Opel has always traditionally taken price and practicality. And her Opel Corsa was just that - simple, practical and honest. Actually, along with the VW Polo, it was the Corsa that turned out to be one of the pioneers of the class and set the layout and ergonomic standards for more than forty years.
The financial difficulties of the company in the 21st century made life a little more difficult: Corsa B and Corsa C could hardly keep up with the leaders, falling far behind in popularity. This is due to excessive simplicity and obvious marketing difficulties, and royalties from GM, which gradually got rid of the original European developments. As a result, the parent company of General Motors in the European market, in order to reduce production costs, began active cooperation with the FIAT corporation. The Italians received gasoline engines, gearboxes and platform components, GM received new diesel engines and a new compact base to replace the completely obsolete Opel Corsa C.
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The new machine received the D index and a noticeably larger SCCS platform (Small Common Components and Systems platform). It also produced Fiat Punto, Grande Punto, 500L, Doblo, Alfa Romeo MiTo, Lancia Delta, Opel Meriva B and - don't be surprised - SUVs Jeep Renegade, Compass 2017 and Fiat 500X.
Why did Opel need this collaboration? Gentlemen from across the ocean did not appreciate the preservation of the classic canons of the class in past generations of the model, because of which they turned out to be small, simple and too cheap. The popularity of these cars has been declining for many years, Corsa C was no longer among the top three sales leaders in Europe. In the new century, even a small car required perfect handling, a spacious interior and the highest efficiency. And, of course, platform flexibility and the ability to offer a large number of options were required. Finally, the car got everything you need.
It was not possible to catch up with the VW Polo and Ford Fiesta in sales in Europe, but the car's position on the market has clearly improved. In Russia, the small Opel even briefly became a bestseller. Not for long, because the crisis of 2008 knocked down the emerging success: the car was assembled only in Europe, and the price was pegged to the euro, which collapsed sales already in 2009. In addition, in the same year, Polo Sedan appeared on the Russian market, and then Solaris and Rio, and buyers of inexpensive cars received much more tempting offers.
A small increase in the size of the car made it possible to obtain a significant improvement in the ergonomics of the front seats in comparison with its predecessors. The most pleasant surprise for fans of the brand was a noticeable improvement in the quality and ergonomics of the cabin. Almost nothing reminded of Spartan simplicity and rigor, inside it became noticeably more cheerful and comfortable.
Passive safety was also pushed up to the top with a full set of six airbags and the Corsa showed an excellent EuroNCAP safety rating.
While maintaining a simple torsion beam rear suspension, the handling of the car is greatly improved.
The engine line still started with a three-cylinder liter engine, although even before the first restyling, a turbocharged 1.6-liter gasoline engine with 192 hp was at the top of the range, and after the second restyling its power was even increased to 210 forces. In the middle of the engine line, after the first restyling, hundred-strong 1.4-liter engines have already been registered, which have become only slightly less popular than the 1.2-liter ones, which have become the most common.
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| In the photo: Opel Corsa 5-door (D) "2006–09 | |
For Corsa, they left the classic automatic transmission: with a 1.4-liter engine, they offered a four-speed AF-17. But with a 1.2 liter engine, you could only get a simple Easytronic “robot”.
Despite some increase in complexity, the machine remained extremely simple and functional, and this is an excellent guarantee of operational reliability. Throughout the life cycle, the car underwent two restylings that did not change its main characteristics, but added new engines and service electronics, and also seriously changed its appearance. The Corsa E that followed, in fact, turned out to be a deep restyling of the D generation. Is this not an indicator of recognition of the success of the model?
Ten years after the release of the Corsa D, most of them are still on the move. But there are still enough nuances. Shall we deal with them?
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| In the photo: Opel Corsa 3-door (D) "2006–09 | |
Body
You can leave all the proverbs about a rotting Opel for those who have cars of a “classic” age, from twenty years old. In the 21st century, Opels have almost forgotten how to rust. Of course, these are not BMWs, which are half made of aluminum and plastic, but in terms of metal processing, Opel cars resemble the Folks so dearly loved by the people of the nineties. If the metal is not damaged with kinks and scuffs, they practically do not rust.
Scratches and chips do not turn red for years: real galvanization is everywhere except for the roof. And even if the paint has peeled off over a large area, nothing threatens the latter for a long time. This, unfortunately, happened regularly on cars before the first restyling, then the painting technology was changed and there are almost no cases of “peeling”.
However, there are plenty of places on the inside where surface corrosion sometimes breaks through. Usually these are seams and joints in closed areas. It's a shame, but with a very good quality of the metal itself, the coloring leaves much to be desired, and a thin layer of paintwork easily peels off at the slightest blow, breaks through with stones on the hood and doors, and gradually peels off under the influence of "sandblasting" on thresholds and arches.
The main problem areas for a small Opel are classic - the edge of the hood, rear arches and fenders. The tailgate is also always among the first elements to be repainted.
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Five-door cars are more likely to experience corrosion of the rear fenders behind the arches, but in three-door cars, the paint is more often damaged on the widest wing.
It was very in vain that after 2008 they stopped putting moldings on the doors: on pre-styling machines, chipped edges and dents on the surface are much less common than restyling, where this is common.
