1999 Vauxhall Zafira Elegance from UK and Ireland - Comments

With reference to the comment on 27th July (the man who went to Weymouth!). I last posted on 23rd July about my EMS light coming on. Took it to my local garage last Saturday where they had a quick look and suggested it could be a faulty valve or piston. They couldn't do it straight away as said they have to take the cylinder head off to have a proper look - hence five days later I am still waiting for them to get back to me (just how long does it take to take a cylinder head off a car?) However, they did mention it was a "big job" and could be in the region of £600-800. If it costs any more than that then I'm scrapping it as I'm fed up with the stupid thing!

It may be coincidence, but my Zafira engine management light comes on after I fill up with supermarket petrol. It goes off if I use traditional petrol retailers. I have no idea why this might be or even if it is just a coincidence, but I thought I would mention it.

Hello again, it's the Weymouth man. Just to let you all know my car has now covered over 500 miles without missing a beat. I consider it fixed. I have been told to keep the oil and filter changed regularly, avoid supermarket fuels (which I always used to use), and add the odd can of fuel system cleaner to the tank. This is a common Zafira fault, I hope it helps some of you, because this problem took over my life and bank account for 2 months. If you need any more info, feel free to ask. I will check this site from time to time. Regards Andy.

I have the same problem as many others. My 2004 Zafira 1.6 cuts out, usually after about 30-40 minutes, and most recently on the M25. I don't think it is roadworthy.

I contacted Vauxhall head office via their website, (or you can email: vauxhall.customerassistance@uk.gm.com). They had their Technical Department contact my local Vauxhall dealer to see if they could help sort the problem. They couldn't, and I was charged over £58 for the 'diagnostics' which are not covered by the fantastic Network Q warranty if they fail to find a fault!

If we are going to get Vauxhall to admit there is a problem with this car we need to join forces. Can others with this problem please complain to Head Office, get a 'service request' or reference number for their complaint, and report back?

Did anyone contact Watchdog?

Charlotte.

About 6 months ago I had the same problem that Chris had with his stuttering revs, I too have had the maniverter, lambda sensor and had a new coil pack put in, but it still stutters when I try to rev it. But the strange thing is my problem only occurs when the engine is cold, and once the revs drop below 1,000 all is quiet. Also I occasionally lose power on the motorway, for example I could be doing 70mph then suddenly there would be no power from the accelerator until the car went down to about 50mph.

Help please

Phil.

Sept 2007 Zafira 1.9DTI. Purchased brand new from local Vauxhall main dealer. Absolutely beautiful car... until Jan 2008.

The engine management light started coming on accompanied by poor performance and excessive fuel consumption. And a tendency to stall in awkward and dangerous situations. Then followed 6 months of repeated visits back to dealership only for fault to reappear sometimes only days later.

After one visit I was advised not to go on long journeys. On another visit I was advised to really blast it for several miles. Usually I was told the new part needed wasn't available.

I've now rejected the vehicle and it's on their forecourt. In spite of the long awaited spare part miraculously arriving a couple of days after I returned the vehicle to them.

My solicitor is currently suing for a refund. Moral? Don't ever ever ever ever EVER buy a Vauxhall!!!

I'll keep this site posted.

Anyone had any problems with the "engine" warning light coming on? We took our 2005 model (new style) to the nearest Vauxhall dealer's service department following the engine light flashing - as per the manual's instructions. The service department weren't able to examine the car that day and said the light flashing could be caused by a multitude of problems. They booked the car in for a diagnostic test, saying the car could still be driven without causing any problems. The car was booked in for diagnostic analysis 2 days later and in the interim period the exhaust blew. We took it back to the service centre, who removed the exhaust and said the catalytic converter had gone into meltdown. Repairs currently standing at in excess of £1,100 and they cannot confirm there are not any further problems. Now wondering if the company were somewhat negligent in advising it was OK to drive the car with this light flashing - any ideas???

Message for Andy.

I did have my suspicions about the fuel system being the culprit as other people writing on this message board have alluded to this being the problem. When our car has experienced the lack of power problem (with Engine Management Light coming on), it does then go away after I've really blasted it driving it high revs for a bit, as if it clears out some blockage. So if there's a problem with the fuel inlet valve this certainly could be the problem. I definitely will add some fuel system cleaner and see how it goes. With all of this, it's the loss of confidence that's the killer, especially when it's the wife's car and she's mostly with the kids. Will advise how it goes.

Cheers.

