2007 Vauxhall Astra 2007 1.7 vauxhall astra

New ones are available . If turbo faulty there should be a fault code , Could check all turbo hoses / pipes for leaks or collapsing

https://www.bestturbos.uk/turbo-turbocharger-for-vauxhall-astra-h-1-7-cdti-100-hp-combo-c-1-7-cdti-100-hp-corsa-c-1-7-cdti-100-hp-meriva-a-1-7-cdti-101-hp/

AND

https://www.onlinecarparts.co.uk/ridex-15739060.html

Thank you. I did my homework and told them they needed to find underlying fault. Will speak to them again. Is there any point in putting brand new turbo in such an old car? I will see if I can replace vehicle next year but cannot do it now ; am living history presenter so clock up fair few miles every year.

If fitting a replacement turbo , it should have a years warranty at least or not worth the cost . That should cover you till next year
when you may change the car , The link I supplied gives 2 yrs warranty on turbos . It does get to the stage of whether continually repairing older cars gets uneconomical and they become money pits unfortunately

Thank you. Your sensible and speedy responses are appreciated. I also concluded I am chucking money away on fixing it as leaks are ruled out and blockage is suspected which means new pipes etc might need to be fitted. I was told a year's Warranty came with replacement. Long enough perhaps to get me through to a younger vehicle. I have little money so keeping it going for the immediate future is best option. I am grateful for your advice.

Car running well now but on test runs the fault light kept coming on ... for the mechanics! They discovered a faulty solenoid. Hopefully now everything is sorted and I wonder if that had been the mystery underlying problem all along. I told them you'd supplied info on new turbos (they were unable to locate any) and will give them your links. Thank you once again you were most reassuring.

That's good you finally got a resolution to the problem . Hope fully trouble free motoring now , thank you for the update .

Forgive me for bothering you again but you obviously know what you are on about and I plainly do not. I was asked to bring the car in after a few days for 'levels to be checked'. However, this morning I have driven the car and make the following observations. Steering feels heavy and the car is sluggish and slightly unresponsive at low speeds. There is also a feint, but audible, whine in low gears. It is probably there at higher speeds too but I can't hear it. If there is a reason for these things it would be helpful to be informed before I go to the garage. So, if it is not too much trouble I would appreciate your thoughts. Thank you.

No problem , ask as many questions as you like and I will try to answer / help
Strange they want to check levels , whatever levels they mean and why it was not carried out when the car was already in . With regards to the steering , there are different power steering systems and not sure what is fitted to your of car and when the changed . One is hydraulic pump and if oil level in the resrvoir is low it affects it . It is belt driven and can also give you a whine / noise if a fault present . The other system is electric / hydraulic and can be affected if car battery is low or alternator not charging correctly which can also affect engine performance . Hard to really say without being able to examine the car . Hope this he;ps

Bless you it most certainly does because I can go in and appear to know something I don't! And give them a flea in their ear and a direction to go in. And probably try and bamboozle me! I assumed by 'level's they were checking the oil!! I will endeavour not to become a nuisance but am most grateful for your assistance. At least I have more of an idea of what is going on. A friend suggested going elsewhere but better the devil you know and I don't think they are knowingly trying to take me for a ride. It is of enormous help that you have patiently offered possible solutions. I think you are someone of great experience and perhaps at a higher level of ability than the young men - well they are to me - who have looked after my vehicle. I am a medieval reenactor/living history presenter specialising in early Christian scripts (you can Google me) so if you ever need advice on what I create for others then feel free to ask!

So called " mechanics " nowadays leave much to be desired but there are some very good still about but are like hens teeth I'm afraid . Levels to me means the like of , coolant , engine oil , washer bottle , brake / clutch fluids , tyre pressures and was something I was given to check when a young apprentice many years ago . If you know very little about cars it's very easy and common for some garages to take advantage of this , but they are not so keen to do so if you are forearmed with a little knowledge . it tends to throw them off . You have a very interesting occupation and obviously enjoy your work , take care

I do. And thank you. Once everything is running as it should I will leave you in peace. My show season is about to start. Which is why I need reliable wheels.

