Opel astra j why. Opel specialists answer questions from ZR readers

Main naturally aspirated engines 1.6 A16XER 115 hp and 1.8 A18XER 140 hp. They are extremely phlegmatic (thanks to the eco-friendly firmware), and the thermostat also leaks and is set to too high an operating temperature (if you are going to drive for a long time - replace it with a "colder" one), plus phase shifters may start knocking after 100 thousand. Otherwise - an excellent piston, designed for 250+ thousand mileage before overhaul and a predictable timing belt drive.
- There are no hydraulic lifters on the A16XER and A18XER motors, do not forget about the need to adjust the thermal gap every 80-90 thousand km.
- Another generic sore A16XER and A18XER is oil cooler (heat exchanger) leaks. It is treated by replacing the gasket, but the most unpleasant thing is that you usually also need to flush the cooling system and change the engine oil.
- Turbomotors A14NET were surprisingly good. Here the timing chain drive, nursing at least 120, and with good hands and under 200 thousand (and still, when buying, measuring the phases is required), again a good piston with a resource under 200 and a relatively inexpensive and strong turbine. At a large age, they will be a little more expensive than aspirated, but not critical. The valves, by the way, do not need to be regulated here - there are hydraulic lifters. The main thing is not to increase the power with the firmware - and everything will be fine.
- The problem of 1.4-liter engines before restyling is a breakdown of the mushroom valve for ventilation of crankcase gases in the intake manifold (it is open at low speeds, at high speeds it lets gases into the turbine). The breakdown is unpleasant, since the valve is not sold separately, it changes together with the manifold, but the system can be altered so that gases will always be supplied to the turbine, which will slightly increase its contamination with deposits.
- Overall, the 1.6 A16LET (180 hp) turned out to be successful. They are very different from 1.4 in design, they have a belt drive. The injection is distributed, the turbine is reliable and inexpensive, the piston is strong. Generally recommended.
- Engines 1.6 SIDI (A16XHT, 170 hp) in the first years of production distinguished themselves by a number of significant problems: spark plug electrodes fell off and pistons cracked. The cars went through recall campaigns, the firmware was changed, but the problem was radically solved by 2015, when Opel was about to leave Russia. When buying, it is recommended to measure the compression in the cylinders, and even better to replace the piston, since there are good tuning options, relatively inexpensive. Problems with the injection pump, early stretching of the timing chain and wear of the turbine up to 100 thousand were not noticed with this engine.
- Leaks from under the valve cover due to the not very high quality of the seals is a family malfunction of the Opel motors, often found on. A good reason to discount the price a little.
- Pumps (and on all motors) also do not differ in survivability - on average, the service life is about 70-80 thousand, sometimes more.
- Diesels 1.3 A13DTE - old strong engines jointly developed by GM / Fiat. 2.0 A20DTH - from the same German-Italian opera, but fresher. 1.7 A17DTC / DTR is also quite old, already the fruit of the union between GM and Isuzu. The problems are "common diesel" ones: the risk of blocking the fuel system with bad diesel fuel, the need to clean the EGR valve, change the turbine on the run after 150,000 and remove / change the particulate filter.

08.03.2017

Opel Astra H (Opel Astra 3) - the third generation of a German company passenger car. The Astra has always been a popular model, but this generation especially delighted dealers with sales volumes. Recently, the number of used Opel Astra H has increased dramatically, of course, this can be attributed to a natural renewal of cars, since most motorists do this every 4-5 years. But it may be that the owners begin to get rid of their cars after a run of 100-150 thousand km . And, here's what the real reason is, and what disadvantages are inherent in this car, now let's try to figure it out.

A bit of history:
The debut of the Opel Astra H took place in 2003 at the Frankfurt auto show, and in March 2004 the serial assembly of the car began. In the markets of different countries, it was also produced under the names Chevrolet Astra, Chevrolet Vectra, Holden Astra, Saturn Astra and Vauxhall Astra. The novelty was intended to replace the popular at that time Opel Vectra B. In total, for the assault on the segment " C"Or, as they say, golf class, four bodies were produced based on the" Delta "platform developed by General Motors - three and five-door hatchback, sedan, station wagon and coupe.
For most of the CIS markets, the car was assembled at the Russian Avtotor plant in Kaliningrad, and since 2008 - at the General Motors car assembly plant in Shushary near St. Petersburg. The design of the car was developed by the director of the German design studio Opel in Rüsselsheim - Friedhel Engler, who is also the creator of the Opel Korsa. Production of the model stopped in 2009, this model was replaced by the Opel Astra J, but even after the release of the new model, the popularity of the Opel Astra H did not diminish at all, therefore, it was decided to extend the production of this model (the car was produced until 2014 under the name Astra Family).

Weaknesses and disadvantages Opel Astra H with mileage

Unlike most competitors, the Opel Astra H has a fairly high-quality paintwork. The exceptions were cars made in Poland, on such copies the paint swelled up and fell off in pieces, fortunately, the manufacturer eliminated all defects under warranty. The body is completely galvanized, thanks to this, it resists the onslaught of redhead disease well, but, nevertheless, over time, from the effects of reagents that are generously sprinkled on our roads, one can find foci of corrosion on the trunk door, door edges and sills. On cars of the first years of production, the headlights become cloudy, and the rear door handles can also jam.

