Insignia's Electrical Mystery: Dim Lights & Hard Starts

Hey there! I had almost identical issues with my 2016 Vauxhall Astra (1.4L petrol). The symptoms you're describing sound very familiar, my car was doing the same dance with inconsistent starting and flickering lights. Took it to my trusted mechanic last month, and it turned out to be more than just a dying battery. The alternator wasn't charging properly, which was causing the voltage to fluctuate. This was putting extra stress on the battery and the car's electrical system. They had to replace both the alternator and battery to sort it out completely. Got my Astra running like new now, but it was definitely a serious electrical issue that needed proper diagnosis. If you're in this situation, I'd recommend finding a garage that specializes in electrical systems, regular mechanics sometimes miss these kinds of problems. The alternator-battery combo issue is pretty common in Vauxhalls of our generation. Good luck getting it sorted!

Thanks for sharing your experience! That's really helpful to know about the alternator-battery combo issue. I'm actually planning to take mine to a specialist next week based on your advice. Just curious, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the full repair? And has everything been running smoothly since the fix, or have you noticed any other electrical quirks?

Hey again! Just wanted to follow up, after seeing my mechanic last week, the overvoltage issue in my Astra was finally sorted out. It ended up being just the battery that was defective, which was a relief because I was worried it might be something more complicated like in your case. The whole thing set me back 290€, but honestly, it was worth every penny. Since the fix, my car's been running like a dream, no more flickering lights or morning starting struggles. It's amazing what a difference a properly functioning battery makes! I got lucky that it wasn't the alternator too, which would've been a much bigger bill. My original mechanic really knows his stuff when it comes to electrical issues. If you're still looking for someone reliable, I'd be happy to share their details. Been absolutely zero electrical quirks since the repair, which is such a relief after dealing with those annoying symptoms for a while. Keep us posted on how your repair goes next week! Hope you get it sorted without too much hassle.

Thanks so much for all your help! Just got back from the specialist mechanic yesterday, and you won't believe it, it was indeed both the alternator and battery in my case. Ended up paying £780 for the whole job, which was a bit painful for the wallet, but at least it's fixed now! The mechanic was actually great, really took the time to explain everything. Turns out my old alternator was slowly killing my battery, just like what happened to your Astra. When they tested the voltage, it was all over the place. No wonder my lights were going crazy! I've only had the car back for a day, but what a difference! Started up first time this morning (which hasn't happened in weeks), and all the lights are working perfectly. No more dim-to-bright flashing either. Should've gone to a specialist straight away instead of wasting time at that first garage. Really appreciate everyone's input, sometimes it's just good to know you're not the only one dealing with these issues. Time to enjoy my electrically-sound Insignia!