Our Story
Let me tell you our story about owning Zafiras.... We bought our first Zafira back in 2007. We had just had our 3rd child and were thinking an extra couple of seats would come in handy when grandma came to visit or the kids wanted to have a friend over. We needed a people mover but we had heard Fuel prices were set to sour. We wanted a larger car (We had a lancer) But were apprehensive about running costs and not thrilled about driving a big sluggish van. Then we saw a Zafira! After driving it we were amazed at how powerful it was to drive and how un-van like it seemed . The space in the back was great when the back 2 seats were folded down and we reasoned that it would be about the most economical people mover to run.
Our First Zafira
After some research and searching we bought a nice red, manual, 2002 model Zafira. It was the best car we had ever owned. Very cheap to run and great to drive. It never gave us any major problems mechanically and we couldn't recommend the car highly enough.
Our Unfortunate Luck
Then one fateful day we started to hear a faint ticking in the engine. It sounded like a tappet rattle. We gave it a service only to find it had almost run out of oil. (It had never shown any sign of using oil and had no leaks.) The rattle got worse and worse until it was running on only 3 cylinders and was no longer drivable. With just 150 000 km on the clock our mechanic informed us the car was in need of a new engine. We were devastated! After getting three or four quotes we were left wondering whether it was worth fixing or if we should just start over and buy a new one. (Yes we liked it so much that we would buy another one even after this!) The day before it was to go to the Mechanic for work to begin a cheap one came on car sales down south and we decided to change plans and get another car for the same price as the repairs were to cost. After Mechanical checks and a long drive back from Sydney we now were the owners of another Zafira, a silver one with 160 000 km on the clock.
A week after getting it home and even before we had transferred the rego the new car snapped it's timing chain and completely wreaked the top end of the motor.
At this point we were left stranded having spent all our money and having 2 broken down cars needing expensive repairs. At this point we started to do some research on the internet about the common problems associated with these cars. We found that there was a recall that had been done in other countries to fix a faulty part in the engine that when left unattended causes the chain break or come off and destroy the motor. We also discovered that in Australia there was no such recall and most cars even ones that had had their timing chains replaced were still being fitted with the faulty parts.
The Turn Around
As an Importer, I was able to track down genuine parts from overseas that I was able to import at a fraction of the cost of buying them here and having some experience with working on engines I decided to tackle the job of fixing both cars myself. With in a few weeks both cars were back on the road and repairs that would have cost upwards of $4500 each car here with 2nd hand parts had cost us less than $1500 with new and reconditioned parts imported from overseas. I then set about warning other people I knew about the fault and replacing the faulty parts in my friends cars to save them the heartache we went through. If you can get them early before the timing chain breaks the problem can be avoided all together and you can save yourself thousands!
The Upside
In short, these are great cars! We still love them! BUT you must know the problems and fix them. If you already own one make sure your car has had it's timing chain and tensioner replaced with the upgraded parts and if you are looking to buy one great! Buy one! They are a fantastic car, BUT make sure the first thing you do is find someone who can replace your timing chain and tensioner with the upgraded parts. Even cars that have been log booked and serviced by Holden here in Australia have not been fixed! Do your research and then make sure your mechanic knows about the new parts. (Unless you tell them and they do the research themselves they will end up putting new faulty parts back in!)
Let me tell you our story about owning Zafiras.... We bought our first Zafira back in 2007. We had just had our 3rd child and were thinking an extra couple of seats would come in handy when grandma came to visit or the kids wanted to have a friend over. We needed a people mover but we had heard Fuel prices were set to sour. We wanted a larger car (We had a lancer) But were apprehensive about running costs and not thrilled about driving a big sluggish van. Then we saw a Zafira! After driving it we were amazed at how powerful it was to drive and how un-van like it seemed . The space in the back was great when the back 2 seats were folded down and we reasoned that it would be about the most economical people mover to run.
Our First Zafira
After some research and searching we bought a nice red, manual, 2002 model Zafira. It was the best car we had ever owned. Very cheap to run and great to drive. It never gave us any major problems mechanically and we couldn't recommend the car highly enough.
Our Unfortunate Luck
Then one fateful day we started to hear a faint ticking in the engine. It sounded like a tappet rattle. We gave it a service only to find it had almost run out of oil. (It had never shown any sign of using oil and had no leaks.) The rattle got worse and worse until it was running on only 3 cylinders and was no longer drivable. With just 150 000 km on the clock our mechanic informed us the car was in need of a new engine. We were devastated! After getting three or four quotes we were left wondering whether it was worth fixing or if we should just start over and buy a new one. (Yes we liked it so much that we would buy another one even after this!) The day before it was to go to the Mechanic for work to begin a cheap one came on car sales down south and we decided to change plans and get another car for the same price as the repairs were to cost. After Mechanical checks and a long drive back from Sydney we now were the owners of another Zafira, a silver one with 160 000 km on the clock.
