Car Sparefinder Blog

I bought this Vauxhall Vectra a year back and have been thinking of getting angel eye headlamps after the car was involved in a small incident. For a long time, I couldn’t forget the fact that someone hit my car while it was parked at the mall parking lot. How can anyone hit a stationary car? But the problem was much bigger. I was driving around the city with a broken left headlight and it was not just inconvenient but also illegal. I was fined twice but I just couldn’t find a genuine pair of Vauxhall Vectra headlamps. I had searched through the yellow pages and visited mechanics and vendors but didn’t find what I was looking for or they were charging me exorbitant price It seemed like finding a used Vauxhall part was not just difficult but impossible.

This is when I reached the stage of selling my Vauxhall off because the situation was becoming worse and getting the better of me. I was getting frustrated and irritable and it showed. When I thought I was going to go over the edge that’s when my neighbor came to my rescue. His son drives a Vauxhall Vectra and although he stays in Liverpool and I am in Bath, he asked me to check carsparefinder. Since the time I visited their online store, I have not only located used Vauxhall part for my Vectra but the best part is that they are well priced and genuine.

The Mot test Inspection Manual now moves onto Fuel and Emissions and is divided into four sub-sections: exhaust system, fuel system, exhaust emissions-spark ignition and exhaust emissions-compression ignition.

As with almost all of the Inspection Manual, the tester is not obliged to follow any set examination order as long as the test is carried out to the correct standards with no omissions. In this section I will deal with each subject in the order it appears in the manual.

It would be fairly obvious to most people that a vehicle has a blowing exhaust, however, the tester must also inspect all other parts of the exhaust system looking for the less obvious, for example missing or ineffective mountings, excessive noise caused by deliberate modification or repairs which do not effectively seal exhaust gas leaks. Minor gas leaks such as those around joints or from small pin holes anywhere in the system would not normally fail, they can however, have an adverse effect on the result of the exhaust emission test carried out on petrol engine vehicles. When assessing noise levels generated by a deliberately modified exhaust the nominated tester can only use his or her discretion aided by the wording in the Inspection Manual which states “the noise emitted from the vehicle is clearly unreasonably above the level expected from a similar vehicle with a silencer in average condition�. The term average condition means a silencer fitted to a similar vehicle in an unmodified state.

Whilst under the vehicle the tester must examine all visible fuel system components for leakage and/or insecurity, should the tester feel, in his or her opinion, that the fuel lines are heavily corroded the presenter should be informed and an advisory notice issued, the basic rule is no leak, no fail. The security of the fuel system components includes any fixings applied to fasten parts to the body and/or chassis, ineffective clips, mountings etc can cause premature component failure and fuel leakage. For a complete system examination the tester must also inspect system components in the engine bay and also assess the condition of the fuel filler cap and its mounting flange. It is a common mis-conception that the filler cap must be of the lockable variety, this is not the case as the test regulations only specify that the cap and flange joint must seal such that it maintains tank pressure and fastens by positive means and not a simple and wholly ineffective push fit. This cap/flange joint is subject to a detailed check ensuring that any sealing ring, washer etc is present and in good working condition, this is to assess its capability of preventing fuel loss should the vehicle overturn as a result of a traffic incident.

The last part of this section deals with exhaust emissions, both spark ignition and compression ignition engines, and for the sake of expediency I shall leave out dual fuel and hybrid powered vehicles.

Like the section dealing with seat belts, the Inspection Manual has differing requirements for spark ignition emissions dependant on the age of the vehicle being tested; a brief outline is as follows:

1. First used before Aug 1975
• Visual check only                                                                           
2. First used between Aug 1975 & July 1986
• CO max 4.5%, HC max 1200ppm
3. First used between Aug 1986 & July 1992
• CO max 3.5%, HC max 1200ppm
4. First used between Aug 1992 & Feb 2002
• CO max 0.3%, HC max 200ppm, lambda 0.97 and 1.03 (during fast idle test)
• CO max 0.5% at normal idle.
5. First used after Mar 2002
• CO max 0.2%, HC max 200ppm, Lambda between 0.97 & 1.03

Looking at the figures above we can see how much the effect of legislation and engineering has had on reducing exhaust pollution especially since 1992 and the introduction of catalytic converters and powerful electronic engine management systems.

