Metal in Oil + Rough Engine: Corsa Crisis!

Hey there, I had a similar issue with my 2013 Vauxhall Astra 1.4T last summer. My symptoms matched yours exactly, rough running, jerking during acceleration, and that worrying valve noise. The metal in the oil is definitely a red flag. Got it checked at my local specialist garage, and it turned out to be the camshaft adjuster that had failed. The solenoid and cable were both damaged, and oil had seeped into the electrical connector. This isn't just a minor issue, if left unchecked, it can cause serious engine damage. In my case, they had to replace the entire camshaft adjuster unit and the wiring harness. The repair took about a day and a half because they needed to clean out the oil contamination from the electrical systems too. Since the fix, the engine's been running smoothly with no more jerking or rough idle. Given your mileage and symptoms, I'd strongly suggest getting it checked soon. The metal particles in the oil make it even more urgent.

Thanks for sharing your experience! It's really helpful to hear from someone who went through the same thing. I've actually got it booked in at a garage next week, sounds like I caught it just in time! Do you remember roughly how much the whole repair set you back? Also, has everything been running smoothly since the fix, or have you had any other niggles pop up?

Hey again! Yep, happy to help! I remember being in your shoes, and it's not a fun place to be. After seeing your message, I wanted to update you, since getting my Astra fixed last summer, it's been running like a dream! No more jerking, weird noises, or any of that drama. The total bill came to 395€ for fixing the camshaft adjustment cable and plug that were faulty. There was quite a bit of oil that had gotten into the electrical parts, but once they cleaned that up and replaced the damaged components, everything went back to normal. Honestly, it was money well spent considering how smoothly the car runs now. And nope, haven't had any other issues pop up since then, touch wood! The engine's running super smooth, fuel consumption is back to normal, and those scary valve noises are gone. Just make sure your garage thoroughly checks and cleans the electrical connections while they're at it, that was key in my case. Good luck with your repair next week! Let us know how it goes!

Just wanted to give you all an update on my Corsa situation! Got it checked out at the garage yesterday, and you were spot on, it was the camshaft adjuster. The mechanic I found was actually great, really took the time to explain everything. Total bill came to 450€, a bit more than yours because they found some additional wear on the timing chain that needed sorting. But honestly, what a difference! Picked it up this afternoon and it's like driving a different car, smooth acceleration, no more jerking or weird noises, and the engine's purring like a kitten. The mechanic also gave it a good once-over and said everything else looks solid for the mileage. Really glad I didn't put this off any longer, especially with those metal particles I found. Thanks again for sharing your experience, it really helped me push forward with getting it sorted! Think I've finally found a decent mechanic too, which is a huge bonus. Really appreciate everyone's help with this!