VXOC Astra-J/GTC

(24:th-Mar-2018, 19:51:32)umognog Wrote: [ -> ]Have the green on the airflow direction myself and even though I am biased, really love the green.

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Cheers mate I’m really pleased with them


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Looking good mate.

Re the LED they should be PLCC.


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(24:th-Mar-2018, 22:52:47)Rusty2009 Wrote: [ -> ]Looking good mate.

Re the LED they should be PLCC.


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Cheers mate!
Are there 2 separate LED’s or 2 in 1?


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It's 2 in one on all the Astra clocks I've done.

Come to think of it I do have a scrap IPC I could send you LED from that?

I am definitely 2 separate smd's as my indicator is now blue (off) and green (on) for cruise control using the individual smd's I already had. Iswapped both to ensure a consistency in the green colour throughout the dash.

I am now doubting myself on the original state and may have fudged two smaller smd's onto the original space of a two in one (a small part of my head remembers an SMD swap I did somewhere where I added some electrical tape under the pads a bit to prevent contact with different spots on the PCB, may have been this one.)

For all the effort, I'd say it's worth taking a look?

When I finally sort my regen light I've had kicking about since November, I'll take apart my cluster too for future reference on how I did the change.

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Thanks guys, I was looking at the pictures on the led change how to on the ipc to see if I could make out which one it was? When I did an output test on the lights it would only light up green but saying that I don’t know how it would test both colours.
I can give the led a try it’s not that difficult now I’ve had it stripped down about 5 times
Thanks again


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It is was a 2-in-1 there will be 4 pads on the smd. In all likelihood there will be two that are shorted together as a common cathode (-), then individual anodes (+) on the opposite side, however this can be the other way around.

Wishing I could go take it apart now to find out exactly what I did, however i have family *****-storm and a home CCTV kit to install today.

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Just give her a bit of a wash as the weather is fine DPF light works well too, did a regen this morning



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Pollen filter changed for an activated carbon one





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Is this the offending LED location?



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Get you insert and lay it over I've found lights to be in different positions across the boards.

Ordered some matt black plastidip to spray my front grille, I’ll post some pictures when it’s done


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Pedal covers arrived from AliExpress just over a week and a half after ordering.
Before

After

Plastidip has arrived today too so I’ll post pictures when I’m done later


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Grille sorted, nice easy job, happy with the results







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Looking good although the black is not my cuppa tea on a black car.

Looks pretty aggressive, I like it

(4:th-Apr-2018, 11:14:00)Rusty2009 Wrote: [ -> ]Looking good although the black is not my cuppa tea on a black car.

I wanted it body colour really but by the time I’d bought primer, basecoat and laquer it’s a lot more expensive than the plastidip


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(4:th-Apr-2018, 12:35:02)zzattack Wrote: [ -> ]Looks pretty aggressive, I like it

Me too


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Cleaned my MAF sensor today with 10K boost, made a difference on pick up. Another nice easy job done


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Did you have problems with it?

(6:th-Apr-2018, 13:44:23)rlievens Wrote: [ -> ]Did you have problems with it?

Yeah it threw up an error every now and again if I drove it hard, but it’s good practice to keep these things clean. I’ll put some DPF cleaner in this week too


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After reading Steveb19111978’s thread he’s ordered a gas bonnet strut kit, I’ve been looking at different threads and trawling the internet trying to find or make one so I’m well happy that someone has found one!!! So I ordered one straight away!!! Here’s the link if anyone else is thinking of having one
https://www.darkicedesigns.com/en/vauxha...t-kit.html


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I miss the gas struts from the vectra B I had. Been tempted to grab some from a scrap years given the mounting points are there, just got to get them the right pressure.

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(6:th-Apr-2018, 17:54:58)umognog Wrote: [ -> ]I miss the gas struts from the vectra B I had. Been tempted to grab some from a scrap years given the mounting points are there, just got to get them the right pressure.

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I’m sure it can be done but for £40 and probably 10 minutes to fit I took the easy option might attempt a “how to” even though it’s probably very simple


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(6:th-Apr-2018, 17:57:41)sparkyscfc74 Wrote: [ -> ]

(6:th-Apr-2018, 17:54:58)umognog Wrote: [ -> ]I miss the gas struts from the vectra B I had. Been tempted to grab some from a scrap years given the mounting points are there, just got to get them the right pressure.

