[Polar57]

Noticed a few faults appearing on my 2014 Ampera, wondering if anyone has any ideas?

No centre screen (It comes back on every now and again, so I don't think its a fuse)
No centre console button light.
No auto wipers.
No Indicator sound.

Did some searching and didn't find anything that matched up so took it to the local Vauxhall dealer who have been looking after it.

£312 diagnostics bill, and they come up with a new radio being required. They removed it, checked the ground, B+ Circuit, Feed on digital radio receiver, feed on info display. Requires radio, Part number V23138106.

At a cost of £2500 ouch! Plus another £84 fitting. So a total cost of £2896. So we left it and said don't bother for now.

So went hunting for parts using various recommendations on here and found these from the US:
Radio 23138106 | GM Parts Online
Radio 23138106 | GMPartsDirect.com
Radio 23138106 | That GM Parts Guy

I did find one supplier in the UK, but they wanted more that £2500.

So the car is perfectly drivable, just no centre lighting or heating controls.
We do have it booked in with a local Electrical specialist, but is it worth spending more?

I'm concerned its quite a risk buying from the US, then getting it coded to the car by UK Vauxhall, I could see us spending $1500+tax and post, fitting and it doesn't work.

Any tips, ideas help gratefully received.

Many thanks!

 

[h8ten]

I don't think buying from the US would do unless it was guaranteed to be suitable for the UK. The US does not have DAB but an equivalent type, (HD radio I think) You might be better looking for one being broken on eBay , contact the seller to see if the part is still there and then have Vauxhall instal and code it to the car. Looking through any parts sites (for a diagram as to its location hasn't brought back any illustrations, unfortunately.

 

[HughF]

Yep, used one off ebay from a UK breaker and get it coded in.

 

[Polar57]

Thanks guys, I contacted the Breaker via eBay messaging and didn't get a reply. I'll give them a call in the morning. I agree the US route is high risk, think you are right I'll just wait for one at a breakers. I'm really surprised some small electrical part has such a high cost. In a few years that will be more than the value of the car.

Cheers.

 

[h8ten]

Aye, I was surprised at the cost too. I did find a site selling the part by the part number you quoted and that was for £3,600. It's a pity we could not find out where the actual part is located in the car as that might have helped in identifying it at a breakers as they might not have the part number details without actually removing it and hoping that it is printed/stamped on it somewhere. The fact that it has a 'V' in front of the part number suggests to me that it might be unique/programmed for Vauxhall in the UK.

 

[Polar57]

Aye, I was surprised at the cost too. I did find a site selling the part by the part number you quoted and that was for £3,600. It's a pity we could not find out where the actual part is located in the car as that might have helped in identifying it at a breakers as they might not have the part number details without actually removing it and hoping that it is printed/stamped on it somewhere. The fact that it has a 'V' in front of the part number suggests to me that it might be unique/programmed for Vauxhall in the UK.

Having originally thought it was a fuse, to take it to Vauxhall and be told £2500 + fitting was a bit of a shock.

I found two sites but not much joy working out which part it was.
OEM Replacement Parts - 2014 Chevrolet Volt ELECTRICAL Switches Parts

This one lists the part. V23138106 6th one down, but not much help.

 

[Polar57]

Aye, I was surprised at the cost too. I did find a site selling the part by the part number you quoted and that was for £3,600. It's a pity we could not find out where the actual part is located in the car as that might have helped in identifying it at a breakers as they might not have the part number details without actually removing it and hoping that it is printed/stamped on it somewhere. The fact that it has a 'V' in front of the part number suggests to me that it might be unique/programmed for Vauxhall in the UK.

Thanks for your help, I found this,
Vauxhall/Opel Ampera 1.4i 16v VVT Auto HYBRID 2012 Positiv BREAKING FOR SPARES | eBay

Could be worth a try

 

[h8ten]

I saw these illustrations too but I could not get that part number to match what I found. If it is the actual radio unit (not the DAB receiver which is under the boot floor) there are a couple on eBay but they are listed under a different part number.10949245 & 22868868 looking at the photos for both of these the part numbers in the photographs are the same 22868868. On the rear of the unit is a blue socket and I recall reading that if it has a blue socket then it is from the Electron model (it is another input socket where someone in Europe has installed a box similar to Miacast which allows another display to be shown on the main screen allowing Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.

 

[Polar57]

I saw these illustrations too but I could not get that part number to match what I found. If it is the actual radio unit (not the DAB receiver which is under the boot floor) there are a couple on eBay but they are listed under a different part number.10949245 & 22868868 looking at the photos for both of these the part numbers in the photographs are the same 22868868. On the rear of the unit is a blue socket and I recall reading that if it has a blue socket then it is from the Electron model (it is another input socket where someone in Europe has installed a box similar to Miacast which allows another display to be shown on the main screen allowing Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.

