Vauxhall won't start at random times

Vauxhall won't start at random times

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Discussion

Johnnyren

Original Poster:

1 posts

94 months

Tuesday 17th May 2016
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Hi there
I have a Vauxhall mk4 2000 plate , which seems to refuse to start once every month say . The first two times it happened I thought it may just have been a flat battery and I've had it going by either a push start or with jump leads . It happened again today a month or so since the last time , this morning had had drove it thirty miles or so to work , popped into a shop for a paper and when I came out it was trying to turn over but wouldn't start.i managed to get a push start and carried on the last mile or so to my work , When I tried to start it earlier to go home it started no problem . Any ideas what it could be ?

DIYMechGuy

29 posts

103 months

Wednesday 18th May 2016
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Well, if it's not the battery (I assume you've carried out tests to determine that it's not faulty etc), could it possibly be a faulty starter motor (is that possible?)
Have you tried checking for fault codes?
Intermittent problems can be a right pain to diagnose!

RR-B fixer

16 posts

94 months

Thursday 19th May 2016
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Bad power cable to starter motor or bad engine earth?

Philemon

1,590 posts

195 months

Friday 20th May 2016
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When it refuses to start, does the starter motor turn the engine over?

If it does, sounds like it could very well be the crank position sensor.

E-bmw

9,101 posts

151 months

Friday 20th May 2016
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Vauxhall mk4 what?

Petrol/diesel?

Tiddy5974

8 posts

94 months

Saturday 21st May 2016
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Hi
I've got Astra 1.4 petrol on 06 plate it struggles to start all the Time but once running it runs spot on
I've changed cam crank temp inlet manifold complete all sensors I can see have been changed to no avail it be comming a night mare done pedal test also on computer and no faults show
When car does start it is a bit rough on Tick over but when you drive it it is fine can any one help

sunbeam alpine

6,936 posts

187 months

Saturday 21st May 2016
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Tiddy5974 said:
Hi
I've got Astra 1.4 petrol on 06 plate it struggles to start all the Time but once running it runs spot on
I've changed cam crank temp inlet manifold complete all sensors I can see have been changed to no avail it be comming a night mare done pedal test also on computer and no faults show
When car does start it is a bit rough on Tick over but when you drive it it is fine can any one help
Have you tried another battery?

Tiddy5974

8 posts

94 months

Saturday 21st May 2016
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Why battery if car is turning over fine ? I thought if it turned over battery must be ok

sunbeam alpine

6,936 posts

187 months

Saturday 21st May 2016
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Tiddy5974 said:
Why battery if car is turning over fine ? I thought if it turned over battery must be ok
The battery could be fine - "struggles to start" suggested to me slow turning over, but if it turns over fine it should be OK.

It could still be worth trying another battery - we had a TVR which struggled to start, and the cause turned out to be that the replacement battery wasn't strong enough to turn the V8 over quick enough (low CCA value). Putting in a heavier battery solved all the problems.

Tiddy5974

8 posts

94 months

Saturday 21st May 2016
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I'll try it is they a way to test battery to see if it's bad

Tiddy5974

8 posts

94 months

Saturday 21st May 2016
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No joy with battery any more help plz

RR-B fixer

16 posts

94 months

Saturday 21st May 2016
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Once it's running, is the idle always rough? You said driving is OK, but when you stop at traffic lights for example, is it rough again? If so, could be a worn flywheel / crank sensor pick up. The sensor could be fine but the tooth/teeth it reads could be worn out or damaged.

Tiddy5974

8 posts

94 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
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Thanks for reply when stopping at light it some times feels like it is going to stall but doesn't seems to have better idle when warmer but don't think that much better