2005 Vauxhall Zafira mixing oil & water in the automatic gearbox

Check this recent post on Astra with same known fault .

The Problem
Car Vauxhall Astra 1.8 automatic
Year 2005
Owner marie fenwick
Posted 10 11 2010

Ref#:
6643
The Problem

CAR CUT OUT SO CALLED AA,AT FIRST THEY THOUGHT THERE WAR A SOFTWARE PROB IN THE CARS CONTROL SYSTEM.
IT CUT OUT AGAIN AND I'VE NOW BEEN TOLD BY VAUXHALL GARAGE THAT THE RADIATOR HAS BEEN LEAKING AND HAS LEAKED INTO THE AUTOMATIC GEARBOX!
I'VE SINCE LEARNED THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THE SAME FAULT ON SAME TYPE CAR,ITS BEEN MENTIONED THAT THIS MAY BE SOME SORT OF "COMMON" FAULT WITH THE RADIATOR?
THE CARS DONE 59,000 AND IS 5 YRS OLD.
THE GARAGE ARE ASKING FOR UP TO £5,000 TO FIX,THATS MORE THAN IT'S WORTH.
I NEED THE CAR FOR WORK SO I'M IN A REAL FIX.
NEED ADVICE 'HELP'



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Solution 1
whittingehame
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Since: Oct 2009
Posts: 349 | Fixes: 2685
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Posted on 2010 11 10

Crazy price they quoted you !!!! You might get away with flushing out and changing gearbox fluid , replacing radiator . This explains this fault .

Vauxhall Astra GEARBOX / RADIATOR
The Problem
Car Vauxhall Astra 1.8 AUTOMATIC
Year 2005
Owner jaylw
Posted 16 09 2010

Ref#:
6029
The Problem

WHILST DRIVING HOME A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, MY ASTRA JUST CUT OUT COMPLETELY. THE AA ATTENDED AND TOLD ME THAT IT WAS A GEARBOX PROBLEM. HAVE JUST BEEN TOLD MY GARAGE THAT APPARENTLY THE RADIATOR HAS BEEN LEAKING AND HAS LEAKED INTO THE AUTOMATIC GEARBOX! I HAVE NEVER NOTICED THE RADIATOR LEAKING AND IT WAS FINE WHEN THE AA ATTENDED ALSO. IT HAS BEEN MENTIONED THAT THIS MAY BE SOME SORT OF "COMMON" FAULT WITH THE RADIATOR FROM THIS MODEL - ANYONE WITH ANYMORE INFO?? THE CAR HAS ONLY DONE 50,000 IN 5 YRS, AM NO CAR EXPERT BY ANY STRETCH, BUT THIS SEEMS LIKE A MAJOR FAULT FOR A CAR WHICH HASN'T DONE THAT MANY MILES!! ANYONE KNOW OF ANY INFO???


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Solution 1
whittingehame
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Since: Oct 2009
Posts: 349 | Fixes: 2651
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Posted on 2010 09 16

This should help you and gives info re . radiator recall .


http://www.vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk/showthread.php?163171-Water-in-the-gearbox-or-major-scam!




Question
Posted on 2010 09 16

Hi, the exact same thing has happened to me today I was driving and my car stopped I too had aa out and they said it was the radiator leaking into my oil for gearbox, and that there are matal fragments mixed with the water/oil they called a garage and was told the cost would be £1700 - £2000 for repair my car is also automatic and on 05 plate and have done 55000 miles. I have always had my service and looked after the car and cannot understand how such a major fault can happen that can cause so much damage and cost ! I was totally shocked to see that you had posted the exact same fault today on same car same year and around same mileage !



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Solution 2
VXAstra
Driver

Since: Oct 2010
Posts: 0 | Fixes: 1
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Posted on 2010 10 04

I have just been dealing with the very same thing, started losing coolant but couldnt find a leak anywhere, took it into the my garage well to cut to the chase they said the same thing.
They told me the oil from the gearbox is run into the rad to cool it but the pipes aint upto the job and then your coolant gets into the gearbox. I tried Vauxhall customer service who were very helpful and told me to take the car to a vauxhall dealer and they would look at it for me, when I asked who was going to pay for it, she said they make no garantee about any payment towards cost, so if I take it to a Vauxhall dealer its going to charge me at least 60% more than my garage and I could be left to pay for it all, on a car thats 5 years old and only 29000 miles on it.
So I decided to leave it at my garage, they have flushed the gearbox out twice, and put a new Radiator on told me to so how it goes if I get any more probs bring it back and if it needs a new gearbox they willfit one and take the price of the flushing off the bill, pretty fair I think.
A new gearbox from Vauxhall £2000 plus and then all they will do is sell the old box on to be flushed and sold second hand.
My bill was £450.




You could also contact Vauxhall customer services and see what they say about this known fault .




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Solution 2
whittingehame
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Since: Oct 2009
Posts: 349 | Fixes: 2685
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Posted on 2010 11 10

If changing ATF fluid and radiator is not successful,you may need to get a replacement box ,but you might get away with it .

There are plenty of automatic gearbox specialists in Glasgow rather than going to main dealers who are usually are a lot dearer . You will get them in Yellow pages or sometimes in the free Motor Market Weekly magazine you get in petrol stations .You have just got to be careful where you go and get quotes and advice .Here are a couple I found right away ,

http://www.mackie-transmission.com/

http://www.caledoniantrans.com/

I cannot vouch for the companies mentioned , just a sample of some possibly in your area but you could call and say what they say .Hope this helps you .




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Hi..1st blog but need to air my dismay..By looking at reviews on gearbox faults it has hit home, i'm not the only one.
To keep it short..Brought a 04 2.2 petrol auto signam a year ago(private)48,000 miles. Intermitant slipping from auto box until gearbox totally went leaving no gears. Had new box £2100.
Ran ok for a while then ocassional slip again. Took to local garage and they said it needed new fuel regulator so had new fuel regulator(only later to find out ther was recall on some of hese from local vauxhall dealer).. after i'd paid £180!
Still slipping so took back to gearbox specialist..had new speed sensor fitted under waranty...a while passed ,slipping still. Asked vauxhall main dealer and they asked if i had a new radiator fitted with the gearbox, as they renew both ,as water is know to get in box. Returned to specialist and they don't replace unless signs of contamination. They checked my gearbox twice more over the past year and said oil was fine. Now just before warranty has ran out gear box has gone again ( WATER IN BOX ) ..NOT COVERED!
Who is responsable?
I now have to pay another £1100 for gearbox strip n clean up and new radiator.

Are Manufacturers at fault..will contact Vauxhall to check if any recall were due regards rad seals as have read about this on some sites.

Good luck to all ,with any faults encountered