Thanks Ian, as you say difficult to narrow it down. I'll try and find a better diagram somewhere, even if it means going back to the dealer. Otherwise we will just have to take it on the chin. A bit strange that some small electrical part can just fail and cost so much to fix. Could be lack of use as its never had an accident or anything. Just stopped working.

 

[h8ten]

It does seem strange the other issues that are showing, I would have never thought they were connected unless it is part of a BCM (body control module) that certain functions go through. I might be tempted to try disconnecting the 12v battery negative terminal in the boot for a few minutes (not sure how many but if you have a garage maybe overnight with the tailgate held open to stop it latching otherwise it's a climb over the back seat to get to the manual release).

 

[Polar57]

It does seem strange the other issues that are showing, I would have never thought they were connected unless it is part of a BCM (body control module) that certain functions go through. I might be tempted to try disconnecting the 12v battery negative terminal in the boot for a few minutes (not sure how many but if you have a garage maybe overnight with the tailgate held open to stop it latching otherwise it's a climb over the back seat to get to the manual release).

Apparently when my other half picked it up they said something about the BCM being inside the radio unit. I'll try the battery reset tonight, fingers crossed. Cheers.

 

[h8ten]

Keep us updated. I don't have my Ampera any more (progressed to an M3 too) but my brother has it so that means a 'lifetime' warranty.

 

[Polar57]

Keep us updated. I don't have my Ampera any more (progressed to an M3 too) but my brother has it so that means a 'lifetime' warranty.

Will do, hope you like the M3 as much as I do. Very jealous of the lifetime warranty, I should have extended it. Hindsight eh!

 

[h8ten]

Lol, the 'Lifetime' warranty is me helping out with any issues. He has now had the car for over a year but I still like to make sure all is okay with it, even telling him it is needing a wash and asking when was the last time he checked the tyre pressures. Next job is to replace the headlight bulbs, one blew and he put an old spare one that I gave with the car in and I think it's better to get them back to a matched pair.

 

[Johnny Read]

I expect you'll be shocked when you contact the breakers. In my experience they know the exact RRP of parts, and the cost of a used part is not much less than buying new! Just my very limited experience from years ago when looking for a wing mirror which was cheaper to buy new and spray up.

The diagnosis fee sounds steep to me, or is that the going rate. At least you've helped others who will read this forum with a similar fault.

 

[HughF]

Thanks guys, I contacted the Breaker via eBay messaging and didn't get a reply. I'll give them a call in the morning. I agree the US route is high risk, think you are right I'll just wait for one at a breakers. I'm really surprised some small electrical part has such a high cost. In a few years that will be more than the value of the car.

Cheers.

Welcome to the world of EVs.... Parts costs = car goes in the scrap. Anyone saying otherwise has their head in the sand.

Says I, about to rebuild a 20yr old 406 for £150 worth of parts off ebay, in my drive...

 

[Polar57]

Lol, the 'Lifetime' warranty is me helping out with any issues. He has now had the car for over a year but I still like to make sure all is okay with it, even telling him it is needing a wash and asking when was the last time he checked the tyre pressures. Next job is to replace the headlight bulbs, one blew and he put an old spare one that I gave with the car in and I think it's better to get them back to a matched pair.

Wish I had a lifetime warranty, hope he realises how much that is worth!

I expect you'll be shocked when you contact the breakers. In my experience they know the exact RRP of parts, and the cost of a used part is not much less than buying new! Just my very limited experience from years ago when looking for a wing mirror which was cheaper to buy new and spray up.

The diagnosis fee sounds steep to me, or is that the going rate. At least you've helped others who will read this forum with a similar fault.

Not going to risk breakers if its a crazy price. We will either leave it as is, trade it in somewhere or use the garage 12 months interest free and I'll help her out with it as I feel guilty. I think they did spend a few hours, but don't trust any dealer really, they are all sharks.

 

[Polar57]

Welcome to the world of EVs.... Parts costs = car goes in the scrap. Anyone saying otherwise has their head in the sand.

Says I, about to rebuild a 20yr old 406 for £150 worth of parts off ebay, in my drive...

I have always thought that you pay with cars either way, buy new, suffer depreciation but have a warranty and less hassle, or buy used and pay to fix it all the time. If you can fix it yourself then great, just extra hassle, but definitely the cheapest option. Hopefully nothing else goes wrong with it, £3000 wipes out the maintenance fund for a couple of years. Probably near half the value of the car.

 

[Squasher]

£3k for a stereo sounds crazy. And I don't have auto wipers - is that a perk of the Electron?

 

[Polar57]

£3k for a stereo sounds crazy. And I don't have auto wipers - is that a perk of the Electron?

mmm I'm not sure it has auto wipers, I'll have to check, not driven it in a while, my wife took it on when I got something else. I've disconnected the battery and its on charge. The battery is probably 3 years old so I'll replace that next just incase.