Opel Combo
Isuzu-based 1.7-litre common-rail diesel with a solid basic design, but can become challenging through typical diesel wear parts. Injectors, EGR and the metering unit of the high-pressure pump are the most common cost traps.
Combo diesel top
74 kW diesel in the Combo – the most powerful diesel, pulls well.
Engine Weaknesses 5
Common-rail injectors wear and show increased return volumes. Individual testing by return flow measurement is possible. Faulty injectors are often replaced as a set.
Symptoms: Rough idle, knocking noises on cold start, exhaust smoke, starting problems, engine stalling.
Turbocharger 49131-06007 is a known weak point and can fail through bearing wear or oil starvation. Cases documented from 35,000 km on motorway drivers.
Symptoms: Whistling or humming from turbo area from around 2,000 rpm, limp mode with power loss, engine warning light, blue or white exhaust smoke.
The EGR valve clogs with soot deposits and sticks open or closed. Particularly common with short-trip use without sufficient engine temperature.
Symptoms: Power loss under load, juddering at mid-range revs, fault code P0400, engine warning light, in the worst case engine stalling.
The high-pressure pump metering unit is a common wear item. The part is cheap, replacement straightforward and often resolves idle and warm-start problems.
Symptoms: Juddering between 1,500 and 2,000 rpm, rough idle with shaking, warm-start problems, occasional engine stalling.
Later Z17DTH variants with a particulate filter suffer from DPF clogging with frequent short-trip use. Regeneration requires sufficiently high exhaust temperatures.
Symptoms: DPF warning light, engine warning light, power reduction, limp mode, increased fuel consumption.
Vehicle Weaknesses 12
The engine control unit on the Combo C can fail and cause issues such as running on only 3 cylinders or sporadic power loss. OBD diagnosis required; repair often expensive.
Rubber entry strips collect water; the metal band abrades the paint. Corrosion on the door sills is only visible after the strips are removed.
Deep corrosion forms at the front and rear wheel arches and underbody during winter use.
Control arms, anti-roll bar drop links, and steering bushings wear quickly with commercial use and frequent full loads.
The mechanical handbrake frequently shows insufficient holding force. Brake cables stretch or seize.
On the Combo C, steering bushings and tie rod joints wear faster than on a private car in everyday and commercial use. Typical problem at higher mileages, especially on frequently loaded vehicles.
Lower and middle guide rail of the sliding door: paint flakes off, rust develops. Pre-2004 vehicles used inferior-quality material.
Faulty actuator motors at the sliding door and tailgate. Cable breaks at moving door components or corroded connectors.
The heater matrix becomes blocked by coolant sludge, especially if water rather than coolant concentrate was topped up frequently. The cabin stays cold despite a warm engine.
Leaking gaskets at the thermostat housing lead to slow coolant loss. Head gasket damage can follow if left unaddressed.
The sliding door guide rail corrodes; the plastic protective strip becomes brittle and breaks. Stiff sliding door and moisture ingress.
Plastic clips and connections in the dashboard loosen with age. Rattling noises especially in cold weather and over poor road surfaces.
