Vectra's Transmission Nightmare: ABS Light & Whining Gears

I had a similar issue with my 2011 Vauxhall Insignia 2.0 CDTI last winter. The symptoms you're describing match what I experienced, transmission acting weird, ABS light, and that distinctive whining noise. In my case, the transfer case was indeed the culprit. Had it checked at my local Vauxhall specialist after my regular mechanic couldn't figure it out. Turned out the transfer case had internal wear causing the stability control system to trigger errors. The whining noise was from worn bearings inside the unit. This isn't something you want to ignore, it's a serious issue that can lead to complete transmission failure if left unchecked. In my situation, they had to replace the entire transfer case assembly along with some sensors. The car's been running perfectly since then, no more warning lights or weird noises. I'd strongly suggest finding a Vauxhall specialist for this one. Regular mechanics often struggle with these specific transmission/stability control issues on Vectras and Insignias.

Thanks for sharing your experience. I've booked it in with a specialist next week based on your advice. Just wondering, do you remember roughly how much the whole thing set you back? And has everything stayed sorted since the repair, or have you had any other niggles pop up?

Hey again! Good news from my end, I saw the specialist a few months ago about my Insignia's transfer case issue, and I'm happy to report it turned out way better than expected. The best part? It didn't cost me a penny! Turns out it was just a consequential error in the dynamic stability control system that was triggering those transfer case warnings. The specialist sorted it out with a system reset and recalibration, none of that expensive parts replacement I initially thought I'd need. Everything's been running smooth as silk since then. No more whining noises, weird gear shifts, or warning lights. My car's performing like new. Really glad I didn't jump to conclusions and replace parts unnecessarily! Hope you have similar luck with your Vectra. Let us know how it goes at the specialist next week!

Just got back from the specialist, and I need to share my experience! Unlike your lucky break, my repair was a bit more involved. The mechanic confirmed it was definitely the transfer case, and I had to shell out around £1,200 for the whole job. Ouch! But you know what? It was worth every penny. The specialist was spot-on, they identified the issue quickly and sorted it within two days. My Vectra's running like a dream now. The whining noise is gone, gears shift smoothly, and that pesky ABS light has finally disappeared. Thanks again for pushing me to go to a specialist. My regular mechanic probably would've had me replacing unusual parts without fixing the actual problem. Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet and pay a bit more for someone who really knows what they're doing. Really appreciate everyone's help on this one. Case closed!