Workshop Manual

[Dulac]

Without wishing to tempt fate there doesn't appear to be a hard copy manual out there, for customer consumption at least. I see that manuals are available to buy and download online - apparently in formats that don't suit all computers - with some bearing the Vauxhall logo. I am not too sure about these and the disclaimers that come with them. Does anyone know if a CD/DVD version for the Antara is available to buy?

I have such a manual for the range of Peugeot models, but the file sizes are massive and extremely difficult to open on screen with a 'conventional' PC.

[victor]

I've never found a proper workshop manual for the Series 2 Antara Dulac short of going to Vauxhall which would be too expensive. There's the pirated Russian copies of the Series 1 Captiva that float around which has some common parts and systems but not for example the 2.2 engine or the electric handbrake. Trouble is if someone finds a web site with an Anglicised version of this manual and posts a link to it then in short order it is Virus Infected and shut down.

Some aspects of official workshop manuals are of limited use to the private owner because they usually call up special tools and access to the proper diagnostic software, which are again too expensive to consider. The solution I'm afraid is the old screwdriver to the ear with a bean can to act as a speaker/magnifier to hunt for knocks, whistles, screeches, whines etc plus of course the web to help you along.

[Dulac]

Thank you Victor; you have confirmed what I thought and perhaps warned others off of some of the items for sale online. I suppose I'll stick with my local VX dealer (as time rolls by) and just check the fluids and pressures on a regular basis. At least there is the Service Club discount.

[victor]

There's also numerous on-line ECAT catalogues which give you exploded views of the Captiva / Antara parts along with the part numbers which helps sometimes like opel.7zap.com/en/car/ They can help a bit in the absence of a proper manual but they won't give you sequence of dismantling / re-assembly or torque figures etc. When you own a GM product you learn to wing it PDQ though, doncha?

[Dulac]

A good link there, Victor. I never knew it existed and the exploded technical illustrations do show how the bits fit together (and come apart). At least it's a start if something goes wrong, rather than guessing in the dark. I will leave the more complicated mechanicals to the VX 'experts' with the correct facilities and tools - and access to Vauxhall's technical team at HQ. I don't even have a workbench now.