Regularly there are instances with clogged windshield drains, leaks into the cabin and poor condition of the seams in the area of the engine niche. Finding traces of frank corrosion, and not point problems, will only work on cars older than 10 years or on cars poorly restored after minor and not very minor accidents.
Unfortunately, our “female” car is still largely an increased risk of minor rubbing and scratches, and not being painted on time, violating repair technology or replacing elements with cheap Chinese counterparts leads to rust in a few years.
Services note not very reliable underbody protection, underdeveloped arch protection and other features of cheap cars, but so far this does not lead to serious consequences for the body.
windshield cost
original price
14 121 rubles
The windshield is strong and does not rub off, which is already a big plus for an inexpensive machine. Moreover, the regular Pilkington is not particularly afraid of even strong blows. But the headlights here are weak, the surface is rubbed off very quickly, after three to five years restoration polishing is needed, and if the car was hit at least a little with a bumper, at least against snowdrifts during parking, then restoration of the fasteners.
“Advanced” AFL headlights shine an order of magnitude better than conventional ones, but they can also cause a lot of trouble. Over time, the lens drives fail, and the light ceases to be intelligent. Yes, and the reflector burns out after five or six years, which means that serious intervention in the design of the optics is needed or simply its replacement. But at the time of the release of Corsa, competitors did not even have adaptive optics in this form.
Pay attention to the condition of the rear window heating filaments. It is not always possible to restore them with high quality, they gradually exfoliate from the surface and crumble. And the glass itself costs several times more than the windshield. If the glass is damaged while replacing the back door, the amount of repair costs can increase significantly.
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Salon
To the salon of claims at least. Yes, it is simple, it creaks, the seats are also very simple, and with runs already over a hundred thousand kilometers they sink. Although with such a run, everything is peeling off thoroughly, and the skin and plastic often do not withstand the sharp claws of the owners and simply crumble.
The casing of the manual transmission lever loses its smooth contours after 60-70 thousand mileage, but otherwise the interior is holding up well. Plastic is quite reliable and durable, door cards are not wiped, buttons are not overwritten.
The backlight on machines aged five to seven years may fail, so you have to disassemble and change the lamps and diodes. And often this operation becomes not simple: the elements are not collapsible.
In the photo: the interior of the Opel Corsa 5-door (D) "2006–09 AFL headlight cost
original price
34 426 rubles
Only the operation of the climate system can receive serious comments. Firstly, the fan turned out to be short-lived, already at runs of more than 50-80 thousand kilometers, the bearings begin to make noise, especially in winter. And after 100-150 thousand, it will most likely require repair or replacement. Secondly, rare cars with automatic climate control greatly confuse Opel services with their design. It is here from Fiat and does not differ in strength, both gearmotors and the control unit itself can fail. Sometimes the drive rods fly off, and the diagnostic capabilities are insufficient, for a successful repair, the master needs to know the design.
The stove radiator is reliable, and the car itself is “warm”.
The air conditioner on the Corsa is not the most durable unit, it suffers primarily from slow leaks due to weak seals and vibration loading. It is not uncommon for the clutch and the compressor itself to fail. The condenser is poorly protected, and in cars operated on the highway, it is often stoned.
In the photo: the interior of the Opel Corsa GSi (D) "2008–10 The monochrome display of the on-board computer on the machines of the first releases gradually loses pixels, the solution is to solder the cable or replace the assembly. Remanufactured modules are also available. If a color board computer, the so-called CID, is installed, then there will be no problems with it, but the owner will be tormented by regrets about the outdated system architecture.
Most of the interior system failures are related to the operation of comfort units, they are also BCM, and in Corsa it is also a fuse box. Unfortunately, pre-styling blocks of the 13142241 KS series often fail. The selection of replacements is not an easy operation, the blocks are tied to an immobilizer and some options. It will not work to put the first one that comes across, you need a carpass and wines of the body and full compliance with the configuration, otherwise you can lose fog lights, rain sensors and other necessary options.
In general, the machine is distinguished by the presence of many options for the execution of nodes tied to the package. Just modifying the car and supplying the missing is not as easy as on previous generations of the model, you will have to make changes to the wiring and change seemingly unrelated modules.
In the photo: the interior of the Opel Corsa 3-door (D) "2010–14 Electrician
The wiring of the car is quite reliable and almost does not cause trouble. Although, of course, there are weak links.
Korsa generators are rather weak, and when operating on dusty roads, you may encounter significant wear of slip rings after 100-150 thousand kilometers. Bearing noise can suddenly appear in purely urban cars after a modest 50 thousand mileage. If there is a version with a freewheel, then most likely there will be replacement costs up to a run of a hundred thousand. Fans of heating and powerful headlights can find traces of overheating.
Relatively often, voltage regulators fail. In general, the solution to the problem is not expensive, but it often leads to failures of other systems. In particular, the BCM block on cars before restyling, which can then result in larger repairs.
front shock absorber cost
original price
4 462 rubles
Underhood wiring on the oldest cars shows signs of aging. If the engine compartment is dirty, then you can find traces of chafing of the wiring inside the corrugation, and the insulation of the wires themselves in the upper part of the compartment and directly at the engine becomes brittle and easily damaged.
