1996 Vauxhall Omega Elite from UK and Ireland - Comments

I bought the car when it was 1 yr old with 48K miles.

Oil Cooler - The coolant header tank started to show significant oil contamination within 1000 miles. An oil cooler was found to be split. This required significant strip down of the engine systems.

Automatic gearbox - The automatic gearbox dropped out of gear at low power settings. It would re-engage sometimes on its own . If the engine was revved up it would re-engage with a loud thump and bring up the 'Automatic Transmission' fault warning. Vauxhall diagnostics indicated code 41 error (Gear error hydraulic fault) but could not advise on what the code meant. All main dealers in my area refused to deal with auto transmission faults. They referred me to a transmission specialist who does not have access to the Vauxhall diagnostic equipment.

The gearbox has since been rebuilt twice. The fault still apparent after the first rebuild. The gearbox currently does not drop out of gear but the gearchanges are so harsh that something else is going to break soon.

On one return visit the garage took the car to a main dealer for diagnostics. They claim to have cured the problem by reconnecting some wires stowed during build which they claim had been cut! The only result of this was a hot wired radio. On another visit they suggested that the throttle position sensor was faulty. The sensor was reset up then changed but to no avail.

The car is going back to the transmission specialist for the 6th time next week. We will see!

Blower motor - The blower motor continues to run at high speed constantly even with the keys removed. The only way to prevent a flat battery is to remove the fuse. Also the temp control selectors indicate 'dashes' when the ignition is switched off. Main dealer diagnostics did not show any faults and there only suggestion was to change the outside air temp sensor, although nobody seems to know where it is fitted, and the complete climate control system at great cost.

I have investigated the fault myself and found the fan speed controller, located in the cooling duct behind the dash board is shorted between the power in and motor +ve lead. Checking the control signal seems to show the system is trying to control the fan speed. I am now trying to locate a speed controller without needing another mortgage.

Rear axle oil seal leak.

Idle solenoid failed.

Temperature controller backlighting failed.

Various switch lamps failed.

Computer digits failed.

Heated rear windscreen relay shorted.

Spark plug life limited. Engine misfires.

Driver's heated seat failed

V6 Ecotec engine is not as smooth as expected.

Comfortable for long distances

Reasonable fuel consumption for a 3.0ltr

Handles well for a large car.

Useless main dealer support.

One of my biggest criticisms of Vauxhall is that they do not produce any workshop manuals for the general public for this car (and judging by the main dealer support there is none for them either). The systems on the car are no more complicated than the systems I design for aircraft, but you need a few clues even if it's only a system description, details of where the components are, and wiring diagrams.

Cars are bound to have faults at some time but you expect someone to know how to fix them.

I have also tried to get help from Vauxhall via a friend who manages the Vauxhall marketing account. Despite several promises from senior Vauxhall management nobody has bothered to contact me to date.

I won't be buying another Vauxhall.

What was the effect of the idle solenoid failing?

I have a rev problem with CDX - takes an age for the revs to drop.

With regard to your gear problem look very carefully at all the vacuume hoses linking the various systems under the bonnet, while not linked to the gearbox they if breached will cause loss of gear at low revs and a poor gear change while engine still runs fine!! hope this helps.

With regards to the blower motor controller, the transistorized unit is controlled on the negative side of the circuit. The positive is a direct link between the 12v in to the motor and also linked to the board inside. The 0v goes via the transistors to the blower motor. (Yes mine has gone wrong too). After ringing around I have found this to be a very popular part to replace. Having investigated the fault is caused by condensate from the ducting entering the unit as the unit has no sealant at all to protect it. The unit's are hugely expensive for the task they perform (£105.00 incl VAT from main dealer). If you manage to find a replacement my advice is to use a waterproof sealant between the plastic cover and the heat sink of the unit to prevent recurrance. Because the climate control is only on the CDX and the Elite (as far as I know) it is a rare part to come across in breakers yards. I am currently trying to find an alternative controller for this, if I find one I'll let you know.

I have a problem with my omega 2.5 I keep having the traction control and ABS warning lights come on and the Speedometer stops working along with the cruise control has any one any ideas it is a 2000 year Elite.

I can't agree more with your comments about Vauxhall dealers complete lack of knowledge about these cars. When I had my Omega the dealer was changing the ignition control module which is hidden behind the engine and bulkhead. There is a Haynes Owners Workshop manual for these cars. It stated the unit is removed from the top after stripping various components such as the wiper mechanism. When I arrived at my Vauxhall dealer during the repair they were working under the car trying to remove the gearbox, they had worked several hours to get the ignition module out. I had to explain to the mechanic that it comes out from the top not the bottom and show him the owners workshop manual. DISGRACEFUL.