Flickering Insignia: Battery or Sensor Mystery?

Hey there, I had almost identical issues with my 2013 Vauxhall Astra 2.0 CDTi last summer. The battery sensor microprocessor was indeed the culprit, got the same symptoms with dimming lights, slow starts, and the car even stalled a couple times in traffic. Took it to my local Vauxhall specialist where they diagnosed a faulty Battery Monitoring Sensor (BMS). The repair involved replacing the entire sensor unit and recalibrating the system. Was off the road for about a day while they sorted it. While it might sound minor, it's actually pretty serious since a faulty BMS can leave you stranded or damage other electrical components if left unfixed. The sensor basically tells your car's computer how much juice the battery has and controls charging. The fix completely solved all those issues, no more flickering lights or startup problems since then. If you're near Manchester, I can recommend the garage I used.

Hey, thanks for sharing your experience, sounds exactly like what I'm dealing with! Really helpful to know it was the BMS in your case. Just wondering, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the fix? Also, has everything been running smoothly since then, or have you noticed any other electrical gremlins pop up?

Hey again! Happy to give you an update! Yeah, the total bill came to 315.00 € for the BMS replacement and recalibration. I know it might sound a bit steep, but it was totally worth it. Since getting it fixed last summer, my Astra's been running like a dream, no more electrical issues whatsoever! The Battery sensor microprocessor was definitely faulty, just like they suspected. Once they replaced it, all those annoying symptoms, you know, the flickering lights and dodgy starts, completely disappeared. It's been about 8 months now, and I haven't had a single electrical gremlin pop up since. I was pretty relieved it was just the BMS and not something more serious (and expensive!). My mechanic said these sensors can be quite finicky in our Vauxhalls, but once sorted, they usually stay fixed. Let me know if you end up getting yours fixed, would be interesting to hear if it's the same issue!

Thanks a lot for all the details! Just got back from the mechanic actually, and you won't believe it, it was exactly the same issue! The BMS was shot, just like in your case. Cost me about 330.00 € all in, pretty close to what you paid. Took it to a different garage this time, a small family-run place my neighbor recommended. What a difference! The mechanic took time to explain everything, showed me the old sensor, and even gave me some tips about battery maintenance. Had it done yesterday, and the car's already running so much better, no more flickering lights or slow starts. Really glad I asked here first, saved me from stressing too much about it. Thanks again for sharing your experience, definitely helped me make the decision to get it sorted quickly rather than waiting around worrying about it. Fingers crossed it stays fixed like yours did! Cheers!