The complexities of electricians lurk in several electronic components and a radiator fan resistor. The resistor is a long-standing trouble for all Opels, its protective coating peels off, after which it corrodes and burns. You can restore the cover if it is still working, or you will have to replace it if the fans turn on only when it reaches 106 degrees at full speed. It is located on the left side of the engine compartment in the fan casing. The price of the part is not high, 1000-2000 rubles, and if you put it from the Chevrolet Niva, it’s even less, but you can’t definitely delay the repair. Overloading the cooling system usually ends with leaks and hose ruptures, a burst expansion tank, or the appearance of an oil burner at the motor.
ECU blocks in almost all motors are located directly on the block and suffer from overheating. Problems appear in the form of poorly diagnosed electrical failures, engine malfunctions with heating, etc.
In the photo: Opel Corsa (D) "2006–15 Usually the reason lies in the breakage of the connecting wires inside the unit, and it will not be possible to repair such a nuisance on your own. It is necessary not only to open the sealed block, but also to clean off the protective compound without damaging the boards and conductors, and then solder the thin wires to the ceramic board.
Such breakdowns have long been learned to be repaired, you just need to look for workshops for repairing ABS units (there are often the same problems there) or craftsmen on the brand's forums. Replacing a block with a new one will require the presence of an “untied” block or a craftsman who knows how to “open” them, buying the first one that comes from hand may not help.
The solution for which Opel is often criticized is a single ignition module for all cylinders. The part is quite expensive, not even the original costs at least 4 thousand rubles, and high-quality parts can only be bought for 7-10 thousand. And for a turbo engine, the price of the original soars under 30 thousand rubles.
Often there are problems associated with burning candle tips due to contamination and oil or antifreeze getting into the candle wells. Officially, spare parts for ignition modules do not exist, but in fact, tips can be found separately for replacement. In addition, the blocks are partially repairable, and the replacement of high-voltage capacitors is put on stream.
On the Corsa D, the number of failures of this kind is relatively small, small engines are very sensitive to the operation of the thermostat, and Opel is traditionally weak. And this is good: as a result, the operating temperature usually turns out to be lower than the calculated one and closer to the optimal 80-90 degrees, which has a good effect on the operation of the control system. In any case, exactly the same control units and ignition modules on 1.6 liter engines on the Opel Astra fail many times more often.
Brakes, suspension and steering
The braking system of the Corsa D is no different. The creak of pads and low resource are the eternal companions of cars both before and after restyling. True, the owners of the OPC / 1.6turbo versions or the extremely rare 1.4S&S 120hp. the brakes are more serious, although there the pads will creak.
By a run of one and a half hundred thousand, you must already be prepared for corrosion of the caliper fingers (in the absence of proper maintenance) and wear of the anthers. The rear disc calipers are generally quite capricious, it is worth checking them more often, at each MOT. It's good that most of the cars have very reliable drums at the back, there are no problems with them. The main thing is not to forget after hundreds of thousands of runs to check if there are still pads there.
ABS and brake lines are exemplary reliable.
The suspension is considered not the strongest point. Pre-styling Corses, already with runs of 50-60 thousand, rattled the suspension like the old Zhiguli. The problem was eliminated quite quickly: they changed the supplier of the anti-roll bar links and made the rear silent block of the lever more reliable.
On late machines, the resource of silent blocks is more than a hundred thousand kilometers, the ball bearing is about 100-120 thousand. On the other hand, the strut mounts can pass less than 50 thousand on late-production cars, especially if the driver does not save the suspension and drives through the mud. There is a beam at the back, the resource of its silent blocks reaches 70-100 thousand kilometers, but both shock absorber supports and spring pads can make knocks.
In the photo: Opel Corsa 3-door (D) "2010–14 front wheel bearing cost
original price
4 864 rubles
Wheel bearings are also not a strong point of the car, they are quite fragile, and if there are 16 inch wheels, they can make noise even up to a hundred thousand miles. And with side impacts, they almost certainly fail. On the other hand, for frugal drivers on small wheels, they can go over two hundred thousand kilometers and show no signs of wear. It is definitely worth checking their condition when buying, especially the rear ones.
The steering here is with electric power, and the main problems are related to rack knocks, damage to its anthers and electronics failures. Failures do not happen so rarely, and sometimes you can be left without an amplifier. There are a lot of reasons: from failures of the steering wheel position sensors, ABS failures, the BCM unit, the amplifier control unit, and to a simple burning of the wiring.
In the photo: Opel Corsa 3-door (D) "2010–14 The only regular error of the EUR is the failure of the position sensor. It costs a lot, is difficult to repair and gives itself out primarily by jerking the steering wheel at small angles at low speed.
Most foreign-made cars are equipped with on-board computers or ECUs. Opel Corsa is no exception. The electronic brain of this vehicle is responsible for everything from engine start to wheel speed. However, no matter how perfect the design of electronic control units (ECUs) is, they can still fail.
This situation is not the most pleasant, and due to the complexity of the device, it is not necessary to talk about self-repair (although there are such craftsmen). In today's article, we will talk about what kind of malfunctions can happen to the Opel Corsa ECU, what they can be caused by and how to diagnose them correctly.
ECU Opel Corsa - the main malfunctions and causes of failure
There can be quite a few reasons for the failure of the Opel Corsa ECU, in any case, this does not bode well for the car owner, since this device cannot be repaired. Even at service stations, they simply change it to a new one.