Dear Whittingehame (Mr or place name?) .. something of a knight in shining armour! I am informed that the whine is due to it being a different make of turbo and is something I will get used to. Not sure about that one. I cannot recall hearing cars going passed with such a sound from their engines. Also on the heavy steering. He put the car up on one of those elevated thingies and showed me, from underneath, a small metal blueish box to do with the assisted steering and it has a hairline crack in it. He says such a part is impossible to source now as the car is so old and the part no longer made. He also said he can put in a washer and/or tweak it a little and see if that will help. How safe is this car to drive now? After my experience with the turbo failure I am feeling apprehensive. And after spending (with the £500 earlier) well over £1,000 already can I be confident (as one can be about these things) I will be able to go about my business with just the inconvenience of the whine and requiring more muscle power on the steering? I didn't feel I was getting a runaround but rather it is an old car and it now is what it is.

" Whittingehame " is the name of a street / drive . You can get turbo whine and it does vary with different makes , depends how bad it is . As for " small metal blueish box to do with the assisted steering " he showed you when car was on the ramp , I've no idea what it is . I've looked at the steering rack that is fitted on some Astras of that year 9 below ) and cannot see it there either . Surprised that it's ANOTHER part that is not available ......... As for his tweak , without knowing what it is and to what part , cant vouch for it or say if safe or not . It is worrying when power steering gets heavy and no logical or obvious cause is found or solution supplied , Strange one on me . I would have agreed with " A friend suggested going elsewhere " for a second opinion and to check on work already carried out if it had been earlier but not now with what has been done and paid for . You shouldn't have to drive with deficient steering , worrying about it every time you use the car , apart from the possible legal position if anything happens because of this

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/261510826331?hash=item3ce342895b%3Ag%3AIr8AAOSwD0tjxRCh&fits=Car+Make%3AVauxhall%7CCars+Year%3A2007%7CModel%3AAstra

I see. Thank you. I am feeling somewhat cornered with it all. As for the metal blueish box I think from the picture it is the bit with the lower red spot. And I was viewing from below it. 'Deficient steering' has me bothered ... when I queried how worrying this hairline crack was I was informed some cars go for years without it being a problem. But my steering is already feeling compromised and I worry now that I will be thought a pest to push on it - and the annoying whine. In South Africa there were places where old cars were disposed of and you could go and get spare bits. I rather expected something similar here ... I am in Scotland so perhaps none such are to be found here. A 'second opinion' sounds even more expense. I was told to take the car for a much longer run to regain confidence in driving it ... now I am not sure just how safe that would be. Would the steering change from being unwieldy to plain locking solid? Are you able to say what my risks actually are? I cannot attach my schedule but it is really really busy all through July and part of August. Involving thousands of miles.

There are plenty of car scrap yards / breakers yards throughout Scotland and worldwide where you can get used car parts . But I would never use those parts for vital components such as steering . The " red spot " is actually a temp . nylon plug that is fitted in steering rack and is removed when the hydraulic hoses are fitted in said hole . If that is where the crack is , it usually leaks power steering fluid . I only used the term " 'Deficient steering' as you said the steering was now heavier than before , prior to going into garage and after getting it back . I cant see mention of any work being done to steering .

Hi. Your present nuisance again! I mentioned the steering at the time of the breakdown as it felt like that on the journey but think it got forgotten with the turbo business. When Alan drove it on tests he didn't hear the whine and didn't think the steering was off because he doesn't know my vehicle like I do. And he's young and strong so wouldn't think anything of it. I didn't mean the red spot! I meant that bit of the image! Squarish!! Is it safe to drive is really the question? And question 2 is what does the whine indicate? If anything!

What causes turbo whistle? Turbo whistle is the sound of the compressor inside the turbocharger speeding up (also known as 'spooling up', which is why it kicks in at the boost threshold (when the turbo starts to kick in) as you accelerate up the rev range.

Thank you. So whilst the whine is annoying it sounds safe! And assume cracked steering part is also safe. Cannot imagine the mechanic would let me drive an unsafe vehicle. Seems like I must adjust to a few things. I am much obliged to you for your patience in explaining so many things. If there is some way I can showing appreciation please say. My thank you's tend to be medieval Proverbs.