Mark.

Hi Mark. It certainly sounds as if you have the same problem as I did, the symptoms are identical. The fuel system flush I used was manufactured by Wurth. Its not an instant fix but does the job after a while. My Zafira has now covered 900 miles since this was diagnosed without any problems, our confidence in the car is now slowly returning, (we almost traded it).Best of luck. Andy.

I have a Zafira, it's a 51 plate petrol 1.8, and have had it a year now and is due a service.

For about 3 months now it, the EM light(car with the spanner) comes on intermittently with out loss of power, but does seem to use a lot of fuel. Vauxhall were going to charge £55 to just put it on a diagnostic test and "take it from there"!!! I found a local mobile mechanic who did it for £25 and he said it was the ECU sensor in the crank shaft and to get it done ASAP as it would eventually fail and re set the comp. So I asked for quote - £100-120 or £160-180 to do the service also. Reading comments on the site its around £25, so my question - I am female and quite willing to break some nails and get under the bonnet - is it easy to re place? and could it really be something simple like the sensor?

We are trying to save money as we are on holiday in September and driving in the car to Somerset from the West Midlands... and the light is coming on now with every trip... any suggestions would be really appreciated..

And I thought it was just me experiencing these problems with my Zafira, these problems are obviously more common than people realise.

Like many of the writers elsewhere on this site, I have been experiencing problems with the Engine Management System light coming on since I purchased from new in 2004. It's become gradually worse to the point that now every single time I take it onto the motorway, the light comes on and the car loses power and reverts to limp mode.

I have mentioned it countless times to several dealers and during services, but each time I get the same response - 'it's a software glitch mate I've reset it for you'. It's now got to the point that I have no faith in dealerships to solve the problem. I have written to GM customer services hoping for some assistance.

I was led to believe these were reliable cars, however this is plainly not the case.

On top of the EMS fault, I like some of the previous writers, have had the same problem with a sticking ignition barrel causing the starter motor to burn out - that set me back £600.

Additionally a faulty door-locking motor which cost £180 to fix.

I have read other peoples comments with interest, and depending upon the response I get from GM, I may take it to a independent garage and ask them to check the EGR valve and the Mass Flow meter.

If anyone has any advice for me, I would really appreciate it. I was thinking of upgrading to a new Zafira, but don't have any confidence in them any more, especially since when on holiday in a service area which I pulled into to reset the car for the 100th time, a new Zafira owner pulled in next to me and did the same with his car. I think I'll go back to Toyota - I had a Carina for 6 years and the only thing I had to change was one light bulb.

Cheers Chris D.

I wish I'd found this site before our recent holiday! The spanner warning light has lit up in the past once or twice but gone out again straight away. We decided we would drive our 53 plate Zafira to Italy. The light came on when we were in Belgium, losing power whenever it came on and unable to take it over 60 mph. We finally got there but the problem continued on the journey home. Nerve-wracking for my husband not knowing how the car was going to behave on the hairpin bends through the alps and on the fast moving motorways. Have read all the comments up to know, can anyone summarize in a nut-shell the best thing for us to do? Thank-you.

GM customer services did get in touch and they have asked me to take it to my local dealer. I have to pay for a diagnostic but the garage have been given a a ref number to contact customer services when they examine the vehicle.

In between time much to my despair the door lock has stopped working on one of the back passenger doors - I only replaced a front one in March.

Well the mechanic contacted me this afternoon and they cannot find anything wrong with the car and I have been quoted @140 for the door lock - a faulty wiring loop.

The mechanic said you've just been unlucky with this car.

Reliability is not down to luck in my book but instead down to quality of manufacture.

Over £1000 on repairs so far and no end to reliability problems.

Chris D.

I have a W reg 1.6 zafira had it 12 months with no issues but today went to start the car and nothing ignition lights come on but starter not turning not even the usual sound of a solenoid opening battery is fine any ideas. Email on vince@vyarwood.freeserve.co.uk if you can help.

I have a 2ltr diesel, Zafira Energy, recently it became difficult to start, eventually after a week it would not start at all. My local dealer diagnosed a sensor within the fuel pump, of which there are three. To rectify this, apparently I have to buy a brand new fuel pump as the three sensors are not able to be simply replaced, at a cost of £2300. Sensors, e.g. electronics, are "iffy" at the best of times, surely they should be easily replaceable, as this is a positively ridiculous price to pay to change one faulty sensor. This problem also can apply to Vectras.