Prior to the vehicles first used before August 1992 emissions testing comprised of a 5 second gas analysis or prior to first use August 1975 a visual check for dense blue or black smoke. For vehicles with first use since August 1992 the tester must carry out a detailed gas analysis measuring carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC) and the value for lambda at two engine speed ranges, idle (450rpm to 1500rpm) and fast idle (2500rpm to 3000rpm). Fortunately for the tester this task is carried out by a computer controlled gas tester which will instruct the user when to increase the engine speed, when to allow it to idle etc and the test results will be displayed on screen and on a paper printout.

So what about compression ignition engines? Again the age of the vehicle will dictate the test procedure but the gases emitted by these engines are very different to their petrol cousins so a different type of analyser is used to measure, in crude terms, the density of exhaust smoke during engine acceleration or for the more technically minded, the co-efficient of obscuration.

1. First used before July 1979
• Visual check only
2. First use after Aug 1979
• 2.5m-1 maximum for non-turbocharged engines
• 3.0m-1 maximum for turbocharged engines

The visual check is basically an assessment by the nominated tester that the vehicle does not produce dense blue or clearly visible black smoke during a period of 5 seconds at idle, this assessment is repeated during acceleration. The Inspection Manual definition of dense smoke is emissions which largely obscures vision. For vehicles which are subject to a metered smoke analysis the same rules apply together with the maximum limits above.

Remember if you need repairs to your vehicle you can get parts for any vehicle including Vauxhall Vectra parts from Carsparefinder and have a garage fit them for you, by supplying the Vauxhall parts yourself the garage will cut the bill as they will not have to pay for those expensive new parts.

When I saw the new Vauxhall on a Television advertisement, I had to visit a store to see it and test drive it. Once I had done the test drive, I was quite impressed and wanted to buy it. But there were questions in my mind like will the Vauxhall Vectra suit my needs? Is it really as good as it looks especially I was worried about its performance in the long run. But the most important question was will I be able to get genuine Vauxhall part easily? I am sure most of you who are thinking of buying a Vauxhall or any other car for that matter would go through this phase of self questioning.

We often buy a car and end up not finding genuine car parts and have to make do with a local brand that causes problem in the long run. It is a perfect scenario of money wasted, time wasted and in the meantime the resale value of the car depreciates. So it is more of a total loss than anything else. So where do you find a genuine Vauxhall part? The internet is a great place to search but you have to run everything through a sieve before making a decision or you can follow my lead and check carsparefinder. They have listings of every Vauxhall Vectra spare part and they keep only genuine parts. All this at a great price!

In the heart of the Vauxhall design lies the Vauxhall engine, and in the heart of my Vauxhall Vectra 4 Door Saloon lies a 1,796cc, four cylinders, 16 valves, 122bhp at 6,000rpm engine. The manual transmission of my car includes a five-speed gearbox, and a front-wheel drive. It can reach a speed of 127mph, and gives a performance of 0-60 in 10.5sec. I have always been proud of my Vauxhall Vectra and when I sit inside and start the car, I can feel its raw and untamed power. I wish I could drive it at maximum but the roads in London won’t allow me the pleasure.

But the one thing that had me worried once was that the car had developed a small problem in the engine and I didn’t know what to do. My mechanic advised me that I needed to change a small valve. I didn’t know where to look for one. I went onto the Internet and found some excessively priced Vauxhall valves and then I came across carsparefinder. It was purely by chance and I found the valve I was looking for at a lower price than what I had previously seen. The best part is that at carsparefinder I found only genuine Vauxhall engine parts. Now I can breathe a sigh of relief!

Driving a Vauxhall is more than a pleasure for me. I have been a Vauxhall addict for almost 12 years now and have test driven all their models, almost! No! I am not a test driver or a formula 1 driver; I am one of your next door neighbors. My love for Vauxhall started when I was in my twenties and saw this black Vauxhall Vectra at a “cars for sale� outlet. Since then I have been driving nothing but the Vauxhall. In fact I tried other cars but somehow never developed that kind of a liking for any other car.