But, be that as it may, it is necessary to understand in great detail what can cause a breakdown. Thanks to this knowledge, you will be able to ensure the maximum possible protection of the device from such troubles in the future.
According to auto electricians, most often the computer fails due to overvoltage in the electrical network of the car. The latter, in turn, may occur due to a short circuit in one of the solenoids. However, this is not the only possible reason:
- Opel Corsa ECU failure can occur due to any mechanical impact. This can be an accidental impact or very strong vibrations that can cause microcracks in the computer boards and the soldering points of the main contacts.
- Overheating of the unit, which most often occurs due to a sharp temperature drop. For example, when you are trying to start the car at high speeds in severe frost, squeezing the maximum out of the capabilities of the car and all its systems.
- Corrosion, which can occur due to changes in air humidity, as well as due to water ingress into the engine compartment of the car.
- Moisture ingress directly into the control unit itself due to depressurization of the device.
- The intervention of outsiders in the device of electronic systems, as a result of which a violation of their integrity could occur.
- If you wanted to “light up” the car without first turning off the engine.
- If the terminals were removed from the car battery without first turning off the engine.
- If the terminals were reversed when connecting the battery.
- If the starter was turned on, but no power bus was connected to it. However, no matter what the cause of the ECU malfunction, any repair work can only be carried out after a full professional diagnosis has been carried out.
In general, the nature of the device malfunction will tell you about malfunctions in other systems. After all, if they are also not eliminated, then the new control unit will burn out in the same way as the old one. That is why in the event of a computer burnout, it is very important to establish the true cause of the breakdown and immediately eliminate it. But how to determine that the control unit really failed, and not some other system? This can be understood by a number of the very first signs that may appear in such a situation:
- The presence of obvious physical damage. For example, burnt contacts or conductors.
- Inoperative signals for controlling the ignition system or fuel pump, idle mechanism and other mechanisms that are under the control of the unit.
- Lack of indicators from different sensors of control systems.
- Lack of communication with the diagnostic device.
To prevent final breakdowns, it is necessary to carry out regular diagnostics of the electronic engine control. In order to save on costly repairs and complete replacement of the elements of the electronic control system, an inspection is carried out at least once a year.
Where is the Opel Corsa ECU located and what does it look like
The electronic control unit (ECU) of the Opel Corsa is located behind the upholstery panel on the right side of the vehicle interior. The ECU is the main element of the fuel injection system. The ECU constantly receives signals from various sensors and controls the most important systems and engine components. In addition, the ECU performs the functions of diagnosing malfunctions of engine systems and components. 
If any malfunction is detected, the ECU turns on the “Engine Maintenance Required” indicator, determines and stores the corresponding malfunction code (codes) in memory. This makes it easier to diagnose failures in the future. The vehicle is equipped with an IEFI-6 ECU.
In case of failure, the ECU is replaced as an assembly, since it does not contain repairable elements. Parameters and control algorithms are stored in an erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM). The version of the program recorded in the ROM is indicated by the ECU number, which corresponds to the vehicle identification number.
The ECU supplies power to various sensors and switches with a constant voltage of 5 and 12 V. The electrical circuits of the ECU have a high resistance, so when the power terminals are connected to the control lamp, the latter does not light up. A high impedance (10 MΩ) digital voltmeter should be used to accurately measure the supply voltage. The ECU controls the operation of the fuel injectors, idle valve, compressor clutch, etc. using special electronic devices (4-channel drivers) designed to process the output control signals of the ECU.
Self-diagnosis of the computer Opel Corsa
Many drivers believe that only professionals should check the operation of the engine control unit. In fact, almost every “brain” is equipped with a built-in self-diagnosis system at the factory. With its help, it will not be difficult even for an inexperienced driver to identify any malfunctions with their own hands. 
The engine control unit is a mini-computer that must perform specialized tasks in real time. The latter can be divided into 3 categories:
- processing of signals coming from sensors;
- calculation of impacts to control vehicle systems;
- adjustment of the operation of the actuators.
To start checking the status of the engine control unit, we need to connect to it. This can be done using a special tester or a laptop. On the latter, a program designed to read diagnostic data must be installed in advance. Modern cars are equipped with various models of ECU.
We will carry out computer diagnostics with our own hands using the free KWP-D program. In addition to the utility, we need an adapter that supports the KWP2000 protocol. We start the diagnostics by connecting the adapter. We insert one end of it into the computer port, and the other end into the laptop. After that, turn on the ignition of the car and run the program. A message should appear on the laptop display stating that the operation to check for errors in the operation of the computer has successfully begun. After that, we will see a table with the most important parameters of the machine.
It is necessary to pay attention to the DTC section, which contains all the errors generated by the engine. If there are any, then go to the "Codes" section, where we will see a decoding of all the existing failures. If you did not find any errors, then the engine is in perfect condition.
Do not ignore other sections of the table. The information they contain is just as important. So, the UACC parameter is responsible for the state of the battery. Normal values for this section are in the range of 14-14.5 V. If your battery voltage is lower, you should carefully check the electrical circuits. Another important parameter is THR, which is responsible for the throttle position. During normal idle, the throttle position sensor will read 0%. Otherwise, you should contact a specialist. 
