Possible bearing problem

RayG said:

@Friends Electric thats where I take mine to be serviced - let us know how you get on, just in case I need the same thing later. Mine is OK at the moment. 50.5K Miles

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AndyG said:

Where are you based?

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donald said:

How the heck they could determine which bearing it is, I would be very interested to know.
However, to have gone from nothing to that bad in just a moment does suggest something not quite the same as 'the usual' bearing issue.

Originally, either bearing failure would need to involve the rotor and bearings, the bearings were not intended to be swapped separately from the rotor so originally it came as one part. It is a complete removal of the transmission.

After the 'design fault' that emerged, the removal and refit of the outer bearing was a solution developed after the event.

It is theoretically possible thought that it could be the engine side (not sure what they mean electronics side, the electronics sit on top), but is definitely double definitely covered by warranty, assuming the car has a correct service record.

I've posted my own email confirmation from Vauxhall here before, as have others. Print and use those.

This is the first case I have ever heard of for the 'other' bearing going.

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donald said:

Do you mean the garage or Vauxhall?

Vauxhall really are numb-nuts too.

Feel free to quote directly my own email and the service reference number, I give my unlimited permission to Ampera owners. It might just 'help' them to remember.... As you can see, they weren't very quick then either and took them a bit of 'confusion' to get over, but I made sure I got it in writing before buying the car:-

(PM me if you have any further problems)

"Service Request Number: 489214-913464397
Date: 9th February 2015

Dear Mr Donald

I write further to my previous email sent to you.

Please accept my apologies for the confusion in my last email, I have now confirmed with our Technical Team that the Electriv [sic] Drive Unit assembly and internal components refers to the 4ET50 Transmission, which is covered for 8 years/100,000 miles.

If you require any further assistance, please respond via return email or feel free to call us on 0800 026 0275, quoting your reference number which is stated above.

Yours sincerely,

Catherine Douglas

Customer Service Manager
My Ampera Specialist "

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Robin H said:

Have a look at whether Bellingers in Wantage is too far away. They have a pretty good reputation on here.

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donald said:

They really are numb-nuts.

As it happened, I specifically probed on this question, which they also resisted at the time, because I was aware of the bearing issue, and even though there were very few out of the initial warranty, I still had my concerns. Just as well, because Vauxhall were still flapping, like with you, when the time came.

Why oh why must we be subjected to this nonsense?

FWIW, this was the entirety of the email exchange, just so you know (my comments in bold theirs in italics). The last exchange should also be very interesting to people. If you think your warranty has expired due to lack of servicing, just say "but there is no servicing on the electric system, ergo none has been missed";-

___________________________________________________

Service Request Number: 489214-913464397
Date: 4th February 2015

Dear Mr Donald

Thank you for your email received 2nd February 2015, regarding the Vauxhall Ampera.

I can confirm the New Vehicle Warranty for the Ampera is for a period of 3 years/60,000 miles from the original registration date and the Battery and High Voltage components are covered up to 8 years/100,000 miles.

If you have any further queries, please respond via return email or feel free to call us on 0800 026 0275 quoting your reference number which is stated above.

Yours sincerely,

Catherine Douglas
Customer Service Manager
My Ampera Specialist


Thank you for your reply, however, could you please clarify the ambiguity on whether the whole of the transmission is considered to be a 'high voltage component' (as it contains the high voltage motors). e.g., if there is a motor bearing failure, is this a 'high voltage component' covered by the 8 year warranty? Is a motor reduction gear within the 4ET50 transmission a 'high voltage component'?

I would have thought that the electric drivetrain, the subject of the 8 years warranty, would consist of;
1. battery,
2. inverters,
3. chargers and sockets,
4. complete 4ET50 transmission

Is this correct?

Thank you, I would appreciate the clarification.

Best regards,


Service Request Number: 489214-913464397
Date: 4th February 2015

Dear Mr Donald
Thank you for your further email.
As requested, please see below for confirmation of the components which are covered by the 8 year/100,000 mile warranty:
- Battery
- High voltage wiring
- Control modules
- E-compressor
- Traction power inverter module
- Accessory power module
- On board charger
- Brake modulator assembly
- Electric drive unit assembly and internal components
- Auxiliary fluids pump controller & 3 phase cables
If you have any further queries, please respond via return email or feel free to call us on 0800 026 0275 quoting your reference number which is stated above.
Yours sincerely,
Catherine Douglas
Customer Service Manager
My Ampera Specialist



Thank you for the list.

At the risk of taking up too much of your time, can I please just check if 'Electric drive unit assembly and internal components' means the complete 4ET50 transmission?

Also, I am not sure if you may be able to answer or direct me accordingly, I have asked my local Vauxhall dealer about buying an extended warranty but he had no specific figures for the Ampera. He suggested it would probably come under the warranty covering '1.4 litre' size of engine, for which he had a price. Would this be correct, or can you advise me who else I might make the enquiry to?

Best regards,



Service Request Number: 489214-913464397
Date: 5th February 2015

Dear Mr Donald

Thank you for your further email.

I can confirm the transmission is a standard automatic transmission and therefore holds the manufacturer’s warranty, which is for a period of 3 years or 60,000 miles.

In relation to an extended warranty, as a manufacturer this is not something that we supply, any extended warranties are purchased directly from a Vauxhall retailer, they would be able to answer any questions you have surrounding this.

If you require any assistance in the meantime, please respond via return email or feel free to call us on 0800 026 0034, quoting your reference number which is stated above.

Yours sincerely,

Catherine Douglas
Customer Service Manager
Vauxhall Customer Care



I'm sorry but there is nothing standard about the automatic transmission. It consists of the engine directly attached to a motor, with a hub clutched to an epicyclic component of a 2nd [main] drive motor, with a single reduction gear to the output differential, all in one housing. It is a single assembly which GM call the 4ET50 transmission, containing those two motors, reduction gears and clutch sets. There are no components anyone would regard as 'conventional'.

