Vectra's Parking Heater Nightmare: DIY Fix or Pro Help?

Hey there, had a similar issue with my '04 Vauxhall Signum 2.2 DTI last winter. Initially thought it was the parking heater, but turned out to be a faulty glow plug control module and two dead glow plugs. Car would crank but wouldn't start, especially during cold mornings. Took it to my regular mechanic who diagnosed it properly. They had to replace the control module and two glow plugs. Not a massive job, but definitely needed someone who knows what they're doing with diesel engines. The repair sorted out my starting issues completely. If you're near Manchester, I can recommend the garage I used, they specialize in Vauxhall diesels and did a proper job on mine. Just drop me a PM if you want their details. Best of luck

Thanks for sharing that! My parking heater issue ended up being pretty similar to yours actually, bad glow plugs were the main culprit. Can't remember exactly how much I paid (it was about 2 years ago now). Do you recall what they charged you for the whole job? Also, just curious, has everything been running smoothly since the repair, or have you had any other niggles pop up?

Hey again! Glad you got it sorted! Yeah, I remember exactly what I paid, it was 560 Euro for the whole job, mainly because of the glow plug replacement. And I've got some good news for you, since getting it fixed, my Signum's been running like a dream! The parking heater's working perfectly now, and those cold morning starts that used to be such a pain are now smooth as butter. I have to say, it was definitely worth every penny. Haven't had a single issue with it since the repair, not even during that really cold spell we had last winter. The garage did a proper job, and it really shows in how well everything's working now. Funny how these Vauxhalls can be a bit temperamental with their glow plugs, but once you get them sorted, they're pretty reliable motors. Hope yours keeps running as well as mine has! Let me know if anything else comes up, always happy to share experiences with a fellow Vauxhall owner!

Cheers! Yeah, finally made it to a proper mechanic last week. Your experience really helped me make the decision. Ended up paying around 520 Euro, not too far off from what you paid. The funny thing is, while I was there, the mechanic showed me exactly what was wrong with those glow plugs, they were completely shot! The car's running brilliantly now. Had my first proper cold morning start yesterday, and it fired up straight away. What a difference! You're spot on about these Vauxhalls as they just need the right mechanic to fix them. The new mechanic really knew his stuff, way better than my last one. Thanks again for all your help. It's such a relief to have this sorted before winter kicks in properly. I'll definitely keep your mechanic's details handy in case I need any other work done. These older Vauxhalls might have their quirks, but they're worth keeping in good nick! Take care!