A week after getting it home and even before we had transferred the rego the new car snapped it's timing chain and completely wreaked the top end of the motor.
At this point we were left stranded having spent all our money and having 2 broken down cars needing expensive repairs. At this point we started to do some research on the internet about the common problems associated with these cars. We found that there was a recall that had been done in other countries to fix a faulty part in the engine that when left unattended causes the chain break or come off and destroy the motor. We also discovered that in Australia there was no such recall and most cars even ones that had had their timing chains replaced were still being fitted with the faulty parts.
The Turn Around
As an Importer, I was able to track down genuine parts from overseas that I was able to import at a fraction of the cost of buying them here and having some experience with working on engines I decided to tackle the job of fixing both cars myself. With in a few weeks both cars were back on the road and repairs that would have cost upwards of $4500 each car here with 2nd hand parts had cost us less than $1500 with new and reconditioned parts imported from overseas. I then set about warning other people I knew about the fault and replacing the faulty parts in my friends cars to save them the heartache we went through. If you can get them early before the timing chain breaks the problem can be avoided all together and you can save yourself thousands!
The Upside
In short, these are great cars! We still love them! BUT you must know the problems and fix them. If you already own one make sure your car has had it's timing chain and tensioner replaced with the upgraded parts and if you are looking to buy one great! Buy one! They are a fantastic car, BUT make sure the first thing you do is find someone who can replace your timing chain and tensioner with the upgraded parts. Even cars that have been log booked and serviced by Holden here in Australia have not been fixed! Do your research and then make sure your mechanic knows about the new parts. (Unless you tell them and they do the research themselves they will end up putting new faulty parts back in!)
I enquired about Timing and Balance Chain kits/parts, at local GMH Dealer. They were able to supply the upgraded parts, a kit for Balance Chain, but individual parts for the Timing Chain, no kit available here, but the prices were shocking. Therefore we bought both Genuine Opel/Vauxhall kits from the UK, at less than half GMH price, and that included Courier (Air Freight).
ReplyDeleteThey are a great vehicle, as long as they are maintained correctly, especially when Oil and Oil Filter (of decent quality) are replaced more often than the recommended 15,000Km, like maximum of 10,000km intervals.
We are considering buying a Zafira - they look like a great economical people mover and just perfect for us. We are looking at a 2005 model and I understand that engines after March 2002 were fitted with the new timing chain and tensioner parts. Can you confirm that this is the case? I still see the occasional reference to someone with a post-2002 Zafira complaining that their timing chain broke - were the upgraded parts a success or are there still issues? I'd love to find someone in Perth who knows a decent amount about these cars to service it - any recommendations?
ReplyDeleteALL 2001 - 2005 models in Australia have the faulty timing chain tensioners fitted..
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DeleteHi, I am considering a 2005 model (built Nov 2004), engine number Z22SE11376008 - after reading the info on your website, this would seem likely to have been fitted with modified timing components and therefore less likely to be prone to the timing chain problem? The logbook is stamped with services, but they were often late (around the 20000k interval), so I am a bit dubious about purchasing. The most recent logged service was 2000km ago (at 139000km) and the oil looks OK, and I cannot hear any obvious sounds in the engine.
ReplyDeleteWould you recommend replacing the timing chain with a new one to be sure? Is this a job that can be done at home with a fairly well stocked toolkit by a handy guy who has replaced a timing belt and CV joints on a Baleno before? Your advice is highly valued...
I notice that ZippyZafira blog is based on the Sunshine Coast. Can you suggest mechanic shops thereabouts who are proficient with Zafira maintenance issues? In Germany Opels run very well, but owners keep their cars in good knick by regular visits to craftsman mechanical shops. I am considering a car on the sunshine coast but want to fins a local mechanic to keep it going for a good 100,000 km.
ReplyDeleteOK, I'm sold. As an American family living in Australia for the next couple of years, we're having trouble finding a small, economical people mover (like our Mazda5 back in the US). We've already had a 2005 Kia Grand Carnival die on us four months after we arrived. The Zafira sounds like the solution, provided a person knows the pitfalls. Several are available in the Adelaide area, where we live. Is there any way to share a direct link to the upgraded parts from the UK? Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHi Guys.... Sorry i never read my own story and don't get messages that people reply here... Everyone is welcome to email me at zippyzafira@gmail.com and ill answer any questions you have and put you in direct contact where to get the parts (genuine) or you also welcome to call me on 0401 541 610 i can usually diagnose any issues you have over the phone FREE of coarse. Its been a few years now since this happened and i have now put in over 50 timing chain kits or repaired Zafira's all over Australia for those who need it most
ReplyDeleteHi - where are you / phone # ? please so I can bring my car in for service - thanks
ReplyDeleteStuart
sffox@ihug.com.au
Im on the sunshine coast QLD but people fly me everywhere for the major work. You can call me on 0401541610
Delete