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Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: Danny on 17 April 2007, 14:28:10

Title: Engine cut out
Post by: Danny on 17 April 2007, 14:28:10
Driving to work this morning, slow traffic about 10 mph approaching roundabout, engine cuts out. the alternator light, electronics and oil pressure light all come on, i let it roll to the side of the road, switch hazards on and headlights off (foggy first thing this mornin here). I put it in park and switch key off as if to get out and then i leave it for a few seconds, waving a few cars past, I start it up again, things appear to be as normal and it runs fine again, i continue to work, do my postman round and come home, no problems

is there anything I should worry about? because apart from the oil pressure light coming on when the engine cut out, the other 2 come on anyway when you turn your key before the engine starts!

I let the engine cool and checked my oil, no problems there, but as i said, been out in it a couple of times since and had no problems!

also a couple of times recently when i start it up it sometimes feels like it's struggling to start, like it's not putting as much effort in, but it does start on that first attempt, is it just being tempermental?

When its running it runs like a dream and doesnt let me down
Title: Re: Engine cut out
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 17 April 2007, 14:30:50
Sounds like a classic failing crank sensor....read the fault codes.....is it a V6 by the way?
Title: Re: Engine cut out
Post by: tunnie on 17 April 2007, 14:34:47
Quote
Sounds like a classic failing crank sensor....read the fault codes.....is it a V6 by the way?

Its a 2.0 I belive...
Title: Re: Engine cut out
Post by: Danny on 17 April 2007, 14:42:22
2.0 GLS

where would i find out the fault codes?
Title: Re: Engine cut out
Post by: tunnie on 17 April 2007, 14:43:39
Quote
2.0 GLS

where would i find out the fault codes?

Do a search on the 'paperclip' test .... you short 2 pins with a paper clip and the EML light flashes the code numbers at you.
Title: Re: Engine cut out
Post by: Danny on 17 April 2007, 14:51:32
on the instructions i found for a paperclip test it says it can only be done on cars up to 1999
Title: Re: Engine cut out
Post by: tunnie on 17 April 2007, 14:54:36
yours is the 2.0 16v so it should be fine, i think that referes to the later DBW engines (2.2/2.6/3.2)
Title: Re: Engine cut out
Post by: nixoro on 17 April 2007, 15:15:33
Quote
yours is the 2.0 16v so it should be fine, i think that referes to the later DBW engines (2.2/2.6/3.2)

I always thought the facelift models had updated ecu's so the paperclip wouldn't work, learn something new.
Title: Re: Engine cut out
Post by: tunnie on 17 April 2007, 15:19:26
Quote
Quote
yours is the 2.0 16v so it should be fine, i think that referes to the later DBW engines (2.2/2.6/3.2)

I always thought the facelift models had updated ecu's so the paperclip wouldn't work, learn something new.

Err you maybe right.... I can't remember if it was just based on engines or the year? I thought all 2.0's would can be paperclip tested, of course I am probably wrong!  :-[
Title: Re: Engine cut out
Post by: Danny on 17 April 2007, 15:25:52
paperclip test gave nothing away, no flashing EML at all

makes me think it just had a tantrum, and maybe I should just keep my eye on it's behaviour

its due a service on thursday and it's having a new cambelt kit done on sunday

a few of you will already be familiar with my extreme lack of knowledge of cars and their mechanical workings anyway, most of your wives or girlfriends will know more than me!!
Title: Re: Engine cut out
Post by: tunnie on 17 April 2007, 15:27:34
sorry yes i think nixoro was right, only works until 1999, sorry!

Still sounds like a crank sensor problem. Does the car start ok when warm?
Title: Re: Engine cut out
Post by: Danny on 17 April 2007, 15:43:32
starts fine practically all the time, just 2 or 3 times lately it's felt almost lazy starting, not spluttering or grinding like a struggling start, just half hearted!
Title: Re: Engine cut out
Post by: tunnie on 17 April 2007, 15:47:01
Quote
starts fine practically all the time, just 2 or 3 times lately it's felt almost lazy starting, not spluttering or grinding like a struggling start, just half hearted!

Could be the cam sensor on its way out....

See how it starts when warm, if it takes a lot of cranking could be the cam sensor.
Title: Re: Engine cut out
Post by: Matchless on 17 April 2007, 16:07:15
The crank sensor may be the eventual fault but I would eliminate the idle valve first.

