1995 Vauxhall Calibra 8v SE4 from UK and Ireland - Comments

No problems at all.

I had always wanted a Calibra and when I eventually purchased one I wasn't disappointed.

The 8v engine is the least powerful of the range statistically, but it's by no means a "slow" car, the torque is all low down in the revs resulting in effortless driving and not having to thrash the nuts off it all the time.

Reliability has been fantastic. People say the 8v engine is bulletproof and it really is. It just keeps going, and I can see it going for many years to come, even though it's already on 130,000.

Fuel consumption is pretty good, with about 34mpg mixed.

Cream leather is wearing on the drivers seat, but not too badly.

One big complaint shared by a number of Calibra owners... the headlights. Very poor indeed. It's down to a wiring limitation and the voltage drops quite a bit when measured at the battery and then at the bulbs themselves. Consequently, "higher power" bulbs don't really do much.

I've been let down and very disappointed with the main dealer. So much so that all the servicing I now do myself so I at least know it's being done. I wouldn't trust them at all. This can't be said for all Vauxhall main dealers though, there's bound to be some decent ones out there! :)

All in all though, the Calibra is now very reasonably priced and well worth a look in.

I Agree with you.

I my self have a 96 n reg calibra and love it

It now looks the biz.

But I have one problem and maybe you can help me or anyone else.

My temperature gauge don't seem to be working at all, and also the digital display on the middle of dash is not as well.

The clock is working OK, so the electric's to that point are fine, But the temp only says ----c?

Why is this and how can I check where the problem is.

Is it maybe that the wire on the engine head is falling off or faulty!!!Pls. help me

Adam

adam@businesspost.freeserve.co.uk.

Its not just calibras that have that problem, astras are pretty prone to it aswell! On the astras its usually the temp. sensor under the bonnet that's dead, not sure where you'd find it on the calibra, but if its anything like the astra layout, it'll be somewhere just under the headlight on the passenger side of the car. Very easy to change and not expensive!

In order to find the temperature sensor...

It is located on the underside of the front bumper on the passenger side of the car - if you look you will see a little plastic 'nipple' - this is where the sensor clips to the bumper. If there is nothing there - there should still be a little hole where it would normally be placed. If its not there - then that's a good point to start from!

I have a driveway at quite a steep camber - when I am unlucky, I sometimes scrape the underside of my front bumper (only lightly) - I have known this to pop the sensor out of the socket (as the plastic 'nipple' protrudes through) - and have found it dangling from behind the bumper (you'll only notice if you look at the front of the car from a bit of a distance - or get eye level with the ground!!!)

I have been lucky not to damage it - and tend to just pop it back in - Good luck if your problem is more than this - If there is no reading in the car - maybe because it has been ripped off the wires or something - a new one will need to be sourced and wired in - Breakers yard would do the trick me thinks!!!

All Vauxhalls have that problem with the Temp gauge.