float. Didn't think to line up the contacts but they are identical - the float pillar is also offset


Fitted today, and problem solved (there should be a fingers - crossed in smilies ), no more rad light

Medium run tomorrow , armed with my usual "you never know " 2lt bottle of water in the boot. Thirty miles or so should see if it leaks, I suspect not though.....................tbc

Update..... all good.
Sent as gift, & with bank charges added, cost about £12.20
Bargain....

Job looks a good 'un.

Thanks.
I'm so pleased with this find. All those nights trawling the internet for parts into the wee small hours hasn't gone to waste