As its an auto the idle air valve could be responsible for the stall, if the valve and breathers are gummed up then the idle valve becomes sluggish, at idle it results in un-even idle speed but when driving along and closing the throttle for a junction it can be too slow to react and the engine momentarily is starved of air and stalls, on a manual you dont really notice because it is still in gear and restarts but an auto would just stop.
Title: Re: Engine cut out
Post by: AndersH on 17 April 2007, 16:28:53
The paperclip test works ok on my year 2000 car...
Title: Re: Engine cut out
Post by: Danny on 17 April 2007, 16:59:10
right i went out in it just now, started without problem, had a drive round to warm it up, came back home, started it a few times, revved it a bit and let it settle, started it a few more times, not a single problem, not even a "lazy" start

maybe it just had a bad night's sleep..?

ps, seems to have a steady idle speed too when stood with engine running
Title: Re: Engine cut out
Post by: tunnie on 17 April 2007, 17:21:33
When my cam sensor went, it was fine most of the time. Really hot days and short runs show it up. A very short run (1.5 miles) switch off, take dog for long walk, come back, try starting it. Took riduclous amound of cranking, finally started and the spanner light was on.

Switch off, and it re-started ok. spanner light when out.

If yours does not do the above (sounds like it does not) your problem does sound like the crank sensor!  :y
Title: Re: Engine cut out
Post by: Danny on 17 April 2007, 17:31:07
i'll mention it on thursday when i get it serviced
Title: Re: Engine cut out
Post by: TheBoy on 17 April 2007, 18:56:16
Quote
paperclip test gave nothing away, no flashing EML at all

makes me think it just had a tantrum, and maybe I should just keep my eye on it's behaviour

its due a service on thursday and it's having a new cambelt kit done on sunday

a few of you will already be familiar with my extreme lack of knowledge of cars and their mechanical workings anyway, most of your wives or girlfriends will know more than me!!
Not even the '12' for start of sequence?  If not, does the EML light come on with ignition (ie, some scrote removed the bulb?).

Should be able to paperclip all 2.0/2.5/3.0
Title: Re: Engine cut out
Post by: Danny on 17 April 2007, 19:21:40
EML was on at ignition start, went off as expected, but nothing at all from paperclip test, I made sure i was in the right pins and that it had connected properly but no flashing and not even the 12 at the start

and yes its a metal paper clip  :y
Title: Re: Engine cut out
Post by: TheBoy on 17 April 2007, 19:50:08
Quote
EML was on at ignition start, went off as expected, but nothing at all from paperclip test, I made sure i was in the right pins and that it had connected properly but no flashing and not even the 12 at the start

and yes its a metal paper clip  :y
Engine off, ign on when doing paperclip test?
Title: Re: Engine cut out
Post by: Danny on 17 April 2007, 19:55:15
not tried it with engine off cos it said about gettin a misleading code if you do, i'll go try
Title: Re: Engine cut out
Post by: tunnie on 17 April 2007, 20:14:05
Quote
Quote
paperclip test gave nothing away, no flashing EML at all

makes me think it just had a tantrum, and maybe I should just keep my eye on it's behaviour

its due a service on thursday and it's having a new cambelt kit done on sunday

a few of you will already be familiar with my extreme lack of knowledge of cars and their mechanical workings anyway, most of your wives or girlfriends will know more than me!!
Not even the '12' for start of sequence?  If not, does the EML light come on with ignition (ie, some scrote removed the bulb?).

Should be able to paperclip all 2.0/2.5/3.0

I thought it was that way.... so all facelift 2.0/2.5/3.0 can be paper clipped?
Title: Re: Engine cut out
Post by: Danny on 17 April 2007, 20:26:52
ok here's the update:

ignition on but engine off, EML on, clips in, EML flashing the diagnostic startup "12" code then went off, held pins in for a good few minutes but no more flashing, after arm aching a tad, removed pins, light came back on, presumably because of ignition being on
Title: Re: Engine cut out
Post by: tunnie on 17 April 2007, 20:30:45
Quote
ok here's the update:

ignition on but engine off, EML on, clips in, EML flashing the diagnostic startup "12" code then went off, held pins in for a good few minutes but no more flashing, after arm aching a tad, removed pins, light came back on, presumably because of ignition being on

Ok thats good, proves you were doing it right. 12 is the code for the starting process of fault codes, so no more, it means nothing it stored.
Title: Re: Engine cut out
Post by: TheBoy on 17 April 2007, 20:30:49
2.0l have to be done with engine off, thats why it didn't read with engine on.

Should have got 12 12 12 followed by each fault code (repeated 3 times), then starting over again?
Title: Re: Engine cut out
Post by: Danny on 17 April 2007, 21:15:27
got 12 12 12 but that was it