Engines

A large number of power units were available for the Opel Astra H: petrol - 1.4 (90 HP), 1.6 (105 HP), 1.8 (125 HP) and 2.0 (170, 200 HP). ; diesel - 1.3 (90 HP), 1.7 (100 HP), 1.9 (120 and 150 HP). All motors are quite reliable, but after 100,000 km they require little investment. The 1.4 motor proved to be the most problem-free, but due to insufficient power, this power unit is not in demand among motorists. In the more common engines 1.6 and 1.8, in our operating conditions, the catalyst and the EGR valve are very quickly contaminated. The problem is especially relevant for cars operated in a metropolis. One of the most serious breakdowns that many Astra owners have had to face is jammed intake and exhaust camshaft gears. This trouble occurs at a mileage of 60-80 thousand km, and after repairs there are no guarantees that it will not happen again. Signs of a problem are: increased noise when starting the engine (grinding, rumble) and deterioration in dynamics.

Also, the main disadvantages include a small resource of the rear engine support (it becomes unusable every 60-70 thousand km). Often, the owners are faced with a malfunction of the ignition system module, the cause of the ailment lies in poor contact in the connectors and untimely replacement of spark plugs. Closer to 250,000 km, a membrane rupture occurs, which is responsible for the recirculation of crankcase gases, located in the valve cover. The problem can be determined by the unstable operation of the engine, as well as by blue smoke from the exhaust system. Very often, the services condemn the engine to overhaul, however, the problem is solved by replacing the valve cover. The most powerful power unit, in most cases, does not require repair up to 150,000 km, but minor troubles such as fogging of the cylinder head and oil leaks through the crankshaft oil seal , can occur after 20,000 km.

All motors are equipped with a timing belt drive, according to the regulations, belt replacement is prescribed every 90,000 km, but there have been cases of belt breaks after 50,000 km, therefore, it is better not to risk it and change the belt every 60,000 km. The pump usually changes at every second belt change. Diesel engines are reliable, but demanding on the quality of fuel and lubricants. Of the shortcomings of diesel engines, it should be noted weak fuel equipment and a small service life of the particulate filter (replacement every 50-60 thousand km). If the filter is clogged, traction disappears, and fumes come out of the exhaust system, like from an old KAMAZ. Also, due to design flaws, the engine control unit suffers (exposed to moisture and dirt). One of the most expensive problems faced by the owners of diesel cars is the failure of a two-mass flywheel (resource 100-150 thousand km). A knock and vibration when changing gears will serve as signals of a problem; it is worth noting that the gears are switched on clearly.

Transmission

The buyers of the Opel Astra H were offered three types of gearboxes to choose from - mechanical, automatic and Easytronic robot. The mechanics are considered the most problem-free, even the clutch kit serves 100-120 thousand km. The only thing for which the manual transmission can be blamed is for the lack of synchronizers, because of this, reverse gear does not always turn on correctly. Among the shortcomings faced by the owners of cars with mechanics, it is possible to single out a leak in the rear crankshaft oil seal and a small resource of the secondary shaft bearing (60-80 thousand km). On some copies, after 70,000 km, cracks appear along the seam of the box. If, when switching from first to third gear, a shock is felt, it is better to contact the service, but, in most cases, to eliminate the disease, it is enough to change the oil.

The automatic transmission is famous for jerking and jerking during gear changes, but they are not afraid of this, since this is not a breakdown, but a feature of the transmission. The most common automatic transmission problem is a coolant leak into the gearbox hydraulic circuit, after which a complete failure of the unit occurs. If the auto-neutral fails, most likely, cleaning the jet in the box will help. When going into emergency mode, the box only works in fourth gear. Robotic transmission is very capricious and requires attention every 15,000 km (maintenance and clutch adjustment).

During operation, the driven disk is erased, while the point of contact with the basket is displaced, but the controller responsible for the fuel supply does not know about the shift of the contact point and supplies the wrong amount of fuel. As a result, this leads to incorrect operation of the box and premature clutch wear. It is worth noting that even with timely maintenance of a robotic transmission, its resource in rare cases exceeds 150,000 km. Before buying a car with a robot, be sure to ride it, if there are strong jerks when switching, it is better to refuse to buy such a car.

The reliability of the Opel Astra H chassis

Simplicity is a guarantee of reliability, it is according to this principle that the suspension of this model was developed, a semi-independent torsion beam is installed at the back, and MacPherson strut at the front. If we talk about driving characteristics, the suspension copes well with the realities of our roads, but it is distinguished by increased noise. If you do not take into account the struts and stabilizer bushings (resource 20-40 thousand km), thrust bearings are considered the weakest point of the chassis, and the steering rods, their resource, in most cases, does not exceed 60,000 km. Wheel bearings (the ABS sensor becomes unusable after 50,000 km) and ball bearings at average loads take care of 50-70 thousand km. The rest of the suspension elements serve 100,000 km or more.

The weakest point in the steering mechanism is the steering rack, as a rule, it starts knocking after 100,000 km of run, there may also be a fluid leak, this, over time, can lead to the destruction of the unit, but if you notice and eliminate the problem in time, complications can be to avoid. There are no complaints about the reliability of the braking system, the only thing the owners complain about is the small resource of the front pads (30,000 km.).

