Possible bearing problem
Hi there. I am new to the Ampera having only picked mine up in June, it is a 2013 Electron with 44000 miles on the clock.
I have been really enjoying driving it until last night when I went to use the car for a trip into London and I noticed that the reversing camera did not come on and then as I went to drive away it made a strange whining noise and felt a little laboured in pulling away. I abandoned my journey and parked up ax not to cause any damage.
I have no warning lights coming on bug the noise is the same in drive and reverse and both ice and electric modes.
I have only had the car 3 months and purchased a warranty but I am guessing certain things will not be covered.
Is the bearing issue covered under the battery warranty or is this likely to be an expensive bill coming my way.
Grateful for any advice.
Thanks.
I have been really enjoying driving it until last night when I went to use the car for a trip into London and I noticed that the reversing camera did not come on and then as I went to drive away it made a strange whining noise and felt a little laboured in pulling away. I abandoned my journey and parked up ax not to cause any damage.
I have no warning lights coming on bug the noise is the same in drive and reverse and both ice and electric modes.
I have only had the car 3 months and purchased a warranty but I am guessing certain things will not be covered.
Is the bearing issue covered under the battery warranty or is this likely to be an expensive bill coming my way.
Grateful for any advice.
Thanks.
121 - 134 of 134 Posts
You did indeed miss it. Don't fear, the enquiry is now with OLEV with whom I have now spoken a few weeks back, and they are going to be following it up with Vauxhall.
You can put me down on the "missed it but would be interested to be part of it" list please Donald! Serves me right for being relatively inactive on the forums for a few months while we moved house 
Though to be fair I probably missed it because really it should be in a (sticky?) thread all of its own...
Though to be fair I probably missed it because really it should be in a (sticky?) thread all of its own...
I hope I'm not too late... put me down too in the "interested to be part of it" list please Donald. Wish I'd seen this before I bought my 64 plate electron.
Just thought I would update on the outcome of my issue. Long story short I took it back to Car Giant and they took it up with Vauxhall and Vauxhall then covered it under warranty.
I am now trying to get some paperwork from the dealer so that I can question both them and Vauxhall as to why when I tried it was not covered but when faced with the might of car giant they just rolled over.
I am now trying to get some paperwork from the dealer so that I can question both them and Vauxhall as to why when I tried it was not covered but when faced with the might of car giant they just rolled over.
By now OLEV should have progressed 'the letter'. Maybe this has already brought about a change of heart? They have had long enough now. We will see.....
Well done!Just thought I would update on the outcome of my issue. Long story short I took it back to Car Giant and they took it up with Vauxhall and Vauxhall then covered it under warranty.
I am now trying to get some paperwork from the dealer so that I can question both them and Vauxhall as to why when I tried it was not covered but when faced with the might of car giant they just rolled over.
That was an excellent "test" of the warranty and as you say it will be interesting to find out just how Vauxhall could say that this wasn't a warranty issue and cause so much stress and anguish, not to mention being told it was an £8,000 repair. I would be happy to do the job for £500!
I have attached a Network Q (owned by Vauxhall?) warranty document that clearly explains on page 7 all the parts that they will not cover as the car has a separate warranty for the EV equipment. Cut and dried in my eyes!
Notable is the exclusion that nullifies any warranty for not getting it serviced "in accordance with the manufacturers recommendation".
As it is usually time rather than mileage that has caused warranties to be cancelled, one wonders how it can be argued that not attending a dealership within two weeks of an annual "service" will damage systems that are not serviced anyway.
Its odd that in the US, the Volt only requires the coolant replacing at 150,000 mile intervals yet Vauxhall require this expensive intervention every five years.
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Few weeks ago my 2012 Ampera ( about 41000miles/66000km) developed this bearing issue..(instantly, no warning, no gradual noise increase..)
Repair waiting time was quite long due timetables and few days for waiting parts.
Today I got my Ampera back and all was covered with 8years/160000km warranty.
They changed the cover and the bearing. Total cost would have been about 940€.. (including bearing 86€ and cover 188€ and other needed bits..)
Repair waiting time was quite long due timetables and few days for waiting parts.
Today I got my Ampera back and all was covered with 8years/160000km warranty.
They changed the cover and the bearing. Total cost would have been about 940€.. (including bearing 86€ and cover 188€ and other needed bits..)
940€?? I was about to say to myself "that cheap"? When I last had my Merc E320 on service they changed an swing arm at the rear and a ball joint due to some play discovered in the MOT. Total cost 1055€. And that was only "normal wear and tear" pieces... I'm happy to hear that it's maybe not many many thousands if the fault occurs.They changed the cover and the bearing. Total cost would have been about 940€.. (including bearing 86€ and cover 188€ and other needed bits..)
These parts prices are very cheap considering they are OEM prices.Few weeks ago my 2012 Ampera ( about 41000miles/66000km) developed this bearing issue..(instantly, no warning, no gradual noise increase..)
Repair waiting time was quite long due timetables and few days for waiting parts.
Today I got my Ampera back and all was covered with 8years/160000km warranty.
They changed the cover and the bearing. Total cost would have been about 940€.. (including bearing 86€ and cover 188€ and other needed bits..)
Also interesting to note that Opel consider the warranty of more value than the paper it is printed on unlike an English company I could name!
They replaced my wifes Volt gearbox bearing in early 2016 @ 45k mark I think. Went through Chevy UK Voltec Warrenty without a hiccup.I use Buckingham and Stanley in Cambridge, they were a Chevy dealer so for warranty work on Ampera not much help
And Bellingers do all our servicing on my wifes Volt, including the "biggy" coolent change @ 60k , which was still only £250. They also have replaced the granny charger brick under Chevy UK Voltec warrenty no issues.Have a look at whether Bellingers in Wantage is too far away. They have a pretty good reputation on here.
For a bit of Background, Bellingers in Wantage are the only known Vauxhall and Chevrolet UK dealer selling both Ampera's and Volts side by side in 2014 when we were looking to buy 2nd hand.I am going to use Wantage going forward. I spoke to them after the debacle with Staples Corner and they seemed really knoledgable and helpful and said that they would have completed it as a warranty job.
In 2015 Chevrolet UK stopped selling all new cars in the UK but Bellingers still act as a Chevy UK warrenty and service dealer. they are very good with any "Voltec" warrenty claims on either Vauxhall and Chevrolet , and also have "parts" access to both, as you know apart from some Panels the cars are identical.
So having a repair done if they can offer you a "Chevy Volt" part much cheaper than a Vauxhall part, they will.
I do find this rather funny that as a Chevrolet Volt owner using a few good dealers we have never in 60k miles had any issues with warrenty claims or reasonable price service work under warrenty, Chevy UK are still as smooth as butter. But you Vauxhall guys seem to struggle, especially now as you have been sold to PSA.
Any replying this?
From either party.
From either party.
121 - 134 of 134 Posts
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