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Chapter 1 Routine maintenance and servicing
Chapter 1
Routine maintenance and servicing
Air cleaner filter element renewal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Automatic transmission fluid level check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Automatic transmission fluid renewal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Auxiliary drivebelt check and renewal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Battery check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Brake fluid renewal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Brake pad, caliper and disc check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Carburettor fuel inlet filter cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Clutch adjustment check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Coolant renewal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Driveshaft CV joint and gaiter check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
Electrical system check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Engine oil and filter renewal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Exhaust system check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Fluid level checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Fuel filter renewal - fuel injection models . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Fuel pump filter cleaning - carburettor models . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Handbrake adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Headlamp aim check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Hinge and lock lubrication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Hose and fluid leak check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Idle speed and mixture adjustments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Ignition system check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Manual transmission oil level check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Rear brake shoe, wheel cylinder and drum check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Rear wheel bearing adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Road test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Roadwheel bolt tightness check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
Spark plug renewal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Tyre checks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Vauxhall Astra/Belmont maintenance schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Wiper blade check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
The maintenance intervals in this manual are provided with the
assumption that you, not the dealer, will be carrying out the work.
These are the minimum maintenance intervals recommended by the
manufacturer for vehicles driven daily. If you wish to keep your vehicle
in peak condition at all times, you may wish to perform some of these
procedures more often. We encourage frequent maintenance, because
it enhances the efficiency, performance and resale value of your
vehicle. If the vehicle is driven in dusty areas, used to tow a trailer, or
driven frequently at slow speeds (idling in traffic) or on short journeys,
more frequent maintenance intervals are recommended.
When the vehicle is new, it should be serviced by a factory-
authorised dealer service department, in order to preserve the factory
warranty.
11
Easy, suitable for
novice with little
experience
Fairly easy, suitable
for beginner with
some experience
Fairly difficult, suitable
for competent DIY
mechanic
Difficult, suitable for
experienced DIY
mechanic
Very difficult,
suitable for expert DIY
or professional
Degrees of difficulty
Contents
1
1 Vauxhall Astra/Belmont maintenance schedule 12
Maintenance schedule
Every 9000 miles (15 000 km) or
6 months, whichever comes first
Renew the engine oil and filter - early (pre-1987) models
(Section 6)
Every 9000 miles (15 000 km) or
12 months, whichever comes first
Renew the engine oil and filter - later (1987-on) models
(Section 6)
Renew the spark plugs (Section 7)
Check and adjust the valve clearances - 1.2 litre models
(Chapter 2A)
Check all underbonnet and underbody components, pipes and
hoses for leaks (Section 8)
Check the condition of the auxiliary drivebelt, and renew if
necessary (Section 9)
Check the ignition system components and renew the contact
breaker points (Section 10)
Check idle speed and mixture adjustments (Section 11)
Clean the fuel pump filter (carburettor models) (Section 12)
Check the throttle cable adjustment (Chapter 4A or 4B)
Check the automatic transmission fluid level (Section 13)
Check the operation of the horn, all lights, and the wipers and
washers (Section 14)
Check the condition of the wiper blades (Section 15)
Check the tightness of the roadwheel bolts (Section 16)
Check the condition of the front, and rear (where fitted) brake
pads (renew if necessary), and the calipers and discs
(Section 17)
Check the rear wheel bearings adjustment (Section 18)
Check the handbrake adjustment (Section 19)
Check the driveshaft CV joints and gaiters for condition
(Section 20)
Lubricate locks and hinges (Section 21)
Check the exhaust system for condition and security
(Section 22)
Road test the vehicle (Section 23)
Every 2 years
(regardless of mileage)
In addition to all the relevant items listed previously, carry out the
following:
Renew the coolant (Section 32)
Every 36 000 miles (60 000 km) or
4 years, whichever comes first
In addition to all the relevant items listed previously, carry out the
following:
Renew the automatic transmission fluid (Section 33)
Renew the camshaft toothed belt -
1.3, 1.4, 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 litre 8-valve engines (Chapter 2B),
2.0 litre 16-valve engines (Chapter 2C)
Every 54 000 miles (90 000 km) or
3 years, whichever comes first
In addition to all the relevant items listed previously, carry out the
following:
Renew the braking system seals and hose (Chapter 9)
Every 18 000 miles (30 000 km) or
12 months, whichever comes first
In addition to all the items listed previously, carry out the following:
Renew the air cleaner filter element (Section 24)
Renew the fuel filter (fuel injection models) (Section 25)
Clean the carburettor fuel inlet filter (Section 26)
Check the manual transmission oil level (Section 27)
Check the clutch adjustment (Section 28)
Check the condition of the rear brake shoes (renew if
necessary), wheel cylinders and drums (Section 29)
Renew the brake fluid (Section 30)
Check the headlamp alignment (Section 31)
Every 250 miles (400 km) or weekly
See Weekly checks Maintenance - component location
13
1
1 Wiper motor
2 Heater blower motor
3 Heater blower motor resistor
4 Windscreen washer tube
5 Screen washer reservoir
6 Suspension turrets
7 Coolant expansion tank
8 Ignition coil
9 Battery
10 Coolant hose
11 Radiator cooling fan
12 Distributor cover
13 Engine oil filler
14 Bonnet catch
15 Radiator
16 VIN plate
17 Engine breather
18 Air cleaner hot air pick-up
19 Thermostat housing
20 Fuel hoses
21 Fuel pump
22 Alternator
23 Accelerator cable
24 Carburettor
25 Choke cable
26 Servo non-return valve
27 Steering rack bellows
28 Air cleaner breather hose
29 Brake fluid reservoir
30 Brake servo
Underbonnet view of an early 1.6 litre model (air cleaner removed for clarity) 14
Maintenance - component location
1 Screen washer reservoir
2 Headlamp washer filler cap
3 Headlamp washer relay and fuse
4 Suspension turrets
5 Coolant expansion tank filler
6 Control relay (fuel injection system)
7 Ignition coil
8 Horn
9 Battery
10 Coolant hose
11 Radiator fan
12 Distributor
13 Engine oil filler
14 Bonnet catch
15 Radiator
16 VIN plate
17 Engine breather
18 Thermostat housing
19 Air cleaner
20 Airflow meter
21 Breather hose
22 Throttle valve housing
23 Fuel rail
24 Fuel pressure regulator
25 Servo non return valve
26 Steering rack bellows
27 Accelerator cable
28 Brake fluid reservoir
29 Brake servo
Underbonnet view of an early 1.8 litre model Maintenance - component location
15
1
1 Radiator top hose
2 Air cleaner
3 Suspension turrets
4 Coolant filler cap
5 Brake fluid reservoir
6 Air mass meter
7 Fuel pressure regulator
8 Breather hoses
9 Throttle cable
10 Engine oil filler cap
11 Pre-volume chamber
12 Brake servo non-return valve
13 Power steering hoses
14 Windscreen washer reservoir
15 Headlamp washer relay
16 ABS hydraulic unit
17 ABS surge arrester relay
18 Fuel injection control relay
19 Ignition coil
20 Battery
21 Power steering fluid reservoir
22 Distributor
23 Radiator
24 Vehicle identification plate