Technical What really is GM on the Croma????

[FiatFleetFamily]

As the Title says:

As far as I know only the front and rear suspension, exhuast system, front and rear wheel hubs inc bearings, all from a Vectra C.

 

[keithglos]

I believe the floor pan is common to the Vectra C, Signum, 159 and a SAAB. Also the brakes have no common parts with other fiat makes, likely interchangable with Vectra?
Exhaust system could depend on the engine type, GM use the JTDm.

 

[DoIDon'tI]

Sorry chaps, the 159 has the 'premium' platform as opposed to the 'Epsilon' one fitted to the others (look at the front suspension and you'll see what I mean). The 'premium floorpan is also the base for the new Vauxhall Insignia BTW. The later Saab 9-3s do indeed use the 'Epsilon', however the closest car(s) to the Croma is the Signum/Vectra C estate (due to the axle weights). Some fluid reservoirs are also GM marked, I wouldn't bet against many of the electrical components being common either. The petrol Cromas use a GM engine, but the Multijets are Fiat. Haven't found any other bits yet but am willing to look if anyone's that curious?

HTH.

 

[s130]

From what I have seen on my Croma: floor pan, wheels, hubs, brakes, suspension, electro hydraulic power steering and gearbox. Front drive shafts may also be GM.

Exhuast/DPF/CAT I'm not sure about, but as the late Vauhalls use the Fiat diesel engine then I would guess the exhaust/DPF/CAT are common.

At least the heart(engine) and styling are Fiat/Italian.

Nick /////

 

[FiatFleetFamily]

Agree with you Nick.

My exhaust on mine is GM, the rear silencer had a embossing of GM/Opel on it. I cross referenced the part number on it, and found that Kwik Fit will charge you £165.00 if you ask for a Croma Rear Silencer, if you ask for Vectra C from 2004 rear silencer which will fit a Vauxhall Vectra 1.9CDTi / Croma 1.9 MJet, it will cost you £89.00 fitted.

The turbocharger on the MjET is also GM.

 

[dave]

genetically modified Fiat

 

[s130]

That is really worth knowing. Near on 50% cheaper is not to be sneared at, even if you end up with a Genetically Modified (thanks Dave) stamp.

Nick /////

 

[stradaretarder]

Sorry chaps, the 159 has the 'premium' platform as opposed to the 'Epsilon' one fitted to the others (look at the front suspension and you'll see what I mean). The 'premium floorpan is also the base for the new Vauxhall Insignia BTW. The later Saab 9-3s do indeed use the 'Epsilon', however the closest car(s) to the Croma is the Signum/Vectra C estate (due to the axle weights). Some fluid reservoirs are also GM marked, I wouldn't bet against many of the electrical components being common either. The petrol Cromas use a GM engine, but the Multijets are Fiat. Haven't found any other bits yet but am willing to look if anyone's that curious?

HTH.

I'm new to the forum having recently bought a Croma 1.9 Multijet, It has an annoying knocking sound from the rear suspension, almost as if the exhaust is hitting the under side over bumps....this is definately not the case. I'm therefore thinking of renewing the rear shocks' as the next step. The threads I've just read suggest I might save £'s if I purchase the GM (vectra c) ones are these the same does anybody know? Or can anybody give me any pointers as to what the problem might be?

 

[keithglos]

Probably worth checking the drop links on the end of the anti roll bar. Also search here for bilstein B4, which have been recommended.

 

[Bunny]

I have the same problem and as above the drop links will be first thing i'll change, well...hellcat will have to change . Going over speed bumps every day to work sure will not have help my car.

 

[DoIDon'tI]

Best get your cheap GM parts while you can, sounds like GM is going to fall over soon...

 

[StevenRB45]

Best get your cheap GM parts while you can, sounds like GM is going to fall over soon...