Salon

The salon of the Opel Astra H is made in a simple style, but, at the same time, the manufacturer used sufficiently high-quality materials, but, despite this, almost every car has crickets in the cabin. The car cannot boast of the reliability of the electrical equipment of the passenger compartment. The main problem in electronics is the incorrect operation of the buttons on the steering wheel and steering column control levers, the reason is a faulty steering column SIM module. There are also claims to the climate control system, or, more precisely, to the air recirculation damper. The problem manifests itself with a characteristic crackling from under the console.

Outcome:

In terms of reliability Opel AstraHdoes not differ much from its competitors, but due to the low cost of maintenance and repair, this car is one of the most interesting representatives of the golf class in the secondary market.

If you are the owner of this car model, please describe the problems that you had to face during the operation of the car. Perhaps it is your feedback that will help the readers of our site when choosing a car.

Best regards, editors AutoAvenu

The Astra J's gearboxes weren't very lucky. Moreover, there are no complaints about the rest of the transmission elements, everything goes long and hard. Fortunately, there is only front-wheel drive and there are no additional driveshafts and gearboxes.

The traditional Opel "trouble" in the form of a manual transmission of the F 17 series is also present on the Astra J. A five-speed gearbox with naturally aspirated engines of 1.4 and 1.6 liters - that's it. And what is saddest, with the 1.8-liter engine, it was also usually installed. This frankly problematic unit with a weak differential and very often failing secondary shaft bearings has been stubbornly put on Opel cars for about twenty years. Moreover, even with 1.6 liter engines, it already often failed, and even with 1.8 liters and on heavy cars like the Vectra C. But the mass of the Astra J is the same 1,500 kg, it is a very heavy machine, even despite its size and belonging to the golf class.

By the way, the same box is paired with 1.3 liter diesel engines, which are already quite problematic.

In short, a car with such a manual transmission resembles a lottery. The odds are not so bad, most cars drive successfully for ten or more years without any particular problems. Especially if they monitor the oil level in the manual transmission and occasionally change it: the transmission is prone to leaks. But those who like to drag trailers, those who are rude with the clutch, like to greatly violate the speed limit on the highway, run over irregularities without reducing the gas, and generally do not really care about the well-being of the transmission, the chances are much less. "Used" boxes are in great shortage, they are in great demand for older cars.

Replacing with another manual transmission is a dubious way out. Stronger boxes F 16 / F 18 do not fit under the hood of Astra, and the more expensive six-speed M32 is also not ideal, and even does not have a version with suitable gear ratios: it will be frankly "long" for city traffic.

When buying, it is recommended to check the manual transmission noise on the lift, for which you need to spin the wheels with the motor and drown it. If the bearings have already failed, a characteristic noise will be heard. And be sure to check the oil for metal dust. If you have any suspicions about the manual transmission, you should bargain. A new box costs about 200 thousand, which looks almost unrealistic for a car with a price of 400-500 thousand rubles. A used box in good condition will cost from 20 thousand, and repairs - from ten to infinity: spare parts are very expensive, and many put "used" ones during the restoration process.

With turbocharged engines 1.4-1.6 liters and almost all diesels, a stronger six-speed M32WR was installed. Unfortunately, similar problems plague her. True, the failure rate is generally lower than that of the F 17. The gearbox feels especially good with the 1.4 turbo engines or the first 1.6 turbo, which has low torque.

With the 1.6 SIDI, especially the 200 hp version of the GTC, things are much more complicated. The box holds more than 280 Nm of torque much worse and is damaged more often. With a 1.7 liter diesel engine, the M 32 is also quite vulnerable.

When buying, the same check is required as for the F 17. The gearbox is a little better repairable, but in the same way used units are in good condition - in some deficit and are not cheap. However, earlier this box was installed on cars with turbocharged two-liter engines, and there it broke down much faster. So for Astra J owners, things are not so bad.

Only owners of cars with 2.0-liter gasoline and diesel engines were completely lucky. They are entitled to an "adult" box of the F 40 series, for which 350-400 Nm of these motors are children's toys. Unless a dual-mass flywheel will make owners fork out for something other than a new clutch.

In the photo: Opel Astra GTC (J) "2011 – present.

If you think that here, as well as at, the automatic transmission is more reliable than the manual transmission, then I'm afraid that I will have to upset you. For this generation of the car, GM has become generous with a new machine of its own design. More precisely, jointly with Ford. On Ford cars, these boxes worked well, but on GM they squeeze the best out of them. Especially in the boxes of the first editions. However, let's go in order.

1.6 L atmospheric engines are equipped with a GM 6T30 series automatic transmission. With 1.4 turbo engines, a 6T 40 series box was installed, and an even stronger 6T45 version was installed for the 1.6 SIDI. These automatic transmissions of the modular series also repeat each other in technical terms, but the younger ones have a noticeably lighter mechanical part of the box.