There are no other transmission components other than the 4ET50 assembly.

Please can I ask you to revisit that question: I cannot tell what components you are referring to as 'Electric drive unit assembly and internal components' if it is not the 4ET50 transmission.

Best regards,



Service Request Number: 489214-913464397
Date: 6th February 2015

Dear Mr Donald
Thank you for your further email.
I will review this matter further with our Technical Team to see if I can provide you with any further information, I will then come back to you by Tuesday 11th February with an update.
In the meantime, if you require any assistance, please respond via return email or feel free to call us on 0800 026 0275, quoting your reference number which is stated above.
Yours sincerely,
Catherine Douglas
Customer Service Manager
My Ampera Specialist



Thank you for your reply.

For information, I believe the term 'transmission' I have used is misleading and, is not actually used by GM for that component of the Ampera. Instead they refer to it as a 'multi-mode electric transaxle'.

Best regards,



Service Request Number: 489214-913464397
Date: 9th February 2015

Dear Mr Donald
I write further to my previous email sent to you.
Please accept my apologies for the confusion in my last email, I have now confirmed with our Technical Team that the Electriv Drive Unit assembly and internal components refers to the 4ET50 Transmission, which is covered for 8 years/100,000 miles.
If you require any further assistance, please respond via return email or feel free to call us on 0800 026 0275, quoting your reference number which is stated above.
Yours sincerely,
Catherine Douglas
Customer Service Manager
My Ampera Specialist



Thanks. That's great to know, and thank you for your time.

.....(later...)

Hello.

Thank you for your previous correspondence regarding warranty coverage on the Ampera.

If I may ask to clarify one matter, and raise a second on a different matter;-

1) You have said the electric power train warranty covers "Auxiliary fluids pump controller & 3 phase cables". I'd like to clarify if this means it covers the Auxiliary fluids pump itself. i.e. does it mean;-
"Auxiliary fluids pump, controller & 3 phase cables"
or
"The controller of the Auxiliary fluids pump, & 3 phase cables"

2) I would like to understand what happens when you put on winter tyres, as I usually run such tyres, but if they have no TPMS sensors. I note that several Vauxhall models with TPMS do not require TPMS sensors in a set of winter tyres, and if the car detects no sensors on any of the wheels it does not give an error signal but simply goes blank, or shows a signal 'winter tyres fitted'. What does the Ampera do if you fit it with a set of wheels that have no TPMS sensors in any of the wheels? Does it function like other Vauxhall models and show 'blanks' for pressure, or does it show an error?

Thank you for looks at these questions for me and any clarifications you can provide.

Best regards,






Service Request Number: 489214-913464397
Date: 24th March 2015

Dear Mr Bradley

I write further to our previous contact.

I have forwarded your queries onto our Product Team who have provided me with the following information:

The Auxiliary fluid pump, auxiliary fluid controller and 3 phase cables are all included within the 8 year warranty.

In regards fitting winter tyres if you are just changing the tyres then the system will auto learn, once the vehicle is driven for at least 9 miles above 25mph.

If wheels/tyres are fitted without TPMS sensors the message “winter mode” will appear approximately 20 times and then disappear, the pressure display will show only dashes as info, there is no pressure info from the sensors.

I hope I have answered your questions.

Should you require any further assistance, please respond via return email or call us on 0800 026 0275, quoting your reference number which is stated above.

Yours sincerely,

Catherine Douglas
Customer Service Manager
My Ampera Specialist



Thank you for your previous correspondences in regards supporting my enquiries about warranty coverage. It has all been very helpful.

I regret I am having some difficulty in finalising my decision whether to go ahead with the additional (non-HV components) warranty cover. In part it is because of the high prices of the routine servicing of the 'normal' parts of the car to keep the warranty active.

For example, I have been quoted 0.5 hrs labour for the replacement of the cabin filter in my Ampera. Is this the correct hourly rate for this operation, and if so, why is it listed as taking so long?

Because of these elevated prices, with some regret I am therefore contemplating *NOT* continuing having a routine Vauxhall standard service. If I were to decide not to have my Ampera remain under dealer servicing, what would I need to do to maintain the 100,000 mile warranty on the high voltage components? I seem to recall there is a smaller inspection that can be requested to be done, rather than the full services. Is that correct?

Sincerely,




Service Request Number: 489214-913464397
Date: 20 April 2015

Dear Mr Donald

I write further to your previous contact with us regarding the Vauxhall Ampera.

With regards to the servicing that is required, I have spoken with our Technical Team who have advised that only the high voltage parts have to be serviced by an Ampera Specialist Dealer to keep the warranty going, the rest of the vehicle could be serviced outside of the dealer network.

I hope this answers your query. If I can be of any further assistance, please respond via return email or call us on 0800 026 0275, quoting your case reference number which is stated above.

Yours sincerely,

Catherine Douglas
My Ampera Specialist
Vauxhall Customer Care

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donald said:

There used to be a special email [email protected] but I think that stopped working and all Ampera enquiries now go to general enquiries.

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donald said:

I gave up with Vauxhall, as I have just about given up on humanity.

Where are all the logical sensible people I grew up with that could perform reasonably competent logical processes? Did they really all move to the US? I do realise there was a 'brain drain' in the 90's recession, but didn't realise how deep that went!

It is covered, but I agree that if you are facing this much problem in the context, then pass it to the people that supplied the car.

I'd be interested to know what possible response they could have given when you gave them my case number. Happy to get involved if you like and give them some grief, just PM me if you want and if you have not yet simply given up on the idea.

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