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I’m sure it can be done but for £40 and probably 10 minutes to fit I took the easy option might attempt a “how to” even though it’s probably very simple


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Dark Ice Designs have done a YouTube video...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9w4xWWQa14

(6:th-Apr-2018, 20:19:10)Steveb19111978 Wrote: [ -> ]

(6:th-Apr-2018, 17:57:41)sparkyscfc74 Wrote: [ -> ]

(6:th-Apr-2018, 17:54:58)umognog Wrote: [ -> ]I miss the gas struts from the vectra B I had. Been tempted to grab some from a scrap years given the mounting points are there, just got to get them the right pressure.

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I’m sure it can be done but for £40 and probably 10 minutes to fit I took the easy option might attempt a “how to” even though it’s probably very simple


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Dark Ice Designs have done a YouTube video...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J9w4xWWQa14&t=33s

Yeah cheers I watched that as soon as I’d read your thread and ordered some


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I made my own bonnet struts, machined up the brackets and bought a couple of gas struts

(7:th-Apr-2018, 08:49:45)vocky Wrote: [ -> ]I made my own bonnet struts, machined up the brackets and bought a couple of gas struts

I was looking at the thread a few months back but nobody had posted saying they’d managed to fit one so I just presumed people had given up.


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Should have my bonnet struts fitted today, I’ll post pictures later


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sparkyscfc74 Wrote:Should have my bonnet struts fitted today, I’ll post pictures later


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You should measure the gas struts and give us the dimensions or model that's written on it.
Might DIY it if i can find them even cheaper

Bonnet struts fitted, it literally took 5 minutes!!!




There seems to be a really good “tipping point” where it either raises or drops and it’s not to severe when it does rise
Really pleased with them


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I’ve also wired in a led strip in the boot, I was going to get another set of the led number plate lights but tbh the strip is a lot brighter and loads cheaper

It’s bright white but looks blue, I’ll get a picture when it’s dark later



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Night shot of the boot light



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Very nice. Does it state a model/brand on the struts?

(12:th-Apr-2018, 08:49:38)rlievens Wrote: [ -> ]Very nice. Does it state a model/brand on the struts?

Cheers mate.
I’ll have a look later but I think they’re unbranded, there’s a link a few posts back and they ship overseas
Just seems typical Vauxhall backwards progress they were standard on my Astra H but not on my J!!! I think I’ve read something about it being down to the safety rating but I think they’re a great addition


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(12:th-Apr-2018, 09:11:06)sparkyscfc74 Wrote: [ -> ]

(12:th-Apr-2018, 08:49:38)rlievens Wrote: [ -> ]Very nice. Does it state a model/brand on the struts?

Cheers mate.
I’ll have a look later but I think they’re unbranded, there’s a link a few posts back and they ship overseas
Just seems typical Vauxhall backwards progress they were standard on my Astra H but not on my J!!! I think I’ve read something about it being down to the safety rating but I think they’re a great addition


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Yeah, the safety of their profits...

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(11:th-Apr-2018, 16:05:24)sparkyscfc74 Wrote: [ -> ]Bonnet struts fitted, it literally took 5 minutes!!!




There seems to be a really good “tipping point” where it either raises or drops and it’s not to severe when it does rise
Really pleased with them


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I’ve also wired in a led strip in the boot, I was going to get another set of the led number plate lights but tbh the strip is a lot brighter and loads cheaper

It’s bright white but looks blue, I’ll get a picture when it’s dark later



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Did you wire the led strip light straight in to the boot light?

Your car is looking sweeter every time i see it

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(12:th-Apr-2018, 12:37:34)Mspencer Wrote: [ -> ]

(11:th-Apr-2018, 16:05:24)sparkyscfc74 Wrote: [ -> ]Bonnet struts fitted, it literally took 5 minutes!!!




There seems to be a really good “tipping point” where it either raises or drops and it’s not to severe when it does rise
Really pleased with them


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I’ve also wired in a led strip in the boot, I was going to get another set of the led number plate lights but tbh the strip is a lot brighter and loads cheaper

It’s bright white but looks blue, I’ll get a picture when it’s dark later



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Did you wire the led strip light straight in to the boot light?

Your car is looking sweeter every time i see it

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Cheers mate, yeah I did I’d already wired one up so just a case of re-soldering


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Good job mate.

(13:th-Apr-2018, 11:28:50)Steveb19111978 Wrote: [ -> ]Good job mate.

Cheers mate, I’m like a man possessed I can’t seem to stop doing things
I’ve got plans to do something this weekend but I’ll have to see how it turns out first before posting anything


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(3:rd-Apr-2018, 14:59:45)sparkyscfc74 Wrote: [ -> ]Grille sorted, nice easy job, happy with the results







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What did you use to paint the grille?