In the last 12 years, I have had a few minor changes to my Vauxhall including new Vauxhall Vectra Headlights and the good part is that I have finally found a place from where I can get information regarding the price and availability of the UK Vauxhall parts. No! it didn’t happen overnight. I went through many car vendors, mechanics and online stores before a friend of mine asked me to check carsparefinder. I wasn’t sure what they could do but I was naturally surprised to find the listings of the UK Vauxhall parts not just for my model but for every model. All this at a very reasonable price! Absolutely Super!

It was tough for me to give up on my Toyota and go for a Vauxhall but my wife said that the Vauxhall has this ability to glide at high speeds. So after we picked up our Vauxhall Vectra, I took my family out for a weekend holiday to the countryside. What surprised me was the feeling of smoothness at high speed and the fact that I couldn’t even feel that we had hit 120mph. The experience was more than just wonderful. My immediate question was if I required Vauxhall car spares, where will I find one?

There is actually a lot of information available on the Internet regarding companies and shops offering Vauxhall car spares. You just can’t buy from anyone as I learnt through my experience. What I did was that I went onto the internet and found the cost of the parts I was looking for and then called up Vauxhall requesting information on authorized UK Vauxhall Vectra parts dealers. They guided me to carsparefinder and I was impressed with the kind of price and service they are offering. My experience has been quite nice and if you own a Vauxhall or any other car then you can check carsparefinder for a nice experience and ease of finding spares.

It’s been over a year since I have been contemplating getting a sunroof in my Vauxhall Vectra. But the fear of added expense discourages me from making the plunge. Just the other day I was speaking with my friend telling him about my desire for a sunroof and the fact that I can’t afford a new one just yet. That’s when he told me to go for Used Vauxhall Parts such as a used sunroof. The idea clicked and this weekend, I am planning to get a used one fixed in my Vectra.

However, the Used Vauxhall parts market is not just limited to sunroofs. If you have been meaning to get a spare tyre or spare headlight bulbs or get some other Vauxhall Vectra car spares to modify your car and make your long drives more comfortable, then it is the best option for you.

No longer do you have to make the tedious journey from scrap yard to scarp yard in the hope of finding the Used Vauxhall parts you have been yearning to have. Just log on to the Internet, browse through the numerous dealers websites such as Carsparefinder, who have a huge database of different car parts for different car models and brands. And what’s even more interesting is that these websites offer you next day delivery and a minimum of six-month guarantee on these used Vauxhall parts. Some of the used spare parts you can order are sunroofs, clutches, tyres and gearboxes.

The Inspection Manual section next under our gaze is that entitled Body and Structure which is self explanatory, but also includes sub sections on doors, seats, registration plates, vehicle Identification Numbers, load security, spare wheel and carrier.

Body & Structure

For the tester the main criteria during inspection is that of damage, fracture or corrosion which may affect the correct functioning of the steering and/or braking system but not within a prescribed area, these prescribed areas those that are specifically dealt with in the sections of the Inspection Manual covering steering/suspension, brakes and seat belts. In the case of any of the above faults, damage, corrosion etc, it is the responsibility of the tester to employ qualification and experience in deciding whether the area of bodywork or structure is adversely affected, if this is not the case then the tester would normally issue an advisory notice. Another area which must be examined concerns vehicles which have a separate chassis to which the bodywork is mounted, here the nominated tester must check for corrosion, damage etc which seriously affects any chassis/body mounting plus any insecurity allowing excessive body movement relative to the chassis which may cause loss of vehicle control.

Whilst dealing with vehicle Body and structure an examination must be made for any sharp edge or projection caused by damage or corrosion which may make the vehicle dangerous to other road users, the term “road user� also includes pedestrians and any such damage will fail.

Moving on now to the vehicle doors which must latch securely in the closed position. The tester must check the driver’s door and the front passenger door to ensure that they can be opened from both inside and outside. This particular stipulation does not apply to two vehicle types 1) vehicles which have been customised to the extent that no door exists and 2) vehicles specially modified for the carriage of high value cargo.

Another very short sub-section concerns the vehicle seating, basically the regulations insist on security of the driver and front passenger seat plus checks to ensure that all seat backrests can be secured in the upright position. The main reason for the above requirements is to ensure that the seat belts can do their job effectively.

