Car won't start any ideas?


WAZ-4169

WAZ-4169

fcuk ur 16 astra!!!
Joined
Dec 1, 2008
Messages
764
I was heading home Sunday night only drove (sensibly/unusually taking my time lol) about 4 or 5 miles from a cold start and my engine light came on. Drove about half a mile (problem free, car was running normally) until I got a safe place to stop. When I did I noticed all the lights were dimming slightly then going back to normal, engine still running.

I turned the engine off just to see if it would start again and nothing. Starter kicked but the engine wouldn't fire up. nothing seemed any different until I turned it off, car went as normal.

Tonight I done a couple of small simple checks. So far I know fuel is reaching the fuel rail and im still getting spark at the leads (guessing that means the timing belt hasn't broke or anything, and the dizzy must be ok) I don't have a socket for the plugs to check them.

Was gonna try another 1.4 ecu

Any help or suggestions would be very much appreciated.
 
is the engine light still lit up????

cant see a different ecu making any difference!
 
Did you put another battery in it? Disconnect wire off alternator to see will it fire up, could be a short inside the alternator itself.
 
if the lights are dimming that could be an alternator issue and it aint charging the battery, although the engine will crank it wont necessary be enough spark to ignite the mixture
 
Engine light now goes off as normal (a few seconds after ignition)

Didn't try another battery (don't even have a spare:()

And a workmate said it may be some sensor not telling the alternator the battery is charged and it's over charging? (the lights could have been getting brighter then going back to normal if that was the case and I thought it was the other way round?) Battery had plenty of juice in it, had no problem turning over no struggling or signs of the battery dying as I turned the key.

I'll try disconnecting the alternator tomorrow to see what happens. Maybe I'll get a few more suggestions to try by the time I leave work tomorrow.

:thanks:
 
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i said to you it sounds like alternator or dizzy problem,if getting spark then that rules that out,defo think its something to do with alternator.
 
Would that stop the car starting completely? Big job to change 1? (that means could I change it myself with not alot more than a socket set? Lol) no jack either and it's too low to get even an arm in if need be.
 
if your alt has packed in then yeah lol should be able to take it off from just engine bay dude,cant really think what else it would be 2bh never had that problem 2bh,just loosen alt remove belt and take it on off and try another 14 one on
 
Anyone anymore ideas? Just before I rush into buying an alternator after work lol
 
didnt hit a hard bump or anything? id try resetting car using the button in behind passenger side dash
 
Alternator is an easy job...can be made easier by going in through the passenger front wheel arch...but it can be done.

To me it sounds like an alternator issue. I've had plenty of those in my 2 years of owning my 9 lol
 
Theres a button in there? You'll have t show me that phil. Was just gonna disconnect the battery for 10 mins. Forgot to try that last night.

No hard bumps the light came on just as i pulled onto the slip road for the larne roundabout from broughshane direction i stopped at the roundabout and drove it to where it was sitting the past 2 days. Thought it might have been water as it was raining quite bad but everything was bone dry under the bonnet.
 
WAZ-4169 said:
Would that stop the car starting completely? Big job to change 1? (that means could I change it myself with not alot more than a socket set? Lol) no jack either and it's too low to get even an arm in if need be.
Click to expand...

its easy...
 
LATEST UPDATE:

I had a look and found the "Alternator/sp sensor" fuse had blown. It's 7.5a, I replaced that and it still wouldn't start. I then disconnected the battery for about 10 mins. It started no problem after that.

I let it sit and warm up then decided to take it a drive. Only got about half way down the estate and the speedo shot from 20 to 80 then down to 0! The engine management light popped on again as that happened. Turned round parked up the car won't start and it blew the fuse again.

A boy I know says if it keeps blowing it's something to do with a wire down the back of the engine, but he hasn't got back to me yet to give more advise lol.

Anyone any views?
 
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WAZ-4169 said:
LATEST UPDATE:

I had a look and found the "Alternator/sp sensor" fuse had blown. It's 7.5a, I replaced that and it still wouldn't start. I then disconnected the battery for about 10 mins. It started no problem after that.

I let it sit and warm up then decided to take it a drive. Only got about half way down the estate and the speedo shot from 20 to 80 then down to 0! The engine management light popped on again as that happened. Turned round parked up the car won't start and it blew the fuse again.

A boy I know says if it keeps blowing it's something to do with a wire down the back of the engine, but he hasn't got back to me yet to give more advise lol.

Anyone any views?
Click to expand...

Im having the same problem, minus the engine lights coming on. Hows the car now? Where is the altenator fuse so I can check mine?
Thanks
 
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