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(13:th-Apr-2018, 20:16:01)Gavinj87 Wrote: [ -> ]

(3:rd-Apr-2018, 14:59:45)sparkyscfc74 Wrote: [ -> ]Grille sorted, nice easy job, happy with the results







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What did you use to paint the grille?

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Just seen the previous post! Thanks.

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(13:th-Apr-2018, 20:16:01)Gavinj87 Wrote: [ -> ]

(3:rd-Apr-2018, 14:59:45)sparkyscfc74 Wrote: [ -> ]Grille sorted, nice easy job, happy with the results







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What did you use to paint the grille?

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(13:th-Apr-2018, 20:16:01)Gavinj87 Wrote: [ -> ]

(3:rd-Apr-2018, 14:59:45)sparkyscfc74 Wrote: [ -> ]Grille sorted, nice easy job, happy with the results







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What did you use to paint the grille?

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Just seen the previous post! Thanks.

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I used plastidip mate, sprays straight on to the surface without the need for primer
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00P8OP...B00P8OP0B2


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Decided to spray my air filter box gloss black today here are the results





Not as glossy as I’d have liked but tidy all the same


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(11:th-Apr-2018, 15:19:15)rlievens Wrote: [ -> ]

sparkyscfc74 Wrote:Should have my bonnet struts fitted today, I’ll post pictures later


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You should measure the gas struts and give us the dimensions or model that's written on it.
Might DIY it if i can find them even cheaper

I’ve had a measure of the bonnet struts and they’re 400mm from centre to centre of the ball joints.
As for any model, the only numbers on it are below the warning and don’t mean a lot



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Allright, thanks!

(16:th-Apr-2018, 08:53:22)rlievens Wrote: [ -> ]Allright, thanks!

No problem, I have looked myself at seeing how much it would be sourcing the parts for a diy job but tbh it wasn’t much different on price. I suppose you could save a small amount making the brackets yourself but sometimes I like the easy option


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Yeah I would definitely make the brackets myself.
Just need to find the correct struts. If it indeed soes turn out almost as expensive I can order the kit too.
But I'm a bit affraid of the shipping costs to Belgium..

So they are 400mm when fully out?

Another potential for saving money: scrap yards.

However it is important to balance the concept of time & effort as well.

For me, if it's more than a couple of hours, it's not worth saving £10 or £20

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(17:th-Apr-2018, 08:48:16)rlievens Wrote: [ -> ]Yeah I would definitely make the brackets myself.
Just need to find the correct struts. If it indeed soes turn out almost as expensive I can order the kit too.
But I'm a bit affraid of the shipping costs to Belgium..

So they are 400mm when fully out?

It’s 400mm from centre to centre of the ball joints. On the top of the strut is a straight connector and the bottom is an angled connector. The strut itself is about 380mm.
In my opinion the hardest thing would be getting the force correct or it just won’t work correctly


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(17:th-Apr-2018, 08:59:29)umognog Wrote: [ -> ]Another potential for saving money: scrap yards.

However it is important to balance the concept of time & effort as well.

For me, if it's more than a couple of hours, it's not worth saving £10 or £20

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I’m with you on this one, I work for an engineering company and perhaps could have made my own brackets, but then I would have to either paint them or get them zinc coated, at least with the kit, all the hard work is done


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Thakns Sparky.
So yeah struts are a bit expensive. Did find some on Aliexpress that are cheap enough and seem to have the correct size and fittings:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/60KG-132...48467.html

You think they would work?
They are rated 60kg/600N but that will probably be too much.
But I'm not sure they will truely reach that force either.

I see that on your struts they say - 150N - so I should probably look for ones with that force.

(17:th-Apr-2018, 09:27:02)rlievens Wrote: [ -> ]Thakns Sparky.
So yeah struts are a bit expensive. Did find some on Aliexpress that are cheap enough and seem to have the correct size and fittings:
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/60KG-132...48467.html

You think they would work?
They are rated 60kg/600N but that will probably be too much.
But I'm not sure they will truely reach that force either.

I see that on your struts they say - 150N - so I should probably look for ones with that force.

Seen some 250N from the same seller
https://m.aliexpress.com/item/32849828706.html
Size wise they should work


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Yeah I have seen those, but then I would need to buy the ball part of the joint seperate.
I'll contact them if they can supply it with 150N of force.

(17:th-Apr-2018, 09:45:31)rlievens Wrote: [ -> ]Yeah I have seen those, but then I would need to buy the ball part of the joint seperate.
I'll contact them if they can supply it with 150N of force.

The size of the strut is perfect the stroke length of 160mm is also spot on


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Found another, correct size and you can specify the force required!!!
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-shi...autifyAB=0