Car Troubles

gazfocus

I got in my car this morning (about 11am) to go to work, got to the petrol station, filled up, then the car wouldn't start. On my 3rd attempt, it started and I started to drive home, not wanting to break down on a motorway. I got half way home and thought 'what the heck, it seems ok now' so turned round and headed to work. Then I got to a roundabout just before the motorway and heard a grinding noise from the front of the car (couldn't establish whether it was the wheels or the engine) but once I stopped, the noise stopped. I then decided the car wasn't trustworthy so came home.

Now normally, I would have thought the not starting could've been down to the cold weather/the new petrol being cold or something like that, but the car started perfectly at home and then it was the grinding noise that concerned me the most.

Also, the engine management light has been coming on and off for the past 6 months but has been on pretty much permanently for the past few weeks so not sure if it could be linked.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

The car is a 1998 Astra Estate 1.6 Auto.

Gene_Hunt_2

So what have Vauxhall or your independent garage said about the engine management light?

Strider590

Oh dear, classic case of "should have had it checked, before it got serious"

Im thinking..... Wouldn't start and then grinding noise while moving..... Gearbox and/or starter motor. Might even simply be out of transmission fluid.

gazfocus

Gene_Hunt wrote: »

So what have Vauxhall or your independent garage said about the engine management light?

Haven't asked them because I can't afford to find out. A bit of research on the Internet suggests it's likely to be something to do with emissions.

Gene_Hunt_2

The clue is it's a warning light.
Were did you get the emissions idea from? Did you do the paper clip test?

Your gonna have to pay now one way or the other.

gazfocus

Strider590 wrote: »

Oh dear, classic case of "should have had it checked, before it got serious"

Im thinking..... Wouldn't start and then grinding noise while moving..... Gearbox and/or starter motor. Might even simply be out of transmission fluid.

You're telling me...I'm kicking myself for not getting it checked sooner. How much do you think it's likely to cost? Could it not just be the cold weather (Hopeful thinking lol)

Strider590

Unfortunately you have to find out if it's stored any ECU error codes.
I can't think of anything like this which would be weather dependant. Then again im assuming just one fault, you may well have a dodgy battery that struggles to start the car.

gazfocus

Strider590 wrote: »

you may well have a dodgy battery that struggles to start the car.

But the car's started perfectly fine upto now and even started fine this morning, it was only after stopping to fill up at the petrol station and going to start the car again when it wouldn't start.

I just don't want to be clueless going to the garage because I don't wanna get fleeced.

Rolandtheroadie

http://forums.corsa-b.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=54&t=11231

Heres a wee link that shows the paper clip test in a bit of detail if you've not already done so.
Did the grinding come back on the way home again?

gazfocus

scotsman4th wrote: »

http://forums.corsa-b.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=54&t=11231

Heres a wee link that shows the paper clip test in a bit of detail if you've not already done so.
Did the grinding come back on the way home again?

Thanks, I'll have a look. No, the grinding didn't come back.

gazfocus

scotsman4th wrote: »

http://forums.corsa-b.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=54&t=11231

Heres a wee link that shows the paper clip test in a bit of detail if you've not already done so.
Did the grinding come back on the way home again?

Just been out to the car and it started fine again, although I don't think it's a good idea to ignore this problem anymore.

There isn't anything like the images on that website near my fuse box so not sure how to proceed with the paperclip test - just looking on the astra forum now.