Another important indicator that all drivers are interested in is the QT parameter, which is responsible for the amount of fuel consumption. At idle, the section should contain the numbers 0.6–0.9 l / h. For a more accurate diagnosis, you will need to check the voltage in the car's spark plugs. Checking all these indicators, drivers very often ignore the state of the crankshaft during rotation, for which the LUMS_W section is responsible. If the numbers in it are more than 4 rpm, this is a sign of uneven ignition in the cylinders. It is also worth checking high-voltage wires and candles.
Video: Opel Corsa ECU Diagnostics
How to replace Opel Corsa - step by step instructions
In order to replace the ECU with an Opel Corsa, you must perform the following procedure:
- Disconnect the negative battery cable.
- Open the panel covering the ECU.
- Remove the electronic control unit from the socket and disconnect the connectors.
- Insert the ECU into the socket by connecting the connectors.
- Install the panel.
- Connect battery cable.
When replacing the computer, carry out all disassembly and assembly operations in accordance with the instructions above.
Video: Opel Corsa ECU Repair
Opel is a fairly well-known automaker from Germany. The brand is of German origin, although this does not mean at all that the cars are produced in Germany.
Opel are in good demand among consumers. This can be explained by a decent ratio of price and quality offered. At the same time, one of the key reasons for the ability to offer good cars at an affordable cost is the competent organization of the production process. The brand has distributed its businesses across different regions and countries.
Due to the fact that production facilities are distributed over different geographical locations, this allows saving on wages, supplying cars to the nearest dealerships, ensuring efficient supply of original spare parts, components, providing technical support, etc.
But the branching of production does not allow a clear understanding of the country of the Opel car manufacturer. Therefore, potential buyers have many questions regarding the origin of German brand vehicles.
You should find out and figure out where the Opel Astra is assembled and where the family Opel Zafira, as well as a number of other representatives of the company's model range, are assembled.
Producing countries
If we talk in general terms about whose manufacturer Opel is, then we can say that this is Germany. The brand is purely German. But here the question is rather not in whose production under the name Opel, but where the assembly is carried out.
Although the car with the Opel nameplate is positioned as German, in practice there is some difference in whose real country the manufacturer is. In fact, we are talking about the German mark, collected at factories in different countries. This principle is used by almost all leading automakers. After all, everyone understands perfectly well that the same ones are not at all collected exclusively in Germany by pedantic Germans.
Opel, which until recently was part of the General Motors auto corporation, which already gives reason to call the brand not only German, but also American, has several enterprises. Moreover, General Motors specifically limits the production of Opel cars at their factories, since at the moment it does not particularly rely on the German brand. You will learn about the situation with the company a little later.
Some of the problems with expanding the influence and presence of Opel in the international market are due to the fact that these cars are mainly created for European consumers. Because of this, cars are not in great demand in the USA, South America, Asia.
There are several factories and production lines dispersed in different countries. Namely:
- Germany. All premium cars, that is, the most expensive models of the company, are assembled here. Also carried out in Germany, which are then sent to assembly lines in other countries. Germany is still the main production base;
- Europe. There are several branches, concentrated in European countries, where assembly is carried out with a full cycle. Among them are Poland, Belgium, Spain, Great Britain, Austria and Hungary;
- In France, only assembly from components is carried out. At the same time, Opel is assembled here at the enterprises of other brands;
- Türkiye. Ready-made knots are supplied here, so the Turks can only put them together.
When it comes to where the same popular Opel Insignia is assembled or who is the manufacturer of the compact Opel Corsa, often the first thing that comes to mind is China or India.
Yes, many companies, including the current auto giants, widely use the Celestial Empire and India to assemble their cars. This is due to the financial benefits of such production. But this trend did not affect Opel. Also, the manufacturer does not use factories in Indonesia and South America. Therefore, you should not believe that the popular Opel Vectra is actually assembled in some Chinese province or Indonesian city.
Main factories
Some motorists are interested in where the Opel Mokka is now being assembled for consumers from Russia, and whether cars of this brand really continue to be assembled on the territory of the Russian Federation.
Up to a certain point, Opel has allocated several of its main production lines in Germany, Poland, Great Britain and Russia.
Germany, where 3 enterprises are located, collects:
- corsa;
- Zafira;
- Astra;
- Adam.
The production of the Astra, Astra ST and Vivaro models is concentrated at two enterprises in the UK. And the Polish capacities are responsible for the production of Astra, Astra Classic and Zafira. For Spain, Corsa and Meriva are considered key models.
But the question still remains open as to which plant the assembly of Opel Astra, Mokka, Antara, etc. models can be. The answer to whose assembly line produced these cars largely depends on the year the car was produced.
The thing is that earlier it was not difficult to find out where Opel Antara or Insignia are assembled for Russia, since the car assembled on the territory of the Russian Federation went to domestic consumers. But at present, it will not be possible to assemble a number of models in Russia.
Some models were indeed produced at Russian enterprises. But now no car is produced. Moreover, at one time the production of Opel cars was quite active and large-scale. And still, it is interesting to know which plant in Russia was used for this and where Opel Astra and other models of the German automobile brand, no less popular among Russians, were created at one time.
The assembly of German cars was concentrated in St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad. Moreover, the following models were created here:
- Astra;
- Zafira;
- Antara;
- insignia;
- Meriva;
- Astra ST.
