93 Cavalier cd td electrical gremlins

To be more precise:
Rear windows are permanently child-proof and only open with the rear
switches when the safety button on the central console is held down.Front
passenger window is reluctant to open, will go down about 4 inches then
stick, if I close it a touch then it will open all the way.
Drivers window will sometimes open halfway then close itself partly.
Radio (original Grundig model) will change waveband itself, may be connected
to going over bumps but doesn't always do this over bad bumps.
Finally (whew) telltale light in wingmirror adjuster unit functions
intermittently.
Can anyone shed some light on this lot? I have had the console surrounding
the handbrake apart and gently cleaned all the contacts I could find with
electrical component degreaser, without success but leaving me with a nice
smell of WD40 etc in the car.
All help welcome!

 

blimey, thats alot of gremlins,
i'd plumb for it being something intermittent, maybe a pos feed, putting a
'spike' round the whole system or maybe even the old chesnut of one of the
earth straps loose or corroded.

just as a second note:

try not to use WD40 on electrical connections etc.
it has no longterm lubrication & infact contains chemicals & tiny grit
particles which will eat away the plating eventually making the problem
worse.

RS switch cleaner/lubricant spray or the one from maplin or tandy works much
better.

mike

 

Going by the history with my Astra TDS, same Isuzu engine and probably the
same alternator, which I am on my 3rd in 7 years, see if that is working
properly and also check if the earth between the battery, engine and chassis
is ok.

 

I have a further question - are all vauxhall diesels of this age powered by
the Isuzu engine? I ask because I have heard it's a good engine, but mine
seems, to be kind, gutless!
Cheers to all for the tips, I'll be checking the electrics out on Sunday, if
I can find any tuits.

 

That engine should be quite nippy(ish), o-60 in 12 secs or so, top end
108mph.
Does it have a turbo? It's the Izzuzu engine if it has the
"turbo-intercooler" badge on the back boot/hatch. If it is there will be
two electric cooling fans in front of the radiator and there will be
(what looks like) an extra radiator on the nearside front. Check that
all the big air pipes are still connected. The turbo is on the front of
the engine between the exhaust manifold and the exhaust down pipe. Check
that the pipes are still connected and not split anywhere.
I *think* there was a "low blow" i.e. slow version that was a vauxhall
lump (exhaust behind the engine) - that lacked a little sparkle in the
performance department.
Dave

 

Not all Vauxhalls are powered by Isuzu diesels, the Cavalier and some Astras
were, I don't think they put Vauxhall diesels in Cavaliers.

The Isuzu suffers from bags of turbo lag then whoosh!
Not awe inspiring performance, but they go on and on, my TDS has done 122K
miles and has no problems, nicely run in.

 

Yep, agreed. I sold mine at 161K. The engine was fine - shame about the
altenator, gearbox, lecy windows and rust . . . .
You could drive round the lag, but I must admit it did not bother me in
the slightest. I did like 50 to 55 mpg though.
Dave

 

Great engine, fit a cold air feed to by-pass the plenum chamber and
they fly with little or no fuel economy harm. It is a real pity about
their hunger for alternator's and (in my case) batteries and
starters-(£270 a piece!!!!)