Strange 'cant start' problem

Jimbob · 02 January 2007, 08:53:45

On the wife's 2.2..

She will get in, drive somewhere, shops etc, get in start the car, which starts, but then cuts out leaving all dash lights on, eml flashing (sometimes, she is unsure).
The car then wont restart for anything between 30 seconds to 15 minutes.

Any ideas?
My 1st thougt was immobiliser related, we swapped keys to no effect.

Admin · 02 January 2007, 08:57:41

Not as common on the 2.2 but I suspect the crank sensor.

Other thought would be a positive feed shorting to earth once it gets warm.

Jimbob · 02 January 2007, 09:02:11

Bit more to add, helpfully very intermittent!

My old Astra (x reg from new) also always did something very similar all its life, never got to the bottom of it, but it wasnt mine so didnt really worry me much as it was very occasional.

tunnie · 02 January 2007, 09:02:47

cam sensor?

Marks DTM Calib · 02 January 2007, 09:53:57

There the same symptoms as Taxi Drivers and Auto Addicts Cam sensor failure....

Jimbob · 02 January 2007, 10:13:52

Sounds like we have a starting point!

Any chance of the part no and price
and where may I find it to change

I have spanners, but they are very shiny and new

tunnie · 02 January 2007, 10:16:58

QuoteSounds like we have a starting point!

Any chance of the part no and price
and where may I find it to change

I have spanners, but they are very shiny and new

Watch this space for a How2, i am doing my cam sensor tommorow!

Part number: 90520850

Think he said £68 including VAT, but i am taking TB's TC card

Jimbob · 02 January 2007, 10:27:53

cheers fella

TheBoy · 02 January 2007, 11:22:46

Quoteeml flashing (sometimes, she is unsure).

Flashing EML is immobiliser normally - maybe an issue with receiver in ignition barrel?

Jimbob · 02 January 2007, 11:37:30

Quote
Quoteeml flashing (sometimes, she is unsure).
Flashing EML is immobiliser normally - maybe an issue with receiver in ignition barrel?

Thats why I went for the key swap, but strange that it does start, all be it briefly though.
Dont know enough about exact behaviour to know if that is normal for immobiliser or not.

TheBoy · 02 January 2007, 11:40:53

I believe that the car will start, but if correct signal not received within seconds, it will stop. Maybe someone can confirm?

Still a good chance its the cam sensor though

Marks DTM Calib · 02 January 2007, 13:53:55

Correct, the immobiliser system is a slow protocol hence the car will start and after a few seconds if the ECU has not received the pass code it shuts off fuel and ignition.

Jimbob · 02 January 2007, 14:13:34

looks like we have 2 avenue's worh starting on.
Now have others with dodgy cam sensors had a flashing eml?
after this occurs should there be a readable code, despite no eml permanantly lit?

tunnie · 02 January 2007, 15:04:36

Quotelooks like we have 2 avenue's worh starting on.
Now have others with dodgy cam sensors had a flashing eml?
after this occurs should there be a readable code, despite no eml permanantly lit?

I've never had the EML flash, and my cam sensor has been failing since the summer

Only problems i had was it would take a lot of cranking to start in the summer, if it had just been run. Usually when it finally burst into life the spanner light was on.

Any one with tech2 near you Jim?

Jimbob · 02 January 2007, 15:15:21

yep, 2 very local places have it
am borrowing a generic code reader tomorrow to see if there is anything

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Strange 'cant start' problem