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[terry paget]

Astra H 1.6 petrol manual 103000 miles
This car runs jolly well. I am experiencing a slight hesitation on rapidly opening the throttle at low revs. I suspect old, maybe original, plugs and reckon they are worth changing. Any comments?

[Doctor Gollum]

They're due

[biggriffin]

I bet you've got some used ones somewhere Terry...

[terry paget]

I bet you've got some used ones somewhere Terry...

Wrong. However, I have new plugs for various Omegas, all of which would fit physically, but would probably be the wrong heat rating for the Astra H 1.6. I wonder how I could check.

[Webby the Bear]

Worth cleaning throttle body. Had to replace a few of these now. The last one I replaced was mother in laws. It was probably the worst I’ve seen and had looked like the carbon had caused the motor to break

[Webby the Bear]

Ps not saying that is definitely what it is. But worth a look. Especially as it’s so easy to do on them 👍

[Andy B]

For the cost of a set of plugs, even from Halfords or AN Other motorfactor, and the ease of changing them I'd replace them all & go from there.

[biggriffin]

I bet you've got some used ones somewhere Terry...

Wrong. However, I have new plugs for various Omegas, all of which would fit physically, but would probably be the wrong heat rating for the Astra H 1.6. I wonder how I could check.

The GM plugs have a wide heat band. So check they might be compatible.

[Nick W]

For the cost of a set of plugs, even from Halfords or AN Other motorfactor, and the ease of changing them I'd replace them all & go from there.

that.


Inspecting the plug leads and/or the coil(s) while you're changing the plugs would be worthwhile. Fix any topend oil leaks too, as that would require most of the same work.


DBW throttle bodies can be an issue, as can the pedal sensors although those are normally failsafe - the throttle won't open at all.

[Doctor Gollum]

They're a 100k interval on those, so, as someone said previously  , they're overdue a change 

[terry paget]

How cars improve! On my Peugeot 505 I had to change the plugs every 5000 miles, or it would not start. 505 GTI was much better, that had electronic ignition. And my Velocette Venom, 500cc single, magneto ignition, either fired up first or second kick, or it wasn't going to without a plug change.

[Keith ABS]

 Price was good on genuine plugs when I bought for the Zaf
100,000 intervals on change

[terry paget]

Old plugs looked well used to me, spark gaps were 39thou, 0.99mm. Car still started perfectly, incredible. Plugs were NGK R ZFR5F.

[omegod]

I've put Omega plugs in all sorts of cars without issue  if they fit they've always worked

[terry paget]

I've put Omega plugs in all sorts of cars without issue  if they fit they've always worked

Interesting. I was taught that plugs with too hot a heat rating would oil up when idling, while cool plugs would glow red hot at full power and cause pre-ignition. I suspect most modern petrol Vauxhalls have similar requirements, so the plugs are interchangeable. Having said that, plugs are so cheap it's probably not worth the risk.