Astra's Battery Blues: ECU Issue or Alternator Failure?

Hey there! I had a similar issue with my 2008 Vauxhall Corsa diesel (got some experience with these cars). My car showed exactly the same symptoms, weak starts, flickering lights, the whole deal. Took it to my local workshop and turns out the battery voltage was too low, affecting the engine control system. They did a full electrical system check, replaced the battery, and checked the alternator just to be safe. The whole thing cost me 290€, but it's been running perfectly since then. What's the mileage on your Astra? Also, have you noticed any warning lights on the dash? This info would help me give you more specific advice based on my experience.

Thanks! My Astra's got 202584 KM on the clock and had its last service about 3 months ago. That's really helpful about the electrical system check, sounds pretty similar to what I'm dealing with. Did you notice if the problem got worse in cold weather? I'm wondering if I should get it to the garage before winter hits properly. Cheers for the info about the cost too, helps me know what to expect if I need the same fix.

Hey again! Yeah, as I mentioned before with my Corsa, the cold weather definitely made things worse. Around November last year, it got really bad, the car would barely start on frosty mornings. That's actually what pushed me to get it sorted before winter properly kicked in. I should mention that my Corsa had about 190,000 KM when this happened, so pretty close to your mileage. Looking back, I'm really glad I didn't wait any longer because cold weather can be brutal on a weak electrical system. After they fixed mine, I actually had them show me the voltage readings before and after, the difference was massive! Just a heads up, since you mentioned your car was serviced 3 months ago, might be worth checking if they tested the battery then. Sometimes these issues can develop pretty quickly, especially with older cars like ours. If you're planning to get it checked, I'd definitely do it soon. The 290€ I spent was way better than potentially getting stranded somewhere in the cold! Let me know what you decide to do. Always happy to share what I learned from my experience with these Vauxhalls!

Thanks so much for all the detailed info! You've definitely convinced me to get it checked out ASAP, don't fancy being stuck somewhere on a cold morning! I actually called my local garage while waiting for your reply, and they can fit me in next Tuesday. They said they'll do a full electrical system check, just like you had done. I checked my service papers and they didn't do a battery test during the last service, so that's probably why this wasn't caught earlier. Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience, it's given me a much better idea of what to expect. I'll probably end up spending similar to what you did, but like you said, it's worth it for the peace of mind. Thanks again for all your help! I'll make sure to get it sorted before the weather turns properly cold.