A characteristic feature of GM machines is the very aggressive valve body operation. If the driver likes to sink, he literally lets you rip the box apart. And most of all, the cars with a 6T30 gearbox were unlucky, it is simply not suitable for this. The 6T40 with a 1.4 liter turbo engine gets along noticeably better, and the 6T45 with 1.6 SIDI works in general perfectly. It's nice, but sometimes you can find 6T45 with a 1.4 turbo engine, moreover, "from the factory", and on cars with atmospheric engines - 6T40. But these are extremely rare options; you should not seriously expect to find such a car. Moreover, the problem of these automatic transmissions is connected not only with the power of the motors ...

First of all, we note that the box at the time of the release of Astra J was quite fresh and was constantly being improved throughout the entire period of its release. So there are many modifications and options for the execution of internal nodes.

Later automatic transmissions have also optimized firmware "brains", providing better safety of the mechanical part, and eliminated structural defects.

All variants of boxes have a very intense thermal regime, which naturally leads to problems in the electrical part and accelerated wear of all clutches, including the "main" one - the blocking lining of the gas turbine engine.

Well, how without obvious errors in the mechanical part? There is also a typical mechanical problem due to design. When buying and during operation, it is recommended to check the oil in the automatic transmission for level and color. The level is often measured incorrectly, which can also lead to bad consequences. In short, the oil should just drip, and not pour out of the control hole. Many unsuccessful translations of the user manual have missed this point.

And, of course, the box is sorely lacking in cooling and an external filter. The standard heat exchanger in the radiator on a number of cars is supplemented with a small external radiator number 52432861, but its area is also not enough for a heavy load. And yet, with normal use, the situation with him improves markedly. But in the mountains, or if you like to ride dynamically, you need a radiator twice as large in area.

Of course, the oil needs to be changed every 30-40 thousand. And it is very desirable to embed the external filter of the box into the line: like many other automatic transmissions, this one has solenoids that are very sensitive to pollution.

The main mechanical problem of 6T40 / 6T45 for early releases (until about 2011) is a breakage of the 4-5-6 drum retaining ring. After the ring breaks off, the drum is almost irreversibly damaged and requires replacement. The part itself is not too expensive, about 11-15 thousand rubles, but there can be a lot of incidental damage. After this breakdown, the car usually stands up immediately.

Subsequently, the drum was changed to a reinforced one, and the problem disappeared. Note that the new 213550BB-EM requires a new piston and a new caliper.

However, this drum is a long-suffering one on all boxes of the family, including the 6T30, where a part of a slightly smaller diameter is used. The problem is still in the used "wave spring" - a volumetric ring for pressing the bag. It bursts under load, and this problem cannot be solved, you can only fix it in time and not load the box to the maximum, at which the spring breaks most often.

If you ignore the appearing jerks, then the drum 213550 is damaged, and fragments can "kill" the sun gear of the planetary gear, and the entire "planet" numbered 213580 will be sent for replacement. And this is much more expensive. If you call the service on time, then everything will cost either by replacing the long-suffering drum 4-5-6, or even by installing a repair spacer on it and, of course, a new spring.

The planetary gear Output Planet of 6T40 boxes released before 2011 is also a weak point. Later, this unit was unified with a similar part from 6T45 under the number 213584, and earlier, the frequent use of maximum engine power could lead to the destruction of the satellite gears.

Another feature of the box is the relatively intense wear of the slide bushings due to the adopted hydraulic scheme. Pulsations of pressure and load lead to their wear and tear, and therefore, even if the mechanical and hydraulic parts are in good working order, the pressure in the box is steadily falling. This completely natural process is usually noticeably accelerated in case of problems with valve body and oil contamination. Even with normal operation of the box, for a run of 250-300 thousand, the bushings must be replaced preventively. The bushings are changed when any problems with the operation of the box and oil contamination appear.

The VFS solenoids used in this box are also very sensitive to contamination and oil temperature. The good news is that they are relatively inexpensive and can even be washed with a good chance of success. The bad news is that for most car owners who have not changed the oil, almost all of them will require replacement, like the bushings.

Black solenoids prior to 2011 are less reliable and less resistant to high temperatures, while the green / yellow 213420K kit is slightly more reliable and often solves jerky problems for a while. But if the oil pressure is insufficient, the GTE lining has not been replaced, the bushings are old, and the O-rings on the drums are worn out, then the repair will not last long.

Another typical problem of these boxes, which have worked with high loads, is the contamination of the Hall sensors with magnetic wear products of the box. Moreover, the turbine speed sensor can be used as a wear sensor for the "mechanics": the state of the unit can be seen by the amount of debris on it.

Of the remaining problems, the most unpleasant is the abrasive wear of the channels of the valve body plate. There is a Sonnax kit for repairs, but installing it correctly requires extraordinary skill and therefore often does not help.

As you can imagine, these boxes are considered problematic for a reason. There is little chance of a long and happy life. The situation can be slightly improved by often changing the oil, using an external filter for automatic transmission, installing a good radiator and not overloading the unit. Unfortunately, most of the owners violate these requirements in one way or another, and even the upgraded boxes after 2011 have a finite resource and very high chances of an extraordinary repair.

Not everyone knows, but another box is aggregated with a two-liter diesel engine. This is a noticeably more reliable Aisin TF 81SC. Its undoubted advantages include a reliable mechanical part, which can withstand 450 Nm as standard, and all 600 Nm abnormally.

