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Opel Combo L1H1 1.3 CDTI ecoFLEX Edition common faults.

2012–2018, van, diesel, 90 HP.

The fault list covers: A13DTE engine, F17, M32, M20 transmission.

What you save stays on this device only. My saves

3 fault write-ups. All are important. No recall on the list.

If you know the year, pick it. Faults for other years drop out of the list.

Before you buy

Known faults

3 important faults

critical1

1.3 CDTI (A13DTE / Z13DT*): timing chain and tensioner

critical

The Opel 1.3 litre CDTI (the Fiat Multijet based Z13DT / Z13DTH / A13DTE family) runs a chain driven valvetrain. The chain depends on the oil level and the oil quality: if the oil level is low or the oil is worn out, the tensioner loses pressure and the chain stretches.

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Symptom: a metallic rattle on a cold start. If the rattle is left alone, the chain can jump and the engine is badly damaged inside. The replacement is labour intensive, around the sump and the turbo.

Short trips also coke the particulate filter and the EGR valve.

between 100,000 and 160,000 km

What to check

  • Insist on a cold start: 5 to 30 seconds of metallic rattle from the timing side is suspect
  • Check the oil level and the service book: with a low level or worn oil the tensioner loses pressure
  • Ask whether the chain kit (chain plus tensioner plus guides) was replaced: ask for the invoice
1 more steps in the write-up

expensive2

Astra H: M32 six speed manual, bearing and synchro wear

expensive

In the Astra H diesel range, on the Z17DTH engine, two manual gearboxes were available: the five speed F23 and the six speed M32.

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The known weakness of the M32 is wear of the bearings and the synchro rings: a whine while driving, a stiff shift, especially 3rd to 4th. Replacement or a rebuild is expensive.

between 100,000 and 200,000 km

What to check

  • Count the gears: 6 raises the M32 suspicion on this engine group; 5 means more likely the F23
  • When warm, at 80 to 100 km/h, listen for gearbox whine: a noise that rises with the revs is suspect
  • Try the 3 to 4 and 4 to 5 shifts cold and warm: binding, scratchiness
1 more steps in the write-up

F17 five speed manual gearbox: synchros and differential

expensive

The Opel F17 (and F17+) is one of the most common five speed manual gearboxes of the Astra / Corsa / Zafira era. The synchro ring and the differential wear, and so do the layshaft bearings.

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Symptoms: a stiff or scratchy shift (mostly when warm), a whine while driving, differential noise when pulling away. Failures are more common with the stronger engines (at the limit of the F17+). Oil leaks speed up the wear: 5th gear sits high, so it is the first to be short of lubrication.

between 120,000 and 220,000 km

What to check

  • When warm, at 80 to 100 km/h, listen for gearbox whine: a noise that rises with the revs is suspect
  • Try 1 to 2 and 2 to 3 shifts cold and warm: binding, scratchiness
  • When pulling away, listen for noise or a clunk from the differential
2 more steps in the write-up

Checklist

Opel Combo L1H1 1.3 CDTI ecoFLEX Edition

First what you would check on any car. Then the faults of this model.

Before you buy

Checklist

The printed sheet starts with what you would check on any car. What you tick stays on this device only.

On every car

Ask the owner

Faults of this model

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Engine and transmission

1 engines · 3 transmissions

A13DTE · 1.3 CDTI (ecoFLEX)

70 kW (95 HP) · diesel

F17 · 5-speed manual, transverse (Opel F17 / F17+)

manual · 5 speed

Torque limit200 Nm
MakerOpel/GM

We built the code from the model and the gear count. The factory sheet does not state it. More than one transmission is possible. The gear count does not tell them apart. The code is on the side of the transmission.

Variant data

What is in this version

Factory data

Trim
L1H1 1.3 CDTI ecoFLEX Edition
Body
van
Fuel
diesel
Transmission
manual
Engine size
1248 cc
Power
66 kW (90 HP)
Drive
FWD
Production
2012–2018

Factory service interval

The manufacturer specifies this for this version. Of the mileage and the time, the one that comes first is the one that counts.

  • Air filter

    • 60,000 km or 4 years

  • Cabin (pollen) filter

    • 30,000 km or 2 years

  • Brake fluid change

    • first: 3 years, then 2 years(first change at 3 years, then every two years)

  • Fuel filter, diesel

    • 60,000 km or 2 years
All D versions

Information, not an expert opinion

We write the descriptions, and we put the source next to them. A person reviews them before they go out. They are still information, not a technical expert opinion.

  • A fault on the list does not mean the car you are looking at has it.
  • A fault missing from the list does not mean the model is fault-free. Write-ups are made model by model. Not all of them are done.
  • You decide whether to buy. This is no substitute for an inspection. That needs a workshop and a history check.
Details in the terms