Dead Zafira - any ideas?

No idea about these problems (unless it's caused by a dying battery, which I could just about believe).

However, that sounds exactly like a flat battery to me.

Did you have the lights on whilst trying to crank it? If not, the lights could well be OK (along with the instrument panel, etc) until the starter tries to draw a higher current than the battery can supply whilst maintaining 12V, so the voltage drops, the lights dim, the electronics turn off, the starter clicks a bit then fails to turn the engine.

Also sounds like a flat battery.

I'd definitely try a jump start.

I know this is an old car but my sons Nova started the same way. Engine management light coming on and running a little rough as if on 3 cylinders.

I replaced dist cap, leads, plugs, coil, and any other ans electrical equipment but to no avail. So I put it into a local non dealer garage and they replaced one the air flow sensor and charged me £150 for the job. The car ran a little better but a few days and it was back to rough. So now I put it into a Vauxhall dealer for diagnostics......they charge me £150 for this and tell me it needs a new ecu at £200 + fitting + vat. Having now spent the best part of £350 I decline their offer in view of scraping it..........car value versus repair value.

A quick internet check and I can get the ecu checked for £40 and if required, fixed for £130 which included the checking cost, delivery back and vat. They are easy to remove so I sent it off. The ecudoctor reported a problem, repaired it and within 5 days it was back with me, fitted and the car has run great ever since (2 years ago).................this whole saga cost £500.

so my sug is get the ecu checked (£40) at the/an ecu doctor before laying out more money to the garages.

I didn't have the lights on when trying to crank it. It's the electonics turning off which foxed me a bit - with the emissions light being on I figured it might be an electronics fault preventing the car from even attempting to start.

Thanks for that.

Yup, correct diagnosis, started immediately with a jump start. Now have to figure out if there's any connection between the 2 faults, but I think it's probably coincidence and a new battery is called for (still on original after 5 1/2 years). Hopefully the dealers will be able to diagnose the emissions light fault.

Biggles

Thanks for the suggestion - I would be up for trying this company but unfortunately I don't have 5 days.

I had a similar problem a couple of years ago when the diagnosis was oxygen sensor, ran OK for a couple of days, then light was back on again. The dealer replaced the Mass Air Flow Meter and all was fine.

You'd think a Vauxhall main dealer would be used to properly diagnosing this sort of fault, they must see enough of them.

Biggles

Perhaps they are incapable or more likely see it as a money spinner because after all they stand little chance of any comeback and the poor customer has to fork out for their lack of knowledge and trial and error fixes. The MAF is often easy to get at and replace and from the general newsgroup comments seems a frequent item to cause problems.

Thanks Lez for the link though, its nice to hear of someone's good reports after all you never know when such a repair is required.

Gio

If you ever need spares and can get the part numbers then you can get in touch with Westcoast, they break Ford and Vauxhall and have loads of stuff in there. They're in the north west. They probably have loads of second hand black boxes if you want a new one.

the only problem with a S/H ecu or any electronic part is...............does it work.

I also thought about it but decided better to repair the original.

dj

Do you have an address or web site for Westcoast?

The only Westcoast ford salvage I can find is in the USA

West Coast Car Breakers (Ford/Vauxhall)

They are sited in Brock (A6 near Garstang) Lancs.

Mail Order is available.

ahhh, sorry, I made a spell mistake

Thanks