There are also disadvantages: the box has a very sensitive to dirt and frankly capricious valve body, in which the plate itself suffers greatly from wear, and very expensive spare parts. But due to the relatively rare use on the Opel Astra, it is better to read the detailed description where this automatic transmission is widely used. You can not be afraid of overheating with a diesel engine on Opel, and in this version the automatic transmission is definitely the leader in terms of reliability among all Astra J transmission options.

Motors

Talking about Opel powertrains for the twentieth time is a bit boring - I hope you have studied the relevant materials on and. In fact, the naturally aspirated engines have not changed at all, and the diesels are almost the same.

The engines A14XER, A16XER, A 18XER are the same here and with the same features. They are relatively reliable and simple motors, which, however, have a number of unpleasant weak points.

Leaking heat exchangers, capricious phase regulator valves and current phase shifters, unsuccessful thermostats, a dirty intake manifold and exhaust cracks have not gone anywhere. The chains on 1.4 liter engines and belts for 1.6 and 1.8 are not encouraging with a resource.

But cars with these motors are not troublesome, these minor troubles are solved quite reliably and inexpensively. And during the warranty period, there are usually no problems at all, up to one hundred and one and a half hundred thousand mileage, you don't have to worry much.

If you still use non-branded oil Dexos II, which is very prone to the "oil plague" and in general does not differ in special quality, but something decent, then you can count on a quite decent resource of the piston group and the absence of a "butter oil" up to a run of 200 300 thousand kilometers.

In the photo: Opel Astra (J) "2009-12

If the engine eats up the oil, nothing terrible will happen either. Complete loss of oil pressure or global breakdowns are unlikely: the design is not only conservative, but also has a good margin of safety.

Radiator

price for original

7 093 rubles

Of the additional problems on the Astra J, only a tight layout, flaws in the seals of the cooling system and its design in general, including too close radiators and a constantly flowing expansion tank, were added. If you want to see more criticism on these engines, see the materials about and, on older cars the number of problems is noticeably greater. On the Astra J, these motors suffer only from heat exchanger leaks, but very much in old age or after serious operational disruptions - cover leaks, oil appetite and similar consequences.

Much more interesting are the new turbo engines. I would like to note right away that in terms of the mechanical part A 14NET, A 14NEL and A 16LET almost completely repeat their ancestors of the same working volume represented by A 14XER and A 16XER. Unless the chain resource on a 1.4-liter engine is still less than that of an atmospheric engine, and you need to monitor it more carefully. But this problem is not great either: usually for the first time everything is limited to replacing the chain itself and, occasionally, the tensioner. A complete set with stars and a phase shifter changes much less often, usually with runs over 200 thousand.

Photo: Under the hood of the Opel Astra OPC (J) "2011 – present.

A lower operating temperature (there is a 90-degree thermostat here) makes it possible to hope for a longer resource of plastic and rubber elements of the cooling system. True, for some reason, there are a lot of complaints about the pump and its body just for the A 14NET motor, often it is only enough for 60-80 thousand mileage. She not only begins to make noise, but also loses its tightness.

price for original

6 531 rubles

Boost control system malfunctions sometimes happen. Most often, the boost control valve fails, here they did with a conventional vacuum drive, without any of your fashionable electronic actuators.

The turbine resource is usually at least 150 thousand kilometers. There is a simple KKK03 here, the cartridges for which are inexpensive and have long been mastered in repair for Volkswagen cars.

The most serious, but, fortunately, rare problem of such engines is burnout and piston breakage. They are possible when the temperature at the inlet rises to 60 degrees and higher, using low-quality fuel or piston coking. Therefore, the cleanliness of the radiators and the condition of the piston must be monitored extremely carefully.

In the photo: Under the hood of the Opel Astra BiTurbo (J) "2012–15

But the 180-horsepower A 16LET is an example of a less successful conversion of an atmospheric engine to a turbocharged one. A clear lack of performance of the cooling system - more precisely, the circulation of fluid in the block - leads to an increased load on the fourth cylinder and, as a result, to increased chances of piston burnout and block damage.

The pistons themselves are rather weak, detonation often causes baffle breakage or even cracks. The crankshaft and the lubrication system are also working at their limit, and the SAE 30 oil for this engine is frankly liquid, although on more viscous there are cases of oil scraper rings stuck due to a violation of the oil drain.

In general, this motor will ask you to fill in high-quality synthetics, and not anyhow, and better than ester and with minimal loss of additives and very careful maintenance. Regular oil does not suit him well, consider this. By the way, only high-quality gasoline is recommended, 95, or better 98-100, and you need to monitor the temperature regime in both.

When buying a car, be sure to check the condition of the piston group and do not be lazy to do an endoscopy of the fourth cylinder: the initial stage of problems is marked there by small sticks of the piston and corresponding marks on the cylinder.

And in the future, the chances of problems with the piston group remain quite high. High oil temperature results in more frequent heat exchanger leaks. Taking into account that there is not only a catalyst, but also a turbine above it, the cost of repairs slightly increases. The motor itself, unfortunately, has a small boost margin. To achieve decent power and a torque of more than 300 Nm, it is necessary to change the oil pump and reinforce the cylinder block with a plate at the bottom. Yet the original design was designed for half the load, and ignoring these restrictions leads to sad consequences. Usually, the lubrication of part of the crankshaft journals is disrupted due to curvature, and then where the curve will take.

