Hot Astra Diesel Needs Help, Coolant Warning Signs

I had a similar issue with my 2008 Vauxhall Vectra 1.9 CDTI last summer. The symptoms were exactly the same, warning light, running hot, low coolant. Took it to my regular shop, turned out I had a cracked coolant reservoir and a leaking water pump. Not just a simple top-up job as I initially thought. The mechanic showed me how the coolant was actually leaking from these points when the engine was running. It was pretty serious, if I had kept driving, it could've led to engine overheating and much bigger problems. The fix involved replacing both parts plus a full coolant system flush. Definitely don't just top up the coolant and hope for the best. You'll need to find out where it's going. If you're in the same boat as I was, you might notice small puddles under the car after it's been parked for a while. This was actually quite a common issue on these engines. I'd recommend getting it checked soon before it potentially causes more damage. A proper diagnosis will tell you if you're dealing with just a minor leak or something more serious like I had.

Thanks that sounds exactly like what I'm dealing with! Mine's actually dripping a bit too when parked. I took your advice and got it checked, turned out to be pretty similar to your problem. Just curious, do you remember roughly how much you ended up paying for the whole job? Also, has everything been running smoothly since the fix, or have you had any other cooling system issues pop up?

Hey there! Good to hear back from you! Yeah, I remember my Vectra situation pretty well. Actually, just got back from the mechanic last week for my annual check, and the cooling system's been running like a dream since that repair last summer. They also sorted out the low coolant level this time, that was a quick €52.50 fix. For the bigger repair last summer with the cracked reservoir and water pump, I ended up paying around €780 all in, parts, labor, and the system flush. Bit of a hit to the wallet at the time, but honestly, it was worth every penny. Haven't had a single cooling issue since then. The car's running way better, and no more puddles on my driveway! Just keep an eye on those coolant levels now that you've had it fixed. Even though my repair was successful, I still do a quick check every couple of weeks, just became a habit after that scare. Better safe than sorry, right? Let me know how yours holds up after the repair!

Thanks for all the details! Just got back from the mechanic today. You were spot on about everything. My bill came to €820, a bit more than yours but they found a small radiator leak too that needed sorting. The mechanic walked me through everything they did, just like yours did. Funny enough, while I was waiting at the shop, I saw three other Vauxhalls there with similar issues! Makes me feel less unlucky about the whole thing. The mechanic was actually really decent, showed me all the old parts and explained why they failed. Way better than my last experience at that other place. I've just driven it home and it's running so much smoother already. No more warning lights, no more drips, and the temperature gauge is staying exactly where it should. They gave me a good tip about checking the coolant level monthly, which I'll definitely do after this experience. Thanks again for sharing your story, helped me feel more confident about getting it sorted properly rather than just topping up the coolant and hoping for the best. Lesson learned: sometimes the pricier fix is the smart choice in the long run!