Starting problems - Vauxhall Zafira

[williredale]

Ok, had a strange one yesterday with my wife's Zafira and was wondering if the PH hive mind could shed some light on it.

The previous day my kids and one of their friends were playing in my wife's car while I was outside washing my own. There was much clambering about and switching on of interior lights as the interior of a people carrier is a ready made den.

Yesterday (when it was chucking it down with rain) we got in to drive to the pub but the car wouldn't start. It seemed the starter was spinning very sluggishly so I suspected they'd left something on and the battery was flat. A bking was delivered and we went in my car.

My eldest said that although they'd switched things on she'd gone round after and switched them off. Having checked in the afternoon it looks like she was telling the truth.

Anyway, I charged my booster pack and hooked it up but got exactly the same. The starter sounded sluggish and it wasn't starting. I took the booster off and tried again and after 30+ seconds the engine started to catch and then finally started. It ran rough as old boots for a minute or so and then settled down. There was a rich smell to the exhaust but after it settled down it ran fine and stopped smelling.

I went for a drive and it was fine starting and started fine this morning.

So, after a long story in which I've tried to include everything relevant my questions are:
Have the kids messed with something which has stopped it?
What do you think the problem was?
Is it just a complete coincidence?
Do I need to check anything else?
Is it likely to happen again?

[Steve H]

Did you by chance move it out of your way/off the drive etc so you could wash your car?

[williredale]

Steve H said:

Did you by chance move it out of your way/off the drive etc so you could wash your car?

I did. I moved it back two foot when I started and then again after I'd washed my car I moved it back to where it was. So started twice for probably ten seconds each time. Both of those times it started easily.

It has been absolutely fine since then though.

[Steve H]

That was your problem.

Starting and turning off again whilst stone cold can leave excessive fuel condensing on the cylinder walls, this remains trapped and causes bore wash reducing the compression. You come to restart the car later and it won't kick in and sounds funny whilst cranking (due to the lowered compression). Sometimes just cranking it will be enough to clear but each time you then crank it there is more fuel being added, compounding the problem. Occasionally it's necessary to isolate the fuel supply to allow it to crank away to a point where it will start.

For some reason this is an increasing problem with some modern cars, multivalve Renaults, 5 pot Volvos and V8 Jags being the most common.

[williredale]

Thank you for that. Have a virtual pint!

It would certainly fit. Engine is a 1.6 litre petrol FWIW.

Interesting you should mention 5 pot Volvo engines as being problematic as that's what my car is and I moved that in exactly the same way to make space. On the plus side I did get to criticise her unreliable people carrier while we went to the pub in my Volvo

[marcus85]

Interesting I was having the same problem with a vectra that would do the same and bring the management light on. Hasn't done it since it has been ran for longer than a minute.