Quite a long time ago it became known where the production would be transferred and where the same Opel Mokka, Astra or Zafira is now being assembled.
Over the past few years, after Opel left the Russian market, the situation with production facilities and their placement has changed a bit. There were representative offices in South America and South Korea. On the territory of the Russian Federation, Opel released its last car in 2015.
Let's find out who assembles and produces some of the Opel cars available in the Russian Federation, instead of domestic factories in Kaliningrad and St. Petersburg.
- Different versions of the Astra model, including the Classic and Sport Tourer, were moved from St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad to the territory of assembly lines in the UK;
- Models Antara and Mokka are now produced by the Mexicans. Although for some time South Koreans were also doing this in parallel. Then the assembly in Korea was curtailed, but Mexico remained in business;
- If earlier Zafira was produced in Kaliningrad, now these tasks are performed only in Germany;
- Meriva was assembled on domestic conveyors to the last, but after 2015, production moved to Poland.
According to available information, at the moment the demand for Opel cars among Russians is quite high. Therefore, it is likely that in the next or already in 2020 the German brand will resume cooperation with Russian enterprises, and domestically assembled Opel cars will appear again. Although, given the latest news, the expectations of many may not coincide with reality. Opel is unstable, and its future is rather cloudy.
Whose Opel is now
Until now, many motorists claim that Opel is a purely German brand. This is true, but since 1929 the company has become part of the General Motors auto concern.
The story developed either rapidly or gradually. Opel has had incredible ups and very painful downs. At the same time, there has never been the slightest doubt that General Motors will not give up its European business in the face of the Opel brand.
But everything turned upside down at the beginning of 2017, when suddenly the management of the American concern announced their intention to sell Opel. But along with it, the English subsidiary brand Vauxhall also went under the hammer. The motives were more than prosaic. Loss ratio. In recent years, Opel and Vauxhall have not brought the company a profit at all. On the contrary, the enterprises were incredibly unprofitable.
And the buyer was found quickly enough. It turned out to be the PSA automobile association, which includes companies such as Citroen and Peugeot. Many wondered why all of a sudden European auto companies, which themselves had only recently been in a state of deep crisis, but managed to recover a little and achieve good success.
But the question becomes logical regarding the expediency of the purchase by the PSA association of the unprofitable and problematic Opel enterprise. In fact, PSA are buying their competitor, since Opel is mainly focused on consumers in the European market. That is, it can be assumed that the French want to buy a direct competitor, after which they simply close all enterprises. A strange move that bears little resemblance to the truth.
Another option is considered an attempt to join forces, bringing together quite impressive brands in the face of Citroen, Peugeot and Opel in order to push against, and also cope with the eternal rival Renault. That is, PSA has ambitions to take a strong second place on the continent.
General Motors position
As the analytical documentation provided by General Motors clearly shows, since 1999 their European business, that is, the production of Opel cars, has been purely unprofitable. In 2009, there was a serious financial crisis, in which the American corporation also suffered. Even then, GM was determined to sell Opel because of its chronic unprofitability and unprofitability. Moreover, the company even managed to agree with representatives from Canada and Russia, that is, there was a real chance that Opel would eventually become Russian. But the deal fell through at the very last moment. Whether this is good or bad, it is difficult to judge now.
When General Motors abandoned the idea of selling its European brand, few doubted that the corporation would decide to sell in the future. Indeed, after the failed deal, the Americans began to pour large sums of money into the development, formation and modernization of Opel. Although several factories had to be closed, including German and Belgian assembly lines, a huge amount of money was invested in troubled enterprises in parallel.
As a result, Opel actively took up the modernization of its production, the development of new models, the improvement of marketing, and the increase in its ratings. As a result, the efforts were not in vain. In Europe, the situation has improved significantly, cars under the Opel brand have become in demand and quite popular.
And then General Motors sincerely began to believe that in almost 20 years their European car brand would finally finish the reporting year with positive dynamics, earn money and not go into the red. But expectations did not match reality. At the end of 2016, operating losses amounted to an impressive almost $260 million. Then representatives of General Motors explained this by the fact that there was a sharp devaluation of the British currency, and the UK decided to withdraw from the European Union.
PSA Intentions and Chinese Winning Position
Not everyone knows, but back in 2012, a certain strategic alliance was signed and created between General Motors and PSA. At that time, the European association of automakers Citroen and Peugeot were going through hard times and were actually on the verge of bankruptcy. GM helped their European counterparts and even temporarily held about 7% of PSA shares.
An unusual alliance was created to organize a joint purchase of components and develop models under the PSA and Opel brands on joint platforms. As a result, cars such as Opel's Crossland X, actually created from Peugeot 2008, appeared. And also GrandLand X, produced under the Opel brand, although in fact it was a converted 3008 from the French Peugeot.
The result of all these rather unexpected turns was the sale of the Opel brand to PSA at the end of 2017. Experts are confident that the main goal of the European auto companies Peugeot and Citroen is precisely the takeover of a European competitor in order to further reduce excess production capacity in Europe.
Moreover, the French will certainly not cut jobs in their homeland, since about 13% of PSA shares are on the balance sheet of the state. The cuts will be implemented through England and Germany.