Old news should visit leisure lounge more often

 

[stradaretarder]

Further to my suspension knock, I have now suffered an anlternator failure, not good when the power steering goes at 75mph! I took the car to my trusted local garage who struggled to find a supplier except for the local FIAT dealership who said it would be at least 3 days delivery. I did my own extensive search and after many phonecalls managed to find somebody who could guarantee next day delivery and guess what? its a GM part No and is used on the Vectra C 1.9 CDTi. My local garage has also found the source of the suspension knock....upper rose 'type' bushes. Apparently they have changed loads of these on...yes you've guessed it Vectra C's. So I have spent the last week enduring the jibes about my Fix It Again Tomorrow only to find the problems I had thus far relate to GM parts!!
However I will not be able to tolerate many more failures as my car is essential to my job and I do high mileages the Croma is on 80k now and this will be increasing at a rate of 2.5k per month minimum, so it is very much still on trial!

 

[Hellcat]

So is the croma a taste of Vauxhall ownership then? Suspension problems galore!

 

[FiatFleetFamily]

My Alternator failed at 60k. Can you post the spare part numbers on this thread that you will purchase grom GM??

 

[stradaretarder]

My Alternator failed at 60k. Can you post the spare part numbers on this thread that you will purchase grom GM??

I have just looked at the altternator that was removed from my car, but the sticker with the details on it is scuffed, I had the new one delivered straight to my local garage for fitment and they don't appear to have given me the delivery/note/invoice. However I'm back there tomorrow for the suspension bushes to be done so will chase it up.
If it helps I purchased the new alternator from Hillmart Uk a.k.a Alternatormart. Their part number was ALT12049. they were very helpful and can do next day delivery for £3.95.

Hope this helps

 

[FiatFleetFamily]

Considering you have now done 80K have you done your cam belt change around 72K? Says 90k in manual, but that is too long for the water pump according to multijet fans! Was the water pump, Cam Belt, Aux Belt, Thermostat, Tensioners and Pulleys...any of them GM parts.

 

[stevec]

I'm glad I found this thread.

I need front suspension arms, rear arms and rose bushes, front offside caliper front discs and pads for a croma 2006 120 multijet.

I replaced the drop links still clunks away as before, and to be honest the old ones felt fine.

The real problem is if I phone anyone up for parts they say "sorry it's dealer only" and then I phone fiat and get ripped off.

Are the arms, etc the same on all vectra C, or do they have variations?

What I'm saying is if I phone a parts supplier for those vectra C parts is someone gonna ask me for a chassis number? Can I just say 02 onwards vectra 1.9 cdti 120...

I would like a croma-->vectra part number comparisonD

 

[FiatFleetFamily]

Steve

I had new wheel bearings on the front recently and they were for a Vecta C from 2002.

The lower and upper suspension arms and drop links are Vectra C.
The rear suspension and trailing arms inc springs and cups are also Vectra C.

Saab 9-3 and Vauxhall Signum also have identical parts on front and rear suspension as the Croma does.

The main problem is that only something like 1300 Croma's were sold before Fiat pulled the model. So people inc motor factors etc are a bit nieve and do not know that the latest incarnation of the Croma that has been around for 3 years.

All you have to do is look at the suspension set up for example on 2005 vectra is identical.

As we get to know our cars better, we will know over a period of time when we have to go to Fiat to buy parts that are not common on GM models.

I have asked if Shop4Parts.co.uk are likely to do a section for Croma's, they are not. because of the volume of models sold, but they will be able to undercut the dealer price of a specific part.

 

[stradaretarder]

I'm glad I found this thread.

I need front suspension arms, rear arms and rose bushes, front offside caliper front discs and pads for a croma 2006 120 multijet.

I replaced the drop links still clunks away as before, and to be honest the old ones felt fine.

The real problem is if I phone anyone up for parts they say "sorry it's dealer only" and then I phone fiat and get ripped off.

Are the arms, etc the same on all vectra C, or do they have variations?

What I'm saying is if I phone a parts supplier for those vectra C parts is someone gonna ask me for a chassis number? Can I just say 02 onwards vectra 1.9 cdti 120...

I would like a croma-->vectra part number comparisonD

Having discussed the rear arms and rose bushes with the my mechanic the rose bushes are definately vectra C, as for the arms themselves which house the bushes there was there was a difference of opinion at the garage, they look similar but one guy said there are the same as the signum....which differs from the Vectra C slightly. Sorry if this confuses the issue further. I had the rear arms replaced complete with new bushes and the cars ride and handling is much improved and the knocking has disappeared. I now need to source some rear pads as mine are barely legal, I will be investigating as to whether these are common with GM