Starter Motor Recall

[Dulac]

I'd heard of a recall concerning the starter motor cable in 2016 so I e-mailed Vauxhall Customer Services with my registration number and asked the question. The answer was "yes" and Messrs WJ King attended to it - with Vauxhall's co-operation. All done and no fuss. I believe it concerned the temperature resistant cable sleeve rather than the cable itself. There was an earlier recall which concerned the cable terminal bolt/screw.

If anyone has doubts on this it might be best if the initial query is addressed to Vauxhall Customer Services, rather than your local dealer, as I suspect the manufacturer will hold centralised records for each of its vehicles as long as they have been maintained on the Vauxhall network across the UK.

[steve]

My cable melted at starter motor resulting in a non start and smoke
Arnold Clark fried two starter motor and two cables before finally replacing whole cable, new nut and new starter again
This was before recall was sent but thankfully warranty direct covered cable and Arnold Clark covered the starters

[Mobilemick]

I just had a recall for software update for the starter motor

[Dulac]

Welcome to the forum Mobile Mick (now where have I heard that name before?). Yes, a few of us have. Mine was done a few weeks ago - didn't take long. There are a couple of posts on here about it.

[victor]

I had mine in the other month and I asked them what the software update was all about. The receptionist went away and enquirede and came back to tell me the technician said it was to correct the starter voltage. Hmmmmm, it's a 12v battery, it's a 12v starter - wonder what software programme needs to correct the starter voltage?

[Richy]

This is really interesting, my starter doesn't crank very well, it always seems like I have a poorly charged battery. The battery is two months old and I entered the hidden menu on the centre of the dash today and my charge voltage was between 14-15v, so doesn't seem to be anything wrong there. Yesterday I put the car on the ramps and had a look underneath the engine bay. I managed to find the starter motor with a torch and the positive lug connection looks like something has melted over the end of the lug. I checked the DVLA site to see if their were any recalls on my car and it said they were none. I did notice one of the bolts on the exhaust flange under the engine was missing so me thinks someone has been their before. Apparently to replace the starter its a big job, transfer box out which I don't fancy. Strangly given the age I expected the starter to be rusty but it looked reasonably clean although the car isn't that old and only has 49k miles since new. I would just like it to cranke over a bit more energetically. My first thought is should I replace the cable, I'm hoping that may not be to difficult. The car is 6 years old well outside its warranty and I bought it in February this year.

[Dulac]

Richy - I think there were two earlier manufacturer's recalls regarding the starter motor cable and connection, plus the latest one about the software configuration. I suggest that you contact Vauxhall UK (not the dealer) because they seem to keep records of these matters concerning each vehicle. I found them (VX) to be very good, but earlier reports suggest that - on the dealer network - there are some poor ones about. The missing bolt is a nuisance and arouses suspicions. Let us know how you get on.

[Richy]

Quick Update

I contacted Vauxhall Customer Services, frankly I needn't of bothered. They couldn't access the service records on the car and had no records of any safety recalls being carried out, all they suggested is I take the car to a dealer. Whilst they were very courteous and professional the outcome was disappointing, I would of hoped to of been able to gleam some information from them, especially as I think some work has been carried out previously. So at some point I need to contact the local dealer, why do I get the feeling this could be like pulling teeth !

[Dulac]

Disappointing. I last contacted them before the Peugeot buy out. Perhaps this has changed things in terms of record keeping and being aware of a model which ceased production a few years ago. A call to the dealers in the service book might do the trick. I think one recall concerned improving the motor cable insulation and the other was about the motor terminal connections. The latest software one was rather mysterious.

[Richy]

Agreed Dulac. You would need a speed controller in the cirtcuit for the software to manipulate the speed of the starter and I haven't seen one yet. I'll report if I find one.

[Dulac]

If you search 'antara starter motor recall' on the internet you will see various comments and reports on the recalls over the past few years - including the DfT recall from 2017. You might not know that there was a great deal of discussion amongst owners over the formal recall for the exchange of the engine undertray, which was prone to cause the DPF to catch fire. VX arranged for the trays to be removed as the first stage and then, after taking stocks of the replacements required, arranged for the new ones to be installed as the second stage.