Photo: Screenshot from VRT News
While following an official invitation from Opel to bring his Astra to a service for a free software upgrade, a Belgian journalist recorded a discussion between two employees who were talking about a software update to reduce the nitrogen oxide emissions of the Zafira Tourer’s 1.6-liter diesel engine.
The reporter’s name is Luc Pauwels, and he works for VRT News in Belgium, Deredactie reports. He’s owned his Opel Astra for five years without a glitch, but he became curious when he received a letter from General Motors' European branch in late September 2015. He decided to hide a video camera in his car, so he could monitor what was happening to the vehicle in the service area.
He learned that Opel had decided to update the engine software on the Zafira Tourer’s 1.6-liter diesel engine. According to unnamed technicians in the service area, the diesel released too much nitrogen oxide vapor, and needed a software update.
The reporter went on with his investigation and probed two 1.6-liter diesel Zafira Tourers to find out if the update had an effect on emissions. According to the measurements done by Belgian specialists, there was a link between the update and the nitrogen oxide emissions (NOx).
Meanwhile, the German company rejected the allegations that the 1.6-liter diesel engines in the Zafira Tourer required such updates, and claimed that they fully comply with regulations.
According to Opel’s statement in the Financial Times, the company only modified 309 vehicles in Belgium, but the change had nothing to do with emission levels. Opel officials stated that they fixed a diesel exhaust fluid controller that “sent out the wrong signals, falsely illuminating a warning light.”
In October 2015, Opel was accused by environmental lobbying group “Deutsche Umwelthilfe” that one of its diesel engines failed to meet European regulations. Back then, the General Motors branch denied the allegations. The German company then carried out its own tests on the Zafira Tourer with the specified engine and stated that it met official emissions restrictions.
He learned that Opel had decided to update the engine software on the Zafira Tourer’s 1.6-liter diesel engine. According to unnamed technicians in the service area, the diesel released too much nitrogen oxide vapor, and needed a software update.
The reporter went on with his investigation and probed two 1.6-liter diesel Zafira Tourers to find out if the update had an effect on emissions. According to the measurements done by Belgian specialists, there was a link between the update and the nitrogen oxide emissions (NOx).
Meanwhile, the German company rejected the allegations that the 1.6-liter diesel engines in the Zafira Tourer required such updates, and claimed that they fully comply with regulations.
According to Opel’s statement in the Financial Times, the company only modified 309 vehicles in Belgium, but the change had nothing to do with emission levels. Opel officials stated that they fixed a diesel exhaust fluid controller that “sent out the wrong signals, falsely illuminating a warning light.”
In October 2015, Opel was accused by environmental lobbying group “Deutsche Umwelthilfe” that one of its diesel engines failed to meet European regulations. Back then, the General Motors branch denied the allegations. The German company then carried out its own tests on the Zafira Tourer with the specified engine and stated that it met official emissions restrictions.
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