Astra 1.6 16v - No go

In this news forum, Simon Barr exclaimed to the world in his special way:

Need more info. Please describe exactly what happens when you turn the key. Does the engine turn over? Do you get a clicking noise but the engine doesn't turn over? Is the battery okay? Is there fuel in it? Is there the right type of fuel in it (ie you didnt put deisel in by mistake although I think this is almost impossible due to forecourt pump nozzle design). Does it have an imobiliser fitted?

This could be a whole multitude of things from a sticking starter, flat battery, imobiliser fault, ignition fault, fuel fault ......etc. Does the engine management system lamp come on and remain on in the dash display? Do any other warning lights come on? Could be a control box fault (the engine management cpu itself) hence the request for more info. Try not to overlook straightdorward things such as I have mentioned. Could be naff lead(s) or spark plug(s) - when were these last replaced?

~Carl

Engine turns over OK, just doesn't fire. AFAIK the fuel is OK too. Factory fitted immobiliser.

I asked the missus if it made any abnormal noises when it first failed, she says not. Cam belt was changed last year so it better not be that!

I dont recall any ECU warning lights and I can smell petrol if I sniff the exhaust, so thats getting through. When I get the chance in daylight I'm going to check all the electrical connections, plugs, leads etc.

I was sort of hoping that there was a common fault that takes 10 seconds to fix, a long shot I know but I had to ask. :-) It'll probably have to wait until the weekend, until then the missus and kids aren't going anywhere by car.

Your problem- very common with EFI cars- they must complete at least some of the warm up cycle before being shut down, else severe flooding occurs- as you have learnt.

Remove the fuel pump fuse- look in the manual- then crank it in a long burst for10-15 seconds with the throttle wide open. It may splutter abit, even run. Crank it some more to expel as much of the excess fuel as you can.

Reinstall fuse, with throttle wide open again- DO NOT PUMP - crank again in a long burst. If it shows signs of firing, keep cranking until it will self sustain and once started hold it at 3000rpm or so until its running smooth.

Tim..

Cheers, I'll give it a go tonight. I did think that the short start/stop may have something to do with it which is why I mentioned it. I did have a little whinge at her about starting it to move a few feet, but she said that it wouldn't move!!

Hopefully you're right and it's a nice easy fix.

Thanks.

You were spot on Tim. I went home lunch time and tried what you suggested and it worked perfectly.

Thankyou very much, I owe you one.

Flooding hadn't occured to me, I suppose that I thought EFI cars are too clever for that.

Damp in the ignition system?

In this news forum, Simon Barr exclaimed to the world in his special way:

Thats great Simon. This is what newsgroups are all about. Terrific.

~Carl

It is great isn't it, just a pity it doesn't work everytime :-)

I thought that too - until I flooded my daughter's car in exactly the same way a few eeeks ago.

Makes you wonder about garages, when they move cars around on the forecourt ...

I sit just flooded?

Try removing a plug and checking.

Er.. yep it was flooded. I think you may have missed some posts.

These cars also have a 'clear flood' mode that might be worth trying before removing the fuel pump fuse. Just make sure there's no mats in the way, and put your foot flat down on the throttle, while turning it over. 9 times out of 10, this works!

Matthew

Personnally, I've not come across any Vx cars with the Clear Flood mode that cuts off the injectors totally, and I've worked on many. Only Ford have it.

Tim..

Thus spake Carl unto the assembled multitudes:

I second that. I've printed Tim's suggestion for sticking in my Haynes manual. I have noticed a couple of times that my Astra (same model) splutters a bit even the next day if I've just started it for a very short time, e.g. to move it, though it has never actually failed to start.