We move now into the realms of registration plates and Vehicle Identification Numbers (VIN). The regulations stipulate that a registration plate will fail the test if it is: missing or incorrect, so insecure that it may fall off, letters of figures missing or incomplete, faded, dirty, obscured or deteriorated. To underline the required standards the inspection manual states “likely to be mis-read or is not easily legible by a person standing approximately 20 metres to the front/rear of the vehicle.� We have all seen or may even use registration plates which fall into the following areas for MoT test fail: letters and/or figures obviously incorrectly spaced, a figure or letter not correctly formed or likely to be mis-read, a letter or figure which is obviously not of equal width along its entire length, any feature on a number plate that has the effect of changing the appearance or legibility of any of the characters so that the true identity of the vehicle is less easily identified. The inspection manual also makes special mention of badly positioned or uncovered retaining bolts etc which have been placed to change the appearance of a letter or figure, another guaranteed MoT fail.

Vehicle Identification Numbers have been a test requirement since August 1980 although of course their use goes back to the start of motor vehicle production. The VIN requirements are that it must be present and either displayed on a VIN plate secured to the vehicle or stamped/etched into the vehicle chassis or bodywork, most manufacturers of course employ both. Fail criteria for VIN are: not permanently displayed or not legible and more than one different VIN displayed.

The last sub-section of the Body and Structure part of the MoT Inspection Manual deals with load security and spare wheel and carrier. Load security does not mean how effectively a load is tied to the vehicle at the time of the test, it means the effectiveness of securing a load within the confines of the vehicle body., to make clearer still, the MoT inspection procedure must include checks on any bootlid, tailgate, loading door, HINGED tailboard or dropside ensuring that it is or can be secured in the closed position. Obviously the safety of other road users is paramount so any locks, catches etc cannot be substituted by lengths of rope, wire and the like.

Spare wheel and carrier relates to the security of external spare wheels and their associated fixings.  The tester must inspect such items ensuring that they are not in such a condition as they may fall off.

Remember if you need repairs to your vehicle you can get parts for any vehicle including Vauxhall Vectra parts from Carsparefinder and have a garage fit them for you, by supplying the Vauxhall parts yourself the garage will cut the bill as they will not have to pay for those expensive new parts.

The Vauxhall Vectra is an amazing piece of machinery. It is powerful and easy to drive. It also requires some care and maintenance to ensure that it performs at its optimal level. The Vauxhall brand is very popular among us Brits and we take immense pride in our cars. But have you ever considered the possibility that your well-maintained car can breakdown as much with age as due to any other reason and that you will require genuine Vauxhall parts to get it back on it’s Vauxhall wheels!?

It’s important for you to get only genuine Vauxhall parts fixed in your car. Why? Because with these parts you get complete mental peace of mind and the Vauxhall Company’s guarantee of quality and performance just like was intended. So, which ever country you maybe in, and by whatever name your Vauxhall Vectra may be known by, always insist for genuine Vauxhall parts.

The heart of your Vauxhall car is the Vauxhall engine. The life and performance of your car depends mostly on the health of the engine. It’s important to get your car serviced on a regular basis, just as it is important to get regular check-ups. But you don’t have to be dependent on your mechanic to ensure that your car keeps running!

I am sharing a basic Vauxhall engine check and steps for inspecting the ‘things’ under the bonnet…so read on.

Your Vauxhall car demands engine water or coolant. It’s important to check the level of engine water from time to time. The engine water container in my car is located near the battery and I have to twist the cap like lid to open it. The liquid inside the container is either green or bluish in appearance. There are three different levels marked on the container – minimum, half, and maximum. You need to check that the coolant is just above the ‘maximum’ level. This is also the recommended level. If you see that the level of liquid is below the max level, then just buy the ready-made solution from the local garage and fill the container to the full mark. If you want to be particular, then you can look for your car specific liquid e.g. Vauxhall Vectra Engine.

The next important thing to check is the Engine oil level. There is a dipstick to check the level. Take out the dipstick, clean it with a rag, and insert it back into the shaft of the car engine oil container. Leave it in for about 10-15 seconds and pull it out. Check to see if the oil has covered the stick between the minimum and max marks.

However, you must remember that too much engine oil is as bad as too little.

Note: Always carry out ‘Under the Bonnets Inspections’ when the engine is cold and the surface is flat to read the correct levels.