In the photo: Opel Astra Sedan (J) "2012 – present.

The turbine here is a regular KKK03, as well as on a 1.4-liter engine. It is not recommended to set KKK04 due to the restrictions described above. But in general, don't be intimidated. The motor is very inexpensive in design, well understood and well known. And even if its 180 forces are in fact not more cheerful than 122-140 forces from a 1.4 engine from another manufacturer of downsized motors, but a car with such an engine drives briskly. And with careful operation, it is quite possible to count on 200 thousand trouble-free mileage.

In the photo: Under the hood of the Opel Astra (J) "2012-15

Timing kit 1.6 / 1.8 16v

price for original

8 329 rubles

Here are the A16XHT motors, they are 1.6 SIDI, this is a completely different calico. Despite the lower power (there is “only” 170 forces in the initial version), the cylinder block, crankshaft and power system are clearly designed for a noticeably greater load. In practice, this means that without much intervention in the hardware, you can get more than 300 Nm of torque from it, and the standard version has a good safety margin. Even balancer shafts have been added and the motor is completely vibration-free.

Direct injection gives it a reduced sensitivity to the octane number of fuel, the engine runs at "just 95" and does not nag.

And now fly in the ointment. Unsuccessful piston material is very sensitive to knocking: pistons crack, and it is good if it does not damage the cylinder block. Detonation is still often managed to get in the event of fuel equipment breakdowns, dirty radiators and an intercooler: the turbine blows here for real, and direct injection is very sensitive to fuel contamination and the quality and condition of filters and, as a result, to contamination of injectors. Moreover, a change in the shape of the injection plume can lead to increased wear of the cylinder and piston rings.

It is possible to ruin an expensive high-pressure fuel pump with unsuccessful gasoline, and the coarse filter on the pump in the gas tank is often clogged here and shuts off the fuel supply.

In cars until 2013, the standard firmware is unsuccessful, it does not take into account possible violations in the operation of the fuel equipment and the fact that we have especially smart drivers pouring "pure 92nd" gasoline. That is why the pistons "fly" with it regularly, so it is recommended to update to the latest software version.

Carbon formation on the pistons and valves of the motor is simply creepy, it requires regular braking every 30 thousand km. Well, or installing a methanol injection system, which helps very well.

In the photo: Opel Astra (J) "2012-15

The chain has a very small resource, often stretching to a mileage of 60 thousand to such an extent that it starts knocking on the motor cover. It's good that at least it doesn't fly off.

In general, the motor is still very "raw", although it has potential. With forged pistons and good tuning, German companies do not hesitate to remove up to 300 hp from it, but I'm afraid this fact will not help "the guys from our yard", and in the standard version this engine remains a risky option with high potential.

Summary

Astra J is a very good car. Especially if you are lucky and you did not choose the initially problematic option. You know, here a step to the right, a step to the left - and now ... Typically, this is only after a run of one hundred or one and a half thousand kilometers, but the age of the car is already quite sufficient for such a run to be considered normal.

In general, everything is fine, but atmospheric engines rely on very unsuccessful manual transmissions and hardly more reliable machines, which, although they were modified after 2011, did not completely eliminate the shortcomings.

In the photo: Opel Astra GTC (J) "2011 – present.

Powerful 1.6 liter supercharged engines are generally a minefield. Of course, you can put a 6T40 automatic transmission with atmospheric 1.8, modify the supercharged 1.6 by installing a new forged piston ... But for this reason, the model does not have as many fans as it could be. Choose a car wisely, check for weak points, and it will delight you with a low operating cost.

Would you buy a used Opel Astra J?

Opel Astra III is currently one of the most popular cars of its brand. Of course, Astra enjoys its popularity because of its low cost and price-quality ratio. Consequently, due to its low price, the quality also decreases, which makes itself felt in almost all generations as a manifestation of weaknesses. Therefore, the following are common sore spots of the Opel Astra, which the owners of these cars most often encountered during operation.

Weaknesses of the Opel Astra (H) 3rd generation

Automatic transmission;
"Robot";
Tie rod ends;
Thermostat;
Intake manifold valve;
Valve timing couplings.

Now in more detail ...

In this case, most likely, the automatic transmission cannot be called a weak point, but most likely a radiator, the failure of which contributes to the further failure of the unit as a whole. The essence of the problem lies in the fact that when the radiator was depressurized, coolant leaked into the automatic transmission hydraulic circuit. Therefore, at the moment, when buying, you need to pay attention and ask the buyer if there was a similar problem on this car. It's important to remember that Opel had a revocable company because of this. It is also worth knowing that these problems could only occur on Astra (J) 07-08, and the new generations of Astra solved this problem.

Robotic box.

The owners of the Opel Astra 3 with a robotic gearbox received quite a few unpleasant moments. There are enough cases that these boxes were repaired already at 60 thousand km. Therefore, when choosing a car with a robotic box, you need to take a ride and see how the “robot” behaves. In case of strong jerks and jerks when switching, you need to think about the advisability of buying a car with such a unit. Proceeding from the fact that, in general, the resource of the "robot" is an order of magnitude less than the resource of the "automatic machine" and at present, if the car is 2007-08, then the box has definitely been either repaired or replaced as a whole.