Do not forget about another 13% of the shares, which are owned by the Chinese automaker DongFeng. It is he who, according to analysts, wins in this situation more than others. After all, only the Chinese company will have at its disposal not only quite interesting and relevant modern technologies from Citroen and Peugeot, but also the largest Opel design center. This will allow an enterprise from the Middle Kingdom to significantly expand its product line, improve the quality and recognition of its brand, without putting much effort into the development of new technologies.
Given the current situation, it is very difficult to predict where Opel brand cars will be produced in the future, and whether the company will cease to exist. There are prerequisites for this. And after the transition to the PSA, the risk of the disappearance of Opel becomes more and more likely.
The fourth generation Opel Corsa debuted in 2006. Stylish and compact hatchback struck the youth on the spot. And now not at the same pace, of course, but the demand is still good. In 2009, there was a restyling, but in fact the Corsa remained the same model. Like any other car, it has chronic problems. Let's find out what difficulties the future owners of the hatchback will have to face.
First, a few words about the car, which will be discussed. This is an average version with a complete set, most often found on the market - 2008 release with a robotic gearbox and a mileage of 100,000 kilometers. Under the hood of the Opel Corsa is a 1.2-liter gasoline engine with a capacity of 80 horsepower. On the market for this they ask, on average, 300 thousand rubles.
First impression
The first impression the car leaves pleasant. Compared to its main competitors and the Hyundai Getz, the interior looks much more attractive. The controllability of the car does not lose sharpness over the years, but the dynamics ... Firstly, the engine has only 80 forces, and secondly, it works in tandem with a robot, but more on that later.
Apart from a couple of scratches and paint chips on the bodywork, the look of the 2008 Opel Corsa has remained normal over the years. But in the cabin, several chronic sores "crawl" out. For example, chrome door handles peel off, the leather on the steering wheel loses its marketable appearance, and the coil can work every other time. But more interesting, what problems are inside. We were told about them by car service specialists.
Chassis
Two chronic sores of the running Opel Corsa are weak steering tips and stabilizer struts. But the most “standard” and, perhaps, the most unpleasant sore is a malfunction of the electric steering rack. The fact is that during operation, water, sand and reagents get on the stuffing box and the sensor located on the rail, which causes them to fail. It is impossible to change them. The problem is eliminated only by a complete replacement of the unit.
Engine
According to experts, in general, the Opel Corsa engine is quite reliable. Unless sometimes the electronic module fails, which is mounted instead of the usual ignition coil. If one of the cylinders "misses", it breaks. Its replacement is not cheap.
Over time, the engine loses a lot of power. After 7-8 years of operation, 70-75 percent of the declared horses remain. And the dynamics are also lame. Uphill with the pedal to the floor, the speedometer needle almost does not react. This, of course, is the fault of the robot.
Transmission
In general, Opel Corsa is sold with three types of transmission: mechanics, robot and automatic. Of the main problems of mechanics, it should be noted the frequent failure of the reverse gear. The machine is slow, tight, but reliable enough in operation.
The standard problems of the robot are jerks, bumps and pits when switching, which is not very comfortable. Experts say that it is extremely difficult for the driver to understand the degree of wear and tear, if only something breaks completely, then it starts to make a lot of noise. And so, even on a new machine, the behavior of the robot seems to be emergency.
household sores
Traditionally, Opel Corsa owners complain about the low ground clearance inherent in cars of this class, and weak paintwork. Well, if you read the forums, then among other disadvantages there is an oil filler cap, which often leaks. The problem also happens with the heated rear window, in which the threads burn out. On every fourth car, the interior blower fan makes noise, and the engine fan resistor breaks.
Let me remind you that our 2008 Opel Corsa costs 300 thousand rubles. It doesn't take much to bring the car to perfect condition. Repair of the chassis, elimination of cosmetic defects outside and inside will cost a total of 25 thousand rubles. As a result, the real price of the car will be 325 thousand rubles.
Buying a new car
As for buying a new car, the 4th generation is still on sale to this day. In 2010, the model has undergone restyling and looks a little more stylish. There are not many changes inside - a couple of new options and a 1.2-liter engine has now become 5 horses stronger. The price of a hatchback in a similar configuration is 535 thousand rubles. As a result, the benefit when buying a used Opel Corsa 2008, taking into account the money invested in repairs, will be 210 thousand rubles. Not so much.
According to statistics, 9 out of 10 Opel Corsa owners do not regret their purchase. According to them, the car is stylish, economical and reliable. Well, they usually complain about low ground clearance, crickets in the cabin and weak dynamics. Of all the competitors in the secondary market, Opel Corsa is one of the leaders in the B-segment, so there are a lot of interesting and profitable offers.
The article tells about some features of the Opel Corsa D compact hatchback, about the most vulnerable places in the car.
Compact class D cars are very convenient for urban use - the car is easy to park, it consumes little fuel.
In Europe, small hatchbacks have long been very popular, and recently in Russia, such cars are increasingly found on the roads.
A bit from the history of Opel Corsa cars
The history of the German car "Opel Corsa" begins in 1982, the first cars were presented in the back of a 3-door hatchback and 2-door sedan.
In 1985, a 5-door hatchback appeared and a 4-door sedan popular at that time, the model range of power units was represented by 1000 and 1300 cm 3 engines.
The model was produced until 1993, then the German concern began production of a new compact car Opel Corsa B.
