Seirrah
Member
Registered: 4th May 04
Location: Cardiff, Drives: Silver Sxi
User status: Offline
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Over the last few days my car's ability to start has been deteriorating. A few days ago the engine would turn over but, depsite struggling to start, it would get there...although it seemed to be right on the edge of stalling/dying (in neutral).
The next day I would have to start the car and rev it hard to keep it from dying. The following day I'd have to start it, rev it hard and pull away soon after starting the engine to have any chance of it not cutting out (and even then it sometimes would). Now it won't start at all.
I am wondering if anyone would have any ideas where I should be looking for the problem. I realise that it could probably be one of many things. I should mention that once the car got going (which it can no longer do) it was fine sitting at junctions and traffic lights (ie. it didn't cut out when just idling).
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Dean_W
Member
Registered: 13th Dec 05
Location: Downham Market, Norfolk
User status: Offline
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Does the starter motor turn?
Or, does it only click when you turn the key?
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Seirrah
Member
Registered: 4th May 04
Location: Cardiff, Drives: Silver Sxi
User status: Offline
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Turns.
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Dean_W
Member
Registered: 13th Dec 05
Location: Downham Market, Norfolk
User status: Offline
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Does it turn strongly, or is it a bit weak?
Has it got a spark?
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Seirrah
Member
Registered: 4th May 04
Location: Cardiff, Drives: Silver Sxi
User status: Offline
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Seems to turn strongly to me. I think there is a spark in as much as sometimes the car will 'start' (ie. will have 'revs') but it will die pretty soon afterwards.
Someone had a quick look at it yesterday and he said it seems like it could be a 'fuel starvation' problem. *shrugs*
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TheCam
Member
Registered: 16th Mar 07
Location: Kirkcaldy
User status: Offline
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loose earth?
crank sensor? not sure about that 1.
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Seirrah
Member
Registered: 4th May 04
Location: Cardiff, Drives: Silver Sxi
User status: Offline
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Just went out and tried it today. Started car normally, revs went to 1500 (no throttle)...and then within 5 seconds it cuts out. With each try to start the car it will be worse and worse until it won't start at all.
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TheCam
Member
Registered: 16th Mar 07
Location: Kirkcaldy
User status: Offline
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also tried cleaning out the AFM?
what engine is it?
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Seirrah
Member
Registered: 4th May 04
Location: Cardiff, Drives: Silver Sxi
User status: Offline
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1.2 16V Sxi.
How would cleaning the AFM help? Just wondering.
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TheCam
Member
Registered: 16th Mar 07
Location: Kirkcaldy
User status: Offline
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well if the Air Flow Meter is clogged up with shit, then it will not be telling the ECU the correct amount of air that is going into the combustion chamber therefor the ECU wont be supplying the correct amount of fuel (not enough fuel in this case) thus making it stall
not saying that will cure it, just that its a possibility.
cheers
[Edited on 11-12-2007 by TheCam]
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Seirrah
Member
Registered: 4th May 04
Location: Cardiff, Drives: Silver Sxi
User status: Offline
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Good call. It's worth taking a look then.
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Seirrah
Member
Registered: 4th May 04
Location: Cardiff, Drives: Silver Sxi
User status: Offline
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Had a look at it seems fine. It's a lot newer than the rest of the car too (not that that matters especially).
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badboy1989
Member
Registered: 26th Nov 07
Location: norfolk
User status: Offline
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tryed dizzy soz only thing i know of lol give it a wipe with some kitchen towel then spray a bit of wd40 on the plug leads and plugs and in the dizzy worked on my old one when it had been sitting under a tree for a few days :S
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Seirrah
Member
Registered: 4th May 04
Location: Cardiff, Drives: Silver Sxi
User status: Offline
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Thanks for the input. Not sure that would explain how it can sometimes start (with some effort and struggle) and sometimes doesn't. And when it does start it won't last long idling on it's own (without me revving hard or pulling off [in 1st gear you filthy people lol])
When it does start and I manage to drive (very rare!!) the car doesn't have problems when sat idling at junctions etc. So the question is what is different between the standing start (after not been used for some hours) and sat at a junction.
[Edited on 11-12-2007 by Seirrah]
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TheCam
Member
Registered: 16th Mar 07
Location: Kirkcaldy
User status: Offline
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2 differences that I can think of.
1. the initial start up uses more fuel IIRC
2. oil temp will obviously be different.
imo your problem will be a sensor of some sort. are there any other faults? EML light on? blue smoke? white smoke? etc
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Seirrah
Member
Registered: 4th May 04
Location: Cardiff, Drives: Silver Sxi
User status: Offline
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I think you are probably correct. However there is no weird smoke and no Enigne Management lights on.
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badboy1989
Member
Registered: 26th Nov 07
Location: norfolk
User status: Offline
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soz i cudnt help 
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Dean_W
Member
Registered: 13th Dec 05
Location: Downham Market, Norfolk
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by badboy1989
soz i cudnt help
It won't have a dizzy mate 
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badboy1989
Member
Registered: 26th Nov 07
Location: norfolk
User status: Offline
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oooh rite lol
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Seirrah
Member
Registered: 4th May 04
Location: Cardiff, Drives: Silver Sxi
User status: Offline
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good, that saves me asking wtf a Dizzy is! 
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TheCam
Member
Registered: 16th Mar 07
Location: Kirkcaldy
User status: Offline
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dizzy is a distributer, sits on the side of the cyl head.
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Seirrah
Member
Registered: 4th May 04
Location: Cardiff, Drives: Silver Sxi
User status: Offline
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I see. I guess I can rule that out as being the problem....as I don't have one.
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Seirrah
Member
Registered: 4th May 04
Location: Cardiff, Drives: Silver Sxi
User status: Offline
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I'm guessing that diagnostics is only useful when there is an error light, or can it pick up other things?
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mark_gsi
Member
Registered: 1st Nov 03
Location: Peterlee/darlington
User status: Offline
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you tried crank pully/sensor. mine wouldnt run etc was crank pully came loose.
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Seirrah
Member
Registered: 4th May 04
Location: Cardiff, Drives: Silver Sxi
User status: Offline
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Thanks for the advice. Mine does start though....but stops pretty soon after (10 seconds). This gets worse each consecutive time you try it...until it not starting again. Give it a rest for 10 hours or so and it might start again, but again die after 10 seconds.
Could this be the crank pulley? Or if it was the crank pulley would it not start at all?
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