Tie rod ends.

Surely one of the weak points of the steering rods can be called one not even of the weak points, but the sore of the Opel Astra. Rarely do they serve more than 30 thousand km. Of course, these are not expensive parts, but it's worth knowing about it, especially when buying. In this case, it is necessary to ride and if this problem (characteristic knocks) takes place, then this will save money when buying, which will definitely go to repair the malfunction (replace the tips).

Thermostat problems mainly appeared on cars of the 2010-12 generation (J). The peculiarity of this breakdown is that if the thermostat fails, the fan starts to work constantly, which can be signaled by a message on the panel by the device that it is necessary to contact a car service. Therefore, when replacing the thermostat, the gasket changes along with it, through which leaks often appear.

Valve in the intake manifold.

Failures of valves in the intake manifold were quite common on cars of 2011 with an engine capacity of 1.4 (turbocharged). These troubles when the car was under warranty were eliminated by official dealers. Therefore, when buying, you need to ask whether the specified problem was identified and eliminated on this car (unless, of course, it is a car with a 1.4 engine).

Weak paintwork of these cars is a fact. Even on cars that are about 10 years old, you can find traces of corrosion. It so happens that paint peels off in large enough areas. Therefore, it is imperative to pay attention to the subject of corrosion when buying. Moreover, it will not be difficult. Particular attention must be paid to the inspection of the sills, the joints of the fenders with the bumpers and the trunk lid.

Valve timing couplings.

The essence "Diseases" consists in the fact that when low-quality oil is poured and the engine starts, the gears of these clutches begin to wear out over time. As evidenced by the characteristic "diesel sound". If you do not pay attention to this all the time, then this can lead to very sad consequences in the flesh before overhaul of the engine. When buying, it is imperative to start the car and pay attention to the performance and the absence of such sounds.

The main disadvantages of the Opel Astra 2004-2014 release

Conclusion.
Of course, we can say that the Opel Astra of all generations has significant advantages. In this case, when buying, you need to decide which engine and gearbox to buy a car. Most owners and experts agree that the best option for this car is a naturally aspirated (not turbocharged) 1.8 liter engine. and a mechanical box. In any case, the choice is everyone's business.

P.S .: Dear present and future owners, write below in the comments about the frequent breakdowns and shortcomings of this car model, identified and noticed during operation.

Was last modified: January 17th, 2020 by Administrator

MORE USEFUL AND INTERESTING ABOUT CARS:

- Among all the crossovers plowing the vastness of domestic roads, the Opel Antara is one of those, the appearance of which is attractive, both inside and outside. But,...
- One of a series of family cars is the Opel - Meriva model. This subcompact van caused a lot of controversy among the owners of these cars ...
- The third generation of the Opel Vectra has been in production since 2002. When developing the model, special attention was paid to the comfort of the driver and ...

12 posts per article “ Weaknesses and disadvantages Opel Astra (h) with mileage”

