2004 Vauxhall Corsa cut out, then no acceleration, now will not start

Car: Vauxhall Corsa
Year: 2004
Categories: Running Rough, Starting & Power Loss
I have a vauxhall corsa twinport, which usually drives perfect with no problems. Today the car cut out which i initially presumed i had stalled it, however upon restarting and pulling off i noticed the car felt slow and could hear a rattling/clinging noise when i changed gear. Then in the 3 mile journey home it felt as if the car wanted to cut out and had no acceleration in 1st or 2nd gear, seemed slightly better in highter gears, altho the rattling was still there with each gear change. Even with foot to the floor it felt powerless almost. Got home, parked the car up and now the car wont start, the engine turns over but is jumpy then dies, no warning lights appeared during the driving.
Posted: Mar 6, 2010 (14 years ago)
Sounds like it could be timing chain which is a common fault with that car . Any mechanic should be able to confirm if it is just by listening to engine .
Posted Mar 6, 2010 (14 years ago)
Thanks for your response, out of interest after looking on the net re: timing chain corsa 54 plate, it seems many people stating there was a recall by vauxhall for this problem, although i've found nothing to suggest this is correct. I have found recall for ABS for make and model of my car, so will give them a ring to check. Am i right to think timing chain is costly??
Posted Mar 6, 2010 (14 years ago)
They were doing them under warranty at one time dependant on year or making a contribution to cost . Here is an example from elsewhere ,



19-05-2008 19:55 #208


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Join Date 29-02-2008
Posts 13 Originally Posted by
Well Vauxhall Cust Serv have just got back to me and they refuse to help with the cost based on mileage 65,000, age 4.5 years and it wasn't part of the affected batch. Still seems fishy to me that it needs a new timing chain and was made around the same time as the faulty ones (53 plate) :-(Mine is a 53 plate (04 model). The chain started rattling at 17,500 miles. Vauxhall agreed to pay 90% of the £185 cost after double checking the car had been serviced regularly.

10 weeks after getting the car back it's now rattling again! Please demand a new complete chain kit and NOT the repair kit as these are known and proved by myself not to work. Vauxhall themselves know that the repair kits don't work! You will know if they are using a repair or a replacement based on the quote. A Repair is approx £185 and a Replacement is around £500-£600.

As mine was 'repaired' 10 weeks ago, Vauxhall have agreed to 50% labour costs this time and my dealer has agreed to the other 50% so all i have to pay is £130.50 inc VAT. It's going in again on Thursday!
Posted Mar 7, 2010 (14 years ago)
Yes after looking it seems mine is one of the cars that were called back for recall for the ABS (found on the VOSA website) but as for the timing chain, it was only a 'select few' of the twinport 54 plate's that were recalled, sods law mine will not be in that select few! Knowing nothing about these things, it seems that my mileage of 35,000 is fairly low for this to happen...again sods law. I tried to start it again today, initially it sounds like it wants to start but doesnt, now various lights are showing including oil, battery and few others which i dont know what they are. Will have it looked at tomorrow, and await the dreaded cost! After having a Tigra which cost over £600 for electrical fault i think vauxhall is not a car i will purchase again.
Posted Mar 7, 2010 (14 years ago)

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