After parking our Astra for a few days, it would not start. We did some basic visual checks, DMM checks, cleaning. Then voltage drop tests.

Some common issues (we had most of them lol)

1. Dying battery

2. Dying alternator (diodes)

3. Poor connections at battery (clean battery terminals and clamps).

4. Failing crimps at battery terminal

5. Bad grounds. Clean them up under battery, under UEC, at engine block, etc.).

6. *******Ground cable at STARTER (clean the connection but inspect the crimp as the wire tends to oxidize there).

7. CDC30 radio parasitic drain
--> Some problems disapper with a CD installed (this may be applicable only to certain radios in Europe, not sure)
--> We changed 12v power to ignition swithched (there is a low current line hidden behind the cigar lighter. We used a relay and 2A in-line fuse. Said cigar lighter line is insufficient to run the radio)

8. OnStar back-up battery dead. I think this causes the car to periodically wake up and call OnStar, draining the main battery. I don't know if GM disabled this whole thing properly as 3G sunset so it might not be an issue anymore. The battery is hidden behind/above the glove box.
--> One fix would be a new back-up battery.
--> Not sure how to disable the OnStart but one could move it to ignition switched with an in-line fuse in the UEC I suppose. There might be "safety" implications but maybe the older OnStar system was fully disabled. GM issued some notes on this sunset so maybe that helps people.

 

Is there a question here.

 

Documentation of common drivers of parasitic drains on the Astra. Let's take the opportunity to add another potential cause.

- For 5-door models, the wiring between the b-pillar and rear doors was too short and tends to break inside the rubber elbows (or nearby). Typical symptoms can be include:
-> rear window electronics
-> rear door lock electronics
-> rear door speakers
-> potential canbus issues, rarely reported on forums
-> potential parasitic drain, rarely reported on forums

The wires can be repaired manually with wire, soldier, and shrink wrap. But it is tedious and there is only so much room inside the rubber boot. A kit is sold on ebay by a british guy named "mowerman1973lee". We tried the DIY for one door then scrapped that for the kit to do both doors, which is a quality, easier fix.

 

"Another one to watch for is the ignition barrel getting full of crud as the grooves in ignition keys transfer crud into the ignition barrel, so the remote locking fob wont work and the radio stays on when you remove the key.

That involves removing and cleaning the ignition barrel to prevent the pin at the bottom of the ignition barrel sticking and the ignition control unit thinking the key is still in the ignition."

https://www.astraownersnetwork.co.uk...orking.373722/