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1

Omega General Help / A diagnosis report from car

« on: 31 January 2011, 19:57:08 »

OK I have been under the car and here is my report. I reset the suspension by pulling-off one air line to the rear shock as before.


1) The springs look OK but a break could indeed be concealed and I need an expert to really check this with good lighting

2) Thanks to the aforementioned guide, I found the sensor mechanism. It was securely attached and as I rocked the car up and down the rt. angle lever arm seemed to move accordingly (hence reflects the car's rear height).

3) I found that one end of the arm could be disconnected (it was in a ball joint) leaving the sensor arm (pressed tin) able to freely move.

4) With the ignition off, handbrake on, I prized off the rod from the ball joint and pushed the 90deg. pressed tin lever arm upwards. This would simulate heavy load, and a call for compressed air to be supplied to the shocks.

5). Started engine: over a minute or two the rear shocks equally pumped-up and held that position as expected.

6) (I think the engine was still running) I reached under car with a long screwdriver and pushed the tin arm downwards (meaning light load) expecting the rear suspension to drop (on me). Nothing happened.

7) Ignition off. Remove air line from shock, suspension reset. Refitted ball joint so level arm in normal position with zero load. Load is zero, car empty.

Restated ignition. No obvious pumping-up. Observed for 5 minutes.

9) Located fuse 27, removed it.

10) Drove for 10 miles. Stopped. Checked suspension. Seemed normal (as expected with no power to suspension pump). Handling etc. normal.

So it seems that for some reason with fuse 27 in, the suspension will (incorrectly) pump-up under zero load, but won't vent the air when the load is removed.


As I see it there can be three possible faults:

A) Either shock absorber (unlikely)
b) Sensor mechanism not sending a 'deflate shocks' command and erroneously sensing an 'inflate shocks' command under zero load (as I found when first detected this problem in normal driving)
c) fault in the compressor (behind headlight) whereby it misinterprets sensor command and/or has a vent-to-air fault.

Any thoughts please? Thanks again. Alan

2

Omega General Help / Re: Jacked-up rear shocks on estate - looks ridiculous

« on: 30 January 2011, 21:27:29 »

Again this is really most useful info. I appreciate all the comments. Proves what a wonderful forum this is.

3

Omega General Help / Re: Jacked-up rear shocks on estate - looks ridiculous

« on: 30 January 2011, 11:24:16 »

That's most helpful - thank you.

What I'm still not completely clear about please ... is the signal to apply air an electrical one? In other words, is there some motion-to-electrical activity in that sensor box near the rear? I ask because if that is the case then it may be possible to fault-find be taking an electrical reading from the sensor, or at least a continuity check. If it's entirely mechanical/pneumatic then that's beyond my ability. Thanks again.

4

Omega General Help / Re: Jacked-up rear shocks on estate - looks ridiculous

« on: 30 January 2011, 10:22:05 »

Thanks. What am I looking for? Is it electrical with wires or mechanical with tubes or whatever? Thanks. Alan

5

Omega General Help / Jacked-up rear shocks on estate - looks ridiculous

« on: 30 January 2011, 10:17:37 »

My Elite 2.2DTi estate has self-levelling shocks on the rear. Over the last few days I have just noticed that the rear of the car is extremely jacked-up and equal on both sides. Although this doesn't seem to have effected the steering etc. it does look daft and cannot be right. I have a long journey to undertake (Leeds from London) with a partial load and I'm concerned about safety.

I noted that the shocks are original GMs (self-levellers only available from GM apparently) and were fitted about 10,000 miles /15 months ago. No sign of leaking. They have a small air-pipe feeding the top of both. With the engine off when I pull-off one pipe there is a loud hiss, and over a period of 5-10 secs. the rear suspension lowers equally on both sides and reverts to normal sitting position. I have not carried any heavy loads ever, and the car had been sitting for about two weeks.

My local 'guru' mechanic who fitted the new shocks is at a loss although he muttered something about a height sensing mechanism, and sent main to the main dealer. He suggested 'a sticky valve in one/other shock' and £400 to replace them which I fear may not solve the problem. It looks to me that the shocks are being incorrectly commanded to pump-up, and to me this looks like a weight/height sensor issue.

I reconnected the air pipe and drove for about 10 miles. When I stopped, I checked and the suspension had pumped up (equally) again. Pull off the air pipe and it reset.

Can anyone cast any light on this specifically ....

1) heard of this before?
2) is it likely to be a sensor issue?
3) what is that sensor - electrical? pneumatic? mechanical?
4) where is it
5) can it be over-ridden at least temporarily and safely?
6) or do you think it really is one or other shock?
7) where does the air supply come from?

I much appreciate your input. Thank you,

Alan
Sussex

6

Omega General Help / Re: Wheel alignment (pulling to the left)

« on: 19 February 2007, 12:52:26 »

I think I've got the only Omega that doesn't pull to the left  

Hello: I've joined specificaly to resolve this issue in my year-2000 2.0 estate. I just wish I could remember if it was like it from purchase 2 yrs ago. Symptom: have to keep a small right hand bias on the steering otherwise if I take my hands off the steering wheel it immediately flicks out of my hand to its preferred neutral position - and the car will hit the curve after about 50 yards or so even on a completely flat, straight road. Tracking checked and apparently OK. Does seem to wear FNS tyres on inner rim, but again, told that tracking is OK. Tyres have been changed front and rear, and are now two pairs of new budget tyres. No effect on pulling, not even when inner rim worn away.

If the road has a slight camber to the right (say, a long gradual bend) this can exactly compensate for the pull.

Even down to about 15mph this pulling is evident. A fine car that I'd like to keep alive but this is frustrating me now. Thanks for your suggestions (I am non technical). My local non-Vauxhall garage tells me the car is 'ok' but it's not and I'm amazed that he's insensitive to the pull.

Alan

7

General Car Chat / Lowest miles Omega in the UK?

« on: 22 August 2010, 21:06:09 »

Hello. I have two Omega Elites. One a 2.2 DTI, Estate, 2003 mileage about 75k.

The other, recently purchased is a 2001 2.6V6 Auto saloon, leather with a genuine 21800 miles. Both are Star silver 3.

Is my 2.6 the lowest genuine miles 2.6 - or indeed any Omega now - in the country? Just curious. Best wishes.