EXPLANATION: Class B is just a class of cars (compact type), for example, Mercedes has cars of class C and E. And the letters a, b, c, d are Opel 1, 2, 3, 4 generations, for simplicity they were denoted by letters . Opel Corsa a, b and c are previous generations of the car.
There were no more sedans in the second generation Corsa, the lineup was represented by 3-door and 5-door hatchbacks. The new car has acquired a more rounded shape, there have been significant changes in appearance:
- new optics appeared;
- steel more streamlined bumpers;
- the grille has changed.
The range of engines has significantly expanded - on the updated Opel Corsa, along with small engines, more powerful engines with volumes of 1400 and 1600 cm 3 began to be used, diesel engines of 1.5 and 1.7 liters were also installed on the car. The transmission used a 5-speed "mechanics" and a 4-speed automatic transmission.
Opel Corsa C was produced from 2000 to 2006, the model was also presented in a hatchback body, in a 3-door and 5-door version. The new body became more reliable - due to galvanization, it steadfastly resisted corrosion, the iron itself also became stronger.
A 125-horsepower 1.8-liter power unit was added to the line of gasoline engines, and a 1.5-liter engine was removed from the diesel range.
The fourth-generation Corsa D compact hatchback debuted in October 2006, the car was created jointly by General Motors and Fiat.
The new “smiling” car was produced on the Gamma platform, compared to the previous Corsa model, it became larger in size:
- 160 mm longer;
- 60 mm wider.
Just like the previous two generations, the new Corsa is available in 3-door and 5-door hatchback body styles, and the 5-door model is 24mm wider than the 3-door.
The Corsa D was assembled in Germany and Spain.
Opel Corsa D 2007
In 2007, the Corsa D version appeared with a new 1600 cm3 diesel engine (192 hp).
The compact hatchback was restyled in 2010:
- new colors appeared in the model range;
- new engines were added to the line of power units;
- the car received a different grille;
- changed the front bumper.
Engines and related problems
In the automotive market, Opel Corsa D is mainly represented with gasoline engines of 1000, 1200 and 1400 cm3, there are cars with diesel engines, but they are very rare.
On almost all gasoline engines, the front or rear crankshaft oil seal can leak, and oil often flows through the pressure sensor.
If a leak is detected through the sensor, the malfunction must be immediately eliminated, otherwise the oil may get on the wiring, and then the repair will cost much more.
You must not allow the engine to overheat - if the temperature indicator starts flashing or lights up red, the engine should be turned off, and the car should be loaded onto a tow truck and deal with what happened already in the car service.
Overheating primarily leads to warping of the block head - replacing the cylinder head is expensive for car owners.
If the crankcase ventilation system freezes in the cold, increased pressure is created in the motor. At the same time, the oil dipstick is squeezed out, and, if overlooked, oil may leak from the engine. Therefore, as a preventive measure, the ventilation system should be flushed every 50 thousand km.
Transmission
The most problematic Opel Corsa D gearboxes are robotic.
Gear shifting can occur with a crunch or knock, reverse gear is engaged with a grinding, while the car twitches or “thinks”.
First of all, the clutch fails, it is changed at 80-100 thousand km, but this is subject to careful operation.
Incorrect operation of the box can begin even at 30 thousand kilometers.
Often, on machines with an Easytronic gearbox, the gear selector creates problems.
Any problems with Easytronic should be contacted by specialized auto repair shops. An unqualified repair box can be completely “finished off”, and then you will have to buy a used part at a car disassembly, since a new “robot” costs unrealistic money.
The least hassle is delivered by a manual transmission; closer to a hundred thousand kilometers, a clutch replacement may be necessary. If the box is not "teared", it passes for a long time.
Automatic transmissions are also quite reliable, but so that the transmission does not fail ahead of time, it follows through 50-60 thousand km.
Electrical part
The alternator and starter are problematic parts on many Opels. Before it "ends", the generator begins to whistle.
Often the voltage regulator fails, and then charging disappears. You can buy a Chinese generator, it is inexpensive, but how long a Chinese part can last is unknown.
Starters on the Opel Corsa are low-power, and fail from frequent engine starts, they break especially quickly in the cold.
Also, in some cases, cheap Chinese products help out, but it’s better not to be stingy and purchase an original starter.
The rear wiper motor can simply fail, and the most typical reason for its failure is the freezing of the rear brush to the glass.
Drivers, before turning on the rear wiper, first make sure that everything is in order with the brush.
Suspension
Suspension Opel Corsa D - standard for cars of this class:
- front - MacPherson type;
- rear - transverse beam with springs.
It cannot be said that something in the suspension breaks very often, but it is also difficult to call it too reliable.
As in any other passenger car, in the Korsa, first of all, they require the replacement of the stabilizer strut, shock absorbers are not very reliable.
However, here, as luck would have it, with a successful combination of circumstances, the shock absorber struts can travel up to 90 thousand km.
Almost all Opels are characterized by weak rear springs, on the Corsa D the springs also break, especially if you constantly overload the trunk. In general, the rear suspension is reliable and does not cause much criticism.
Body
Starting from the third generation Corsa, the bodies on compact Opels are galvanized, so they resist corrosion well.
Traditionally for Opel cars, over time, “saffron milk caps” appear on the edges of the rear fenders, in which case the rear bumper should be removed, defective areas cleaned, primed and painted.
