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[al brown]

Well, after 4 days of starting straight away, it's back to how it was and has struggled to start twice today.

After reading horror stories on Google about the chain going slack and throwing the timing out I've had the cam cover off. The chain seems tight, there are no marks on the cover from the chain hitting it, the top guide seems fairly new with very little wear on it, so it seems the chain is fine and as it is only a recent thing that is struggling to start I have to assume the timing is correct, plus the compression is good.
It's currently starting fine, so my plan is that next time it feels to start I'm going to try it with the cam sensor unplugged, thinking that if the sensor is dodgy but not too the point of putting up a code it could be putting the timing out a bit so the car struggles to fire. With it unplugged (as Kevin suggested)it should use a default setting to start.

Any other ideas greatly appreciated, it's driving me mad as its so intermittent.

Cheers, Al

[X30XE]

Bear in mind also that if the cable to the sensor is damaged it doesn't matter how good the sensor is...

[al brown]

Bear in mind also that if the cable to the sensor is damaged it doesn't matter how good the sensor is...

Yep, that's true. It's the fact it never misses a beat once it's started and the fact it sometimes starts fine that's got me stumped.
I will get there in the end, just the fact it's intermittent it's hard to know if it's fixed or not or if anything I've done had made a difference.

[X30XE]

Hmm. 

Some more generic ideas:

Dodgy fuel pump relay?

Immobilser circuit? (a lot of cars will still crank even if they're immobilised)


If you can get hold of a wiring schematic it might help understand how the ECU/electronics are colluding to get the thing to run and thus highlight potential weak points. 

[Doctor Gollum]

There is fuel in it?

 

[al brown]

There is fuel in it?

 

Yep, filled it full of diesel as it gives a better mileage

[al brown]

Hmm. 

Some more generic ideas:

Dodgy fuel pump relay?

Immobilser circuit? (a lot of cars will still crank even if they're immobilised)


If you can get hold of a wiring schematic it might help understand how the ECU/electronics are colluding to get the thing to run and thus highlight potential weak points.

Fuel pump runs on my computer and it didn't start after activating the pump for 10 seconds before cranking.

No immobiliser light flashing on startup and it's the same with either of the 2 keys.

Seems like the timing is occasionally out, fuel or spark I'm not sure but as it has good compression and when I've checked ur seems to have fuel and a spark I can only think that at times the 2 aren't having at the right time.

[X30XE]

No problems with your dashboard?

http://www.vauxhallownersnetwork.co.uk/index.php?threads/how-to-fix-intermittent-starting-dashboard-lights-problem.310180/

[Doctor Gollum]

There is fuel in it?

 

Yep, filled it full of diesel as it gives a better mileage

There'll be your problem