Vauxhall GrandlandX Battery & Starting Issues: Owner Help

Hey! I've got some experience with hybrids and went through something very similar with my 2020 Vauxhall Crossland (sister model to your GrandlandX). Had the exact same symptoms, slow starts, weird noises, dimming lights. Turned out to be a faulty starter motor. Took it to my regular workshop, and they diagnosed it pretty quickly. Got it fixed for around 565€ (including parts and labor). The car's been running like a charm since then. What's your mileage and when did these symptoms first start? Also, does the engine crank at all when you try to start it? This info would help me give you more specific advice based on my experience.

Thanks for sharing your experience! I'm at 226379 KM and just started noticing these issues about two weeks ago. Yeah, the engine does crank, but it takes several attempts, especially in the morning. Had my last service about four months ago, and everything was fine then. The warning light on the dash only started showing up last week, it's the yellow battery symbol. Did your mechanic mention any hybrid-specific checks they had to do? Just wondering if I should look for a garage that specializes in hybrids for this.

Hey again! Yeah, that mileage sounds about right for these issues to pop up. When I had my Crossland fixed, the mechanic actually did mention they had to do some hybrid-specific diagnostics. They checked the high-voltage battery system separately from the regular 12V battery system, which was really important. In my case, even though the starter motor was the main culprit, they also found that the hybrid battery management system needed a software update. That was an extra 100€ or so, but it was worth it because it improved the overall performance. The yellow battery symbol you mentioned, I had that too! It's usually the car's way of saying there's an issue with the charging system, not necessarily just the battery itself. Definitely recommend going to a hybrid-specialized garage. My regular mechanic actually referred me to one because of all the electronic systems involved. These hybrid systems are pretty complex, and you want someone who knows what they're doing with both the electrical and mechanical parts. Quick tip from my experience, try not to let it sit too long without starting it. I found that when I left my car sitting for more than a few days during these issues, it made the starting problem way worse. Keep us posted on what you find out!

Thanks so much for all that detailed info! That's really helpful about the hybrid-specific checks and the software update, definitely wasn't aware of that. I'll make sure to find a specialized garage then. Got a couple in mind that I've heard good things about, so I'll give them a call tomorrow. You're right about not letting it sit too long, I actually noticed it was worse after I didn't use it over the weekend. Guess I'll take it for a quick spin today just to be safe. Really appreciate your help with this, makes me feel a lot better knowing someone else dealt with similar issues and got them sorted. I'll let you know how it goes after I get it checked out!