2009 Vauxhall Insignia cam rattle

Car: Vauxhall Insignia
Year: 2009
Variant: 1.8 Exclusive
Categories: Running Rough, Starting & Power Loss
On start up my Insignia has a very noisy rattle. It stops within a second or two.
it's been back to the dealer many times and the last thing they changed was the cam sprockets. This seem to work for a short time put the problem is now starting again.

Any idea's or has anyone had this problem. Thanks.
Posted: Feb 16, 2010 (14 years ago)
This is from another site re Vauxhall 1.8 engine problem , seems the same ?

Originally Posted by Hazard
took it into vauxhall yesterday and they said theres no fault so i left it with them over night so they could start it from cold this morning and still no fault they recon, so im taking it to a non vaux dealer to get a proper diagnosis and then take it back to vaux with the mechanics report.

**** dealers

thanks for remembering to report back Hazard, i had exactly the same diagnosis when i first reported it. Only occurs for 1 or 2 seconds & on an immediate 2nd start it doesn't occur again. I think they jumped into the car, fired it up - realised the radio was on & couldn't hear, switched it off & missed the problem.

I had a non related problem this week meaning the car was in at the dealer, i did discuss this rattle on start up problem with them - i was advised Vauxhall are aware & there is a bulletin advising it is related to the use of long life oil (fully synthetic), after an oil change the noise will be less apparent, but after a while the oil is that thin it is draining out of the tappets, on restart you get the rattle until they are pressurised with oil again - if the noise dissapears within 10 minutes, take no action!

I'm concerned about it at 2 seconds after every standing start!

I asked to see the bulletin, but was told i was not allowed! next step to get the bulletin number and i'll get it from my contacts in Vauxhall fleet.


Date: Jul 2005
Location: Technical directors office
iTrader Rating: (0) they do suffer from drain back...and another reason to keep that oil in tiptop condition and to ignore the 20,000 mile cahnge interval..... 10,000 is much better for the car..
Posted Feb 16, 2010 (14 years ago)
TIS Reference Number: E0002487
Software will be available as of 11th of May 2009, TIS2Web 5.5.

Insignia 2009-Onwards - Engines A16XER, A18XER

Knocking Noise After Cold Start

Customer complains of a knocking noise after cold start. This noise appears sporadically after cold start
and when the engine switched off for a long period of time.
This is due to the camshaft position actuator activation starting too early before the necessary oil
pressure is reached.
In case of customer complaint please program engine ECU with modified software.
Posted Mar 28, 2010 (14 years ago)

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