1995 Opel Corsa City 1.2 Litre from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Tough, reliable little city car

Faults:

Water pump died shortly after buying it, cooking the engine.. Known fault.. Engine survived with no problems!!

Rear wheel bearings replaced after failing MOT. Passed next time round.

Rear silencer rusted through.

Rear left brake light panel failure, caused battery to discharge. Apparently known problem. Fixed by bending tabs holding brake bulb in place for better connection..

Heavy on the front suspension. Cured by fitting stronger shocks and springs..

Radio speakers died after playing AC/DC a little too loud!!! Car doesn't like rock music, apparently!!

General Comments:

I bought this Corsa in 2006 for peanuts, and apart from the faults above, it's been utterly reliable. I service the car myself when it's due to be done, perhaps leading to the reliability??

Starts first time, every time. Even when covered in ice.

Steering is a little heavy without the power-steering, but my arms now look like Popeye's anyway!!!

It's a chuckable little thing that takes my friends and our stuff to work and on trips and back without complaint, though the skinny standard tyres don't do much for the grip levels, though it makes for entertaining driving!!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 31st March, 2010

1995 Opel Corsa from Iran

Summary:

It is a special car

Faults:

I don't know why water boils most of the time. Boiling water and overheating the engine is the biggest problem. I checked the radiator and the thermostat, but there was no problem. And the radiator fan works, I think most of the time.

Please help me because no one can solve this problem.

General Comments:

It is slow, but comfortable.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 11th October, 2005

11th Oct 2005, 06:48

Maybe a bad head gasket? Check the cylinders compression. Also maybe the thermostat stuck in the closed position? Take it out, put it in a pot with water, heat it and watch if it fully opens as the water starts to boil. Also make sure that the cooling system is fully purged (all the air must bubble out).

Finally, check the water pump for rotten or broken blades.

18th Apr 2008, 02:40

My Opel Corsa does exactly the same and more. Sometimes I would be driving (in traffic or open road) and I would hear a click in the fuse box. The temp needle then goes from 90 into the red within 5 seconds and I pull over and switch off my car. Then it would SOMETIMES not start again for about 5mins.

My top gasket has blown and been replaced, radiator fixed, 2X new thermostat.

HELP! Don't know what to do!!!

15th Oct 2009, 11:54

All the comments are good regarding the overheating problem! Except you guys forget one easy step to look for, and that is to replace the radiator top or bottom rubber hose... normally these hoses tend to collapse and mechanics are very quick to say it's head gasket blown and that's not true... I have done quite a few cars with same problem... and most of time I'm always right.

1995 Opel Corsa Swing 1.4i from Portugal

Summary:

Good highway car, excellent city car..

Faults:

The only real problem I had with the car was an electronic one, due to a mobile lighter-recharger, that damaged the car lighter and blew a fuse, that was connected with the automatic gear-box... It was easily repaired when the car-lighter was disconnected.

Another problem in most Corsas and Opels I know is the 4 blinker button... (can't they arrange another process?...)

General Comments:

Really good car, spends a little bit more gasoline then normal in city, but is quite a fun car to drive. A little bit slow in acceleration, but after rolling it is sure to achieve a 170km/h top speed, with no difficulties.

In Portugal they say they changed the 1.4i engines, passing from 82bhp to 60bhp (I doubt it), I really don't feel the difference.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 4th October, 2001

9th Jan 2002, 04:54

I am an owner of an Opel Corsa Swing 1 liter - I have had this car for 3 years now - since, it never stopped giving me trouble.

Had to change the GR Valve twice - they also changed for me the temperature sensor - several times I had to take it in as the water level was going down after two/three days - the A/C was not cooling properly and it was losing gas. And other minor faults which makes you irritated because you have each time to take the car to be fixed besides expenses every time.

The Opel personnel and mechanics were very helpful and they do simpathise with me. Never had a car in my life which gave me so much trouble.