Andrzei
Delirium is written:
- good automatic transmission 6
- normal body paint
- high quality interior, no crickets
- the suspension is excellent, I have a flex ride
- electronics works well and stably (cosmo)
- insulation as on Skoda and WV
- a little bad review when cornering - 2013 J Sedan, so turn your head
1.4 turbo, Cosmo, sedan, St. Petersburg, flex ride, navigator, parking sensors, climate, …… ..
Great car. For 4 years under warranty, 2 parking sensors were replaced. No problem.
Deniil.
before 100 thousand was running in and now the indicator of reliability. it's funny when people start judging reliability at 20-40.
Andrei
So some buy for 3 and 4 million and a month later they turn to a salon, where quality for this money,
only horses and comfort and the same cart with a tax of 40,000 and so on, and for this money, cars used to run 400,000 km for 15 years, and new Audi with two turbines, where an engine of 150,000 can pass, everything from driving style depends.
Evgeniy
Astra took a new one nine years ago, with the expectation of three four years, but has already dashed off 200 thousand without jambs. On the road, the joints of course got chipped, but in comparison with other cars, I have not yet found the price-quality ratio
Dmitriy
Astra H Z16XER, Easytronic, 2008 Great car, there are not many equal at this age. For malfunctions for 230t.km in the same hands: replacement of heat exchanger gaskets, thermostat. The original (SKF) front hubs run less than 80t.km, the stabilizer struts are the same. Over time, the rear door wiring harness breaks (dubbed in the cold), is treated with a soldering iron or replacing the wires. Afraid of untimely replacement of engine oil. A3 / B3 full ash pan - 250 moto / hours or 8000 km - and there will be no problems with the engine. Change the oil in the box at least once every 100 t.km, the brake fluid in the robot every 2 years and do not forget about the adaptation of the robot.
Of the little things: after 8 years, the rear wiper motor wedges, - it is treated by disassembly, cleaning and lubrication, the wiper drive gearbox freezes, - it is treated in the same way. The leather on the steering wheel is alive, but on the driver's seat cushion may require repair, depending on the size of the driver. With normal maintenance on the highway, the consumption is less than 7 liters per 100 km. The city depends on traffic jams and driving style of the driver.
Karen
Astra N 2008 wagon Z16XER, Easytronic; brought from the Germans with a mileage of 110,000 (four! oil changes); drove 250,000sam (I'm not a very good driver) - changed the clutch (for example, it was like new) 2 times the timing belt, the rear wiper wedges; refused condo (there is simply no time to repair); changed the front struts; wheel bearings (front); ignition coils; 2 valves have recently burned out; I change the oil after 15 thousand, changed some gears in motion (probably to the camshaft); crickets appeared (probably were originally) around the lob.stekla.MASHINA for the money that he brought (then it was 550,000-13,000 euros to the house) I think it is an excellent car; keeps the road clearly; consumption brought 6.8 liters, now 7.2 liters (I travel a lot on the highway); only 92 benz.
Anton
Immediately I will point out we will talk about Astra N, with an engine of 1.8 and a conventional AT, I also disagree with the sweeping commentary of the weak and strong sotron, since one has a temperature of +40 and the other has already died and remains with a temperature of +33.2, and average in the ward - all are healthy +36.6. Here it should be understood that for the Opel assembly, if it is Russian - I agree there are problems with the paintwork, crickets in the cabin, the interior is of lower quality, and the noise insulation is worse, the described problems with the thermostat tips and others occur much earlier. I also had 2007. and 2012. Russian assembly, and then heaven and earth on a European skated 100 thousand before something began to crumble, before that - only consumables, on a Russian assembly - even the pads worn out faster and by 100 thousand there was no place left that did not change.
Andrzei
1.4 turbo, AT6, Cosmo. 125,000 km., Consumable, under warranty 2 parking sensors were replaced in 2017, in 2017 one of 4 radiator temperature sensors, I ride and rejoice! Because I care tenderly like a girl, I do oil changes, I try not to turn it unnecessarily, and the engine itself with a turbine, usually does not turn more than 2500 rpm when you just drive. Of course, I have already changed the front discs, pads 3-4 times, and so everything is normal! Indeed a Star. Comfortable, reliable, beautiful, fast, powerful, great car, OpelAstra J.
2013 year of release, the warranty ended long ago.
PS All cars have weak points. But sometimes you need to find them.))
16.01.2019
PS 2 I forgot about the shaft seals, right on top under the valve cover. In 2017, too.
Semen
Opel astra h 1.8 automatic v
Complete set Cosmo is the most reliable car in its class! And stronger and Shumka there is better than in the current new cars. Now I go to Rio 2018, I took it from scratch. Even it cannot be compared to H.

By the way, the same box is paired with 1.3 liter diesel engines, which are already quite problematic.

Replacing with another manual transmission is a dubious way out. Stronger boxes F 16 / F 18 do not fit under the hood of Astra, and the more expensive six-speed M32 is also not ideal, and even does not have a version with suitable gear ratios: it will be frankly "long" for city traffic.

In the photo: Opel Astra GTC (J) "2011 – present.

Later automatic transmissions have also optimized firmware "brains", providing better safety of the mechanical part, and eliminated structural defects.

Of course, the oil needs to be changed every 30-40 thousand. And it is very desirable to embed the external filter of the box into the line: like many other automatic transmissions, this one has solenoids that are very sensitive to pollution.

Subsequently, the drum was changed to a reinforced one, and the problem disappeared. Note that the new 213550BB-EM requires a new piston and a new caliper.

The planetary gear Output Planet of 6T40 boxes released before 2011 is also a weak point. Later, this unit was unified with a similar part from 6T45 under the number 213584, and earlier, the frequent use of maximum engine power could lead to the destruction of the satellite gears.

Motors

The engines A14XER, A16XER, A 18XER are the same here and with the same features. They are relatively reliable and simple motors, which, however, have a number of unpleasant weak points.

In the photo: Opel Astra (J) "2009-12

Radiator

price for original

7 093 rubles

Photo: Under the hood of the Opel Astra OPC (J) "2011 – present.

price for original

6 531 rubles

Boost control system malfunctions sometimes happen. Most often, the boost control valve fails, here they did with a conventional vacuum drive, without any of your fashionable electronic actuators.

The turbine resource is usually at least 150 thousand kilometers. There is a simple KKK03 here, the cartridges for which are inexpensive and have long been mastered in repair for Volkswagen cars.

In the photo: Under the hood of the Opel Astra BiTurbo (J) "2012–15

In the photo: Opel Astra Sedan (J) "2012 – present.

In the photo: Under the hood of the Opel Astra (J) "2012-15

Timing kit 1.6 / 1.8 16v

price for original

8 329 rubles

Direct injection gives it a reduced sensitivity to the octane number of fuel, the engine runs at "just 95" and does not nag.

It is possible to ruin an expensive high-pressure fuel pump with unsuccessful gasoline, and the coarse filter on the pump in the gas tank is often clogged here and shuts off the fuel supply.

Carbon formation on the pistons and valves of the motor is simply creepy, it requires regular braking every 30 thousand km. Well, or installing a methanol injection system, which helps very well.

In the photo: Opel Astra (J) "2012-15

The chain has a very small resource, often stretching to a mileage of 60 thousand to such an extent that it starts knocking on the motor cover. It's good that at least it doesn't fly off.

Summary

In the photo: Opel Astra GTC (J) "2011 